Update 1/20/20. This is the second -and updated review – of Beautiful Slim Body, a weight loss “supplement” from Vietnam. While I originally thought that the only way this stuff could work was by may act as a laxative, I fast changed my mind and began to suspect that something else might be in Beautiful Slim Body, to explain why people were losing weight. Thanks to the FDA, we now know what the “active ingredient” is. Its not a mystical herb from China. It's a drug made in the laboratory.
In my first review of Beautiful Slim Body, I told you my initial thoughts about the product and all the confusion about what it's ingredients are. A lot of websites are listing the wrong ingredients.
Beautiful Slim Body Ingredients
Update 11/9/12. Beautiful Slim body contains Sibutramine – also called Meridia -, a weight-loss drug no longer available in the US because it might cause serious – and life-threatening heart problems. This explains why people lost weight with this weight loss product.
According to the National Library of Medicine, side effects of sibutramine can include
- Dry mouth
- headaches
- back pain
- weakness
- change in appetite
Dry mouth is one of the most common complaints from people who use this and other products that have also been found to contain sibutramine. For more info see my reviews on Hokkaido weight loss pills and ZXT Gold pills and Phentraburn weight loss pills and Beautiful Slim Body.
Here is another post where I list several other weight loss products that were found to contain a weight-loss drug.
You really don't need to read any further than this because all of the other ingredients are bogus – they dont cause any significant weight loss. If they did then, there would be no need for the weight loss drug, would there?
Many people have asked me if Beautiful Slim Body is safe and if will it help with weight loss? The best way to know is to look at its ingredients. Only after I found a picture of Beautiful Slim Body that I discovered its ingredients. On the BSB label, they call these Functional Ingredients.
In America, ingredients are listed from the most abundant to the least. Oddly, on the Beautiful Slim Body label, Amylum is listed last even though there is apparently more of it (24%) than cassia (16%). If the product really is “Made in America,” Why isn’t the “American lab” where Beautiful Slim Body is allegedly made, adhering to American rules? I don't believe BSB was ever made in America. In any event, here are the ingredients in Beautiful Slim Body:
- Cassia Seed Extract 16%
- Coicis Seed 20%
- Mulberry Extract 22%
- Lotus Leaf Extract 12%
- Mustard Extract 5%
- Medical Amylum 24%
The percentages next to the names of the ingredients are not the Daily Values – those percentages we see on food labels in the US. This is because there are no daily values for herbs. The percentages are meaningless unless we have proof that this particular combination works best. As far as I ca
n tell, there is no weight loss proof on this specific ratio of ingredients.
Let’s briefly review each ingredient in Beautiful Slim Body.
Cassia. This is a laxative.
Coicis seed. Other names for this herb are Job’s Tears and Coix. Compounds in coicis seed appear to have anti-inflammatory properties. Animal research also appears to show that Coicis can reduce LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol). Research so far has used 60 grams a day to lower cholesterol levels.
At least one study has found that Cocis can help weight loss in lab rats that are fed a high-fat diet. Cocis has relatively high fiber content and this may be why it helps weight loss. Since it has fiber, it also acts as a laxative. Remember that losing weight can also lower cholesterol levels.
It is important to remember that in this study lab rats were injected with coicis. They did not eat coicis seeds.
Mulberry leaf extract. This is a laxative.
Mustard Leaf Extract. Mustard can be a laxative in high doses. There are dozens of species of mustard. what type of mustard are they using in Beautiful Slim Body? Is It white mustard, brown mustard, black mustard?
Medical Amylum. Amylum means carbohydrates or starch. This is probably used as a filler and as such has no nutritional value. At the very least it may have some fiber, and if it does, then it would also be expected to act like a laxative.
I believe that the word Medical Amylum is made up – it was invented – because when I Googled the phrase “medical amylum” I couldn’t find anything except websites that sell weight-loss supplements.
When I searched the National Library of Medicine for medical amylum” I also found nothing. I've taken many science classes over the years and never once did see the word “medical amylum” in any book. Medical Amylum is a made-up / invented word.
Real vs. counterfeit Beautiful Slim Body
Like a lot of herbal weight loss supplements from other countries, people talk about counterfeit products. Usually, there is some code that people have to plug into a website to see if the product is real or not. In the case of Zi Xiu Tang which I wrote about previously, the anti-counterfeit website is in another language. That annoys me because it's English-speaking people who are buying this stuff. The picture below is where Beautiful Slim Body is made.
Judging from the comments on my Zi Xiu Tang page, even people who were taking “real” Zi Xiu Tang, sometimes report not losing any weight. I would not be surprised if there are people who have “real” Beautiful Slim Body who have not noticed any weight loss either.
At one of the websites that sell Beautiful Slim Body they say that the ingredients “works to activate cell in vivo, eliminate the long-term – silting harm toxin with unique slimming, and expulse toxin and adjusting fat in vivo effects.”
Let’s translate this sentence:
Translation: The phrase “In vivo” means in either humans or lab animals. There are no weight loss studies in humans so they must mean lab rats. The only ingredient I found with any weight loss proof was coicis –and that was a single rat study. This is likely the “in vivo” research they are referring to.
Notice the words “expulse toxin” in the statement. Translation – Laxative! It makes people poop.
“Adjusting fat in vivo effects”: Translation –There is no translation because this statement makes no sense.
Does Beautiful Slim Body Work?
The supplement has some fiber. While that may help weight loss, does it have enough to make a difference? To increase fiber why not just save money and make a nice fruit and veggie smoothie in the blender? It will be healthier and it hopefully will get people to start seeing the bigger picture – about being healthy – rather than just losing weight. Unfortunately, the supplement has been found to contain a weight loss drug called Sibutramine – and because of that, it cannot be recommended.
What do you think?
Hi, I would like to ask about beautiful slim body, I have been taking this pill for about 3 years ,and even I am not losing any , it keep me from gaining, but about 7 months ago, I have a procedure done, and I had a spinal anesthesia, wish it damaged my pheriperal nerve to a point that I am not able to move or propel my foot when I walk. I have to wear a leg brace, OK, what I would like to know is that if me taking the beautiful slim body pill for that long period of time contributed to this problem? Thank You,L Marshall
Hi Guadalpe, I honestly can’t say either way whether Beautiful Slim Body was associated with your peripheral nerve problem. But, given the fact that the FDA found it contained an illegal weight loss drug called Sibutramine, I dont feel you should take it anymore. Here is a link to the FDA website that tells of the risks of taking sibutramine:
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/MedicationHealthFraud/ucm327446.htm
Hi
I was a stupid 43 yr old female, 173cm, 68kg .. thinking that they were just herbal laxative type slimming tablets that a friend gave me .. I had taken the pills for 5 days, and then on the 6th morning I took 3 (gross mistake but stupidity on my behalf).. later at lunchtime I went for a run & I ended up with a dull aching pain in my lower jaw.
I ignored this pain & thought it was because I hadn’t run for a few weeks. The pain subsided after 20 minutes & because I decided to walk instead. The next day I took 1 tablet (idiot!!) went for my run & had the same dull ache .. I walked & the pain subsided. But this time I was concerned & decided to google dull jaw pain!! I was shocked to see that this could be a symptom of coronary heart disease.
The next morning I awoke with a dull ache in my jaw & shoulder – panicking I ended up in the emergency department with suspected heart issues. Now I am booked to have an angioplasty done to check my arteries (I have normal cholesterol, passed a cardio stress test, blood tests are normal, chest xrays normal etc however my father had CAD & had heart bypass surgery at age 45)..
today I googled Beautiful slim body pills & found the FDA usa site & the warnings against taking these pills & the effects of sibutramine. Now it makes wonder if my symptoms were due to these pills .. anyways thought I’d just post my experience.
Nat, oh I am SO SORRY you went through all of this! I was getting scared for you as I was reading your words! The good news is that you took matters into your own hands and looked up what was happening to you and went to the hospital. You are exactly where you need to be. I will say a prayer you come through the tests ok. Please keep me posted.
Thanks Joe for your kind words & support. I have cardiologist appointment on 6 June & will get a date for the angio then. I like to keep optimistic & it was a wake up call for me!
Don’t use it PLEASE STOP I has been using this pills for around 3 months. I was very happy and my weight was 168 pound and after a month was 140 I notice bad bad vertigo specially by mornings.
anyways I was taking this pills because losing weight second month every morning bowel movement easy but after finish I was throw blood by my rectum I was loosing weight no pain just happy because dropping sizes I apply for life insurance and after couple blood test they reject me because high level liver enzymes.
I went to my doctor and we try to contact the phone number on the bottle after ring so many times a foreign person with barely English speaking answer the phone with a one “hi” I ask them about the pills they said pills aren’t in the market no more because a lot of fakes one are and hang up.
so please don’t be to happy and make sure your ok
I started using this product 2 months ago and I have lost 10 pounds so far without really exercising. I do drink insane amounts of water because it will make you really, really thirsty.
Becky P. I have a feeling that your insane thirst may be due to Meridia (Sibutramine), the illegal weight loss drug that was pulled from the US market because of its association with heart attacks. Dry mouth is a side effect of sibutramine and is frequently reported by people who used these types of weight loss supplements.
Because of the safety issues associated with sibutramine use, I recommend you stop taking Beautiful Slim Body.
My Previous Manager was Vietnamese, and I told her I was trying to lose weight, she told me about beautiful slim body, decided to try it, and the fat was just melting off me. The only thing I changed was my drinking habits, I drank more water then anything and lost an amazing 30 pounds in less then 2 months. I look amazing everyone notices it. I soooo recommend this. Don’t be fooled by the over seas sellers, their products are 100% FAKE. Instead look for a Vietnamese Shop/Market and they might just be carrying it. My manager buys hers somewhere in VA, Couldn’t really find a website that carried the REAL Thing. Anyways to those trying to lose the weight Good Luck !
Hi, joe I’ve just started taking best slim, it has the same ingredients as the beautiful slim. I have notice in the last week I have shortness of breath and constantly yawning just to breathe and finding it difficult to sleep. Feeling scattered all day.Ive also noticed its hard for me to swallow, feeling like there’s a lump in my throat Which makes me think if it’s affecting my thyroid gland. I have had no laxative effect. Only A bit shaky.
I’ve lost 2.5kg in one week. The pills work wonder for me. I don’t think Vietnamese people become rich from selling these pills if you don’t lose weights.
Kim, are you noticing any laxative effects? That’s what most of the ingredient in this product seemed to be. You’ve lost about 5 pounds in a week which is a lot. I think most of that is water. Id guess that’s due to the laxative effects. I dont know how much that can continue because water is so critical for our health. Id guess that after a week or so your weight loss may decrease a bit. That’s of course if beautiful slim body really is working as laxative. I think it does.
An in house counselor I know was taking the HCG injections to cut down. He was a bodybuilder which strikes me as kind of odd considering that most of them know how to cut without the added stuff. He did it and it worked for him but he went to his doctor who monitored him very closely.
He finally got off of it because he couldn’t sustain the 500 calories a day and continue to lift weights. Then he later told me that blood work came back with some abnormalities which we didn’t get into but I always wondered if that was the injections that he was taking. I heard that it affects the male sperm count. What do you think?
Yolanda, that’s an interesting question. I did a quick search and while I did not see any evidence that HCG reduced sperm count (it was a quick search I didnt look too deeply) I did see some animal research where hcg was used to raise testosterone levels. I did not see any human research on this but I will try to look a little deeper into this and if I find anything I’ll add it to my review of the HCG diet.
well i am supposed to be doing paper on this article…
Neuropsychopharmacology (2007) 32, 483–492. doi:10.1038/sj.npp.1301223; published online 11 October 2006
Gestational Methylazoxymethanol Acetate Treatment Impairs Select Cognitive Functions: Parallels to Schizophrenia
Robert E Featherstone1, Zoe Rizos1, José N Nobrega2,3,4, Shitij Kapur2,5 and Paul J Fletcher1,2,3
yeah and i know i didn’t cite it right lol but looking into something i have been taking and trying to do some good….or …researching rodents when i never plan on being a clinical research scientist (dont they know rodents carry disease? ) 😉
papers not due until the last week of class anyway 😀
I appreciate you doing all that research. I took biopsych once also – without the pharm. I can imagine how much fun that is 😉
Thanks Heather, I just updated the post with a picture of where Beautiful Slim Body is made 🙂
Oh and think less office complex and more seedy strip mall? but it is “equivalent of drive-thru fried cat” his words, not mine …
and i am in a pre-med program and working in health care field….my neurotic documenting and checking for myself is just those research skills that have been fine tuned 🙂 now if only i paid this much attention in biopsychopharmacology 😉
No pictures…but in the first post i gave the address….i am sure someone who reads this is in Houston and could take some photos….
go to google maps….do search for the address :
No 11210 Bellaire Blvd, Suite 126B, Houston, Texas TX Zip code 77072
make sure the “no” is included…and you will see the Google photo of the building and why he didn’t blend in as a Texan roughneck / fire man lol i am still laughing just thinking how him going there went over….
he did say a woman could probably walk in looking for info about their products and probably get full tour of place….but he just didn’t fit the environment hehehehe
Heather really? The place that makes Beautiful Slim Body is basically an office complex. Did he happen to take any pictures of the complex? I would love to see them and post them if he did. Love your flare for investigative journalism 🙂
“silting harm toxin with unique slimming” well since the company that wrote this ad isn’t American, translating that is saying the stuff in our intestines being flushed out 🙂 – pardon the pun- but I wonder if Metamucil knows the gunk they sell is “unique slimming” as this claims? check out the Metamucil website and the national fiber council ones…they make the claims too but at least Metamucil or eating fiber is FDA approved 🙂
“Fiber not only promotes general wellness and intestinal health, it lowers the risk of developing many diseases and conditions that can put your life in danger – heart attack, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, obesity, and certain cancers (John Hopkins Medical Center)
Fiber can help lower cholesterol by absorbing fat and cholesterol from food. (Pat Baird, registered dietitian and NFC Vice-chair)
Not only does fiber prevent fat absorption, it also helps you feel fuller longer. Filling up on high-fiber foods means you’ll have less room for high-fat and highly caloric low-fiber foods (Dr. James Anderson, professor of Medicine and Clinical Nutrition and NFC chair)
Some researchers have calculated that if Americans doubled their intake for fiber, they could cut 100 calories from their daily diet – which could shave off 10 pounds of yearly weight gain (WebMD.com)”
Fiber helps with intestinal health and regularity
.
ok on serious note..
I asked a friend of mine in Houston to go check out the “laboratory” that makes this, (i am near Philly and though overwhelmingly curious as to what kind of setup they have there, wont fly down just for that), it is basically an office complex and though he didn’t make it through the door, as a Houston Fire Dept member, he was curious as to how they can run a lab in that zone / building. He said that a woman or an official would have better result and blend in better then he would….