“SlimQuick is the world's first advanced fat burner designed specifically for a woman's body”. Well, that's at least what the SlimQuick website says. I thought SlimQuick was interesting because the product targets only women rather than everybody. I was also interested in SlimQuick because the website claims that SlimQuick is “clinically proven to cut body fat on women” .
That is a powerful statement to make so in this review I had two main goals:
- I wanted to review SlimQuick and see if I can discover any proof that it lives up to its claims
- I wanted to see if I could find any good proof that “SlimQuick itself is a fat burner or if SlimQuick had been shown to burn fat or promote weight loss n woman – or any human.
According to the SlimQuick website, SlimQuick is actually a family of weight loss supplements.
But, rather than reviewing all of these products, I want to look at the main SlimQuick – the product that’s being touted on TV, radio and the internet.
If, after reading this, you want me to review one of the other SlimQuick products let me know and I’ll take a look at it for you.
Note. SlimQuick has been reformulated with new ingredients. See my updated SlimQuick Review for more information if your bottle contains different ingredients than you see here.
SlimQuick Ingredients
The SlimQuick website (slimquickonline.com) claims that the product is composed of the following ingredients
Nutratherm Thermogenic Complex composed of:
- Micronized Green Tea Leaf Extract (caffeine containing stimulant)
- Caffeine (stimulant)
- Cocoa bean extract (caffeine containing stimulant)
- Yerba mate extract (caffeine containing stimulant)
- Clary Sage extract (herb. No known stimulant effect)
Nutratherm
The Nutratherm Thermogenic Complex appears to be mostly made up of caffeine. Most fat burners and weight loss supplements include caffeine and/or caffeine containing ingredients because caffeine pulls fat from fat cells to be used for energy. Caffeine also seems to reduce feelings of pain. Caffeine also might cause people to do more exercise – and obviously use more calories.
Estrotrim Hormone Balancing Complex
This is composed of:
- Soy isoflavones (hormone-like compounds from soy )
- Vitex agnus-castus . Vitex agnus-castus is also known as chasteberry. This herb have components that appear to have estrogen-like activity and seem to impact various hormones such as prolactin and other menstrual cycle hormones. Some have speculated that this herb may reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills.
Estrotrim
I could not find any peer-reviewed research that any of the ingredients in the estrotrim hormone balancing complex promotes weight loss.
Cortifem
Composed of:
- Beta-sisosterol . I could be wrong but I think they meant to say “beta sitosterol, which, most men have heard of because of evidence that it may help enlarged prostate glands (women don’t have prostate glands). Beta sitosterol also might reduce “bad cholesterol” (LDL). I could find no evidence that this compound impacts weight loss in women or anyone. I may be wrong in my assumption about what they are referring to but I have never seen “beta sisosterol” anywhere in the literature of supplements. Is it a typo on the website? I am not sure.
- Phophatidylserine. A fat that’s important in cell membranes and the brain. Some research finds that this compound may help people with Alzheimer’s disease. I could find no study linking this compound to weight loss in women, men or animals.
- Rhodiola Rosea root extract. A couple of studies have noted that rose wood seems to reduce anxiety and fatigue. These studies used specific extracts of rose wood at dosages of between 100-340 mg a day. The SlimQuick website does not say what extracts of rose wood they use or the amount of this compound it contains. I could find no research that rose wood promotes weight loss in humans or animals.
- Theanine. This is an amino acid. Theanine is of interest to researchers because it appears to reduce feelings of anxiety. This is interesting because being anxious or stressed might cause people to overeat. That being said I could not find any research on theanine and weigh loss in humans or animals. Theanine also appears to lower blood pressure in some studies and as such will may be found in supplements marketed for heart health.
The name “Cortifem” makes reference to the hormone cortisol which is released during times of stress. However I see no scientific proof for any of the ingredients in cortifem or the combination of ingredients in cortifem block or reduce cortisol levels. Likewise I don’t see any peer reviewed proof that the ingredients foster weight loss.
Aquaplex Water Removal Complex
Composed of:
- Dandelion leaf and root. Dandelion appears to have an anti-inflammatory effect and has been studied for possibility helping reduce urinary tract infections. Dandelion also appears to act as a diuretic and this is probably where “Aquaplex” is getting its name from. Inflammation is a popular topic with research suggesting that a low grade body-wide inflammation of the blood vessels may increase the odds of heart disease. Visceral fat also is known to release chemicals that increase inflammation. Because of this some wonder if inflammation causes people to gain weight. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, I'm guessing this (and because it’s a diuretic) may be a reason for the incorporation of dandelion. Whether or not I'm correct, I'm aware of no research that proves inflammation causes weight gain or obesity. Because it’s a diuretic, dandelion may help foster fluid loss and thus some short term weight loss especially when combined with caffeine which is also a diuretic.
- Horse tail. Like dandelion, horse tail is also diuretic. Some research suggests that horsetail may reduce levels of the B vitamin, thiamine which is needed to process and use carbohydrates. People with type II diabetes may be taking a medication called glucophage (also known as metformin) which might also reduce thiamin levels. In theory this might be a problem but I'm not aware of any research to confirm this. I thought I would mention this because most people with type II diabetes are overweight.
- Uva Ursi extract. At least one study from the early 1990’s found that Uva Ursi helped urinary tract infections, possibly, at least in part, due to its reported ability to act as a diuretic. This fruit is composed of many compounds. Some of these appear to have antibiotic effects, which again may help explain its role in reducing urinary tract infections. Other, older, research hints that large amounts of uva ursi (much more than is found in SlimQuick) may be toxic to the liver.
- French maritime pine extract. The more familiar name for this ingredient is pycnogenol. This ingredient is an antioxidant (it reduces free radicals). Pycnogenol has been studied for a wide range of conditions ranging from erectile dysfunction and high blood pressure to heart disease and diabetes, to name a few. I could not locate any peer reviewed proof that pycnogenol helps weight loss in humans or that it works as a diuretic. That being said, because of its possible helpful effects on conditions that may plague overweight individuals (diabetes, heart disease etc.) in theory, there may be a reason to incorporate it into a weight loss product.
However, the amount of pycnogenol found in SlimQuick is probably less than what research indicates may help these other conditions. For example, the SlimQuick website indicates that SlimQuick contains 40 mg of the Aquaplex compound. Research finds that much more than this may be needed to help blood pressure in those with hypertension. Also, of that 40 mg of Aquaplex, pycnogenol is only one of several ingredients which probably means the amount of pycnogenol is likely to be less than 40 mg.
Xtend Absorption Complex
- Cellulose ethers. This is essentially fiber. Cellulose makes up the indigestible portions of plant cell walls. We can’t digest it and we do not get any energy from it. Cellulose is basically “roughage” as my mom used to say. Research finds that people who eat more fiber in their diet (fruits and vegetables) tend to be healthier and lose weight and keep that weight off for the long run.
- Piper nigum. This is the fancy name for black pepper. Weight loss products often contain spicy foods or ingredients in the hopes that the spicy food will increase metabolism (how fast we burn calories). There is probably very little black pepper in SlimQuick. That being said people should know that black pepper might interact with various medications such as those used to treat seizures.
- Vitamin D (as Cholcalciferol). We make vitamin D when we are exposed to sunlight. Research finds many people may not get enough vitamin D-including those who are overweight. Vitamin D helps us absorb calcium and may also help with a variety of conditions such as MS, diabetes and maybe even heart disease. Several studies find vitamin D can help reduce falls in older adults as well. I was unable to locate any research that vitamin D promotes weight loss. SlimQuick contains 2000 IU of vitamin D. That is a lot. People who take a multivitamin, drink milk or use dairy products are getting vitamin D from these sources also. While vitamin D is considered pretty safe some worry if too much of a good thing is not so good. Just to be safe, have your doctor check your vitamin D levels before taking this much vitamin D.
- Vitamin B-6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride). Some research has found that vitamin B 6 may help PMS but the amount used is a lot more than that found in SlimQuick. I could find no peer previewed proof that vitamin B 6 helps weight loss.
- Folic Acid. I could locate no peer-reviewed evidence that folic acid helps weight loss. Yes, folic acid helps reduce birth defects but a concern is brewing that folic acid supplements and folic acid fortified foods may increase the risk of colon cancer and prostate cancer. Unless you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, I think it’s best to get folic acid naturally from food (which is in the form folate). Good sources of folate are fruits and vegetables. Based on the research linking this vitamin to cancer, my opinion is that folic acid should not be used in any weight loss supplement until we know more.
- Vitamin B-12 (as Cyanocobalamin). Many weight loss supplements use vitamin B 12 because people think it gives them more energy. Some also think this vitamin helps weight loss. It doesn't. Read my vitamin B 12 and weight loss review .
- Calcium (as Calcium Hydroxide/Carbonate). Some research finds calcium from dairy sources might help weight loss. Other research finds that it doesn't. As such nobody is really sure if it works or not but of the research that says yes, all of it says its best to use low fat dairy products rather than calcium supplements. Calcium is needed for strong bones and women may not be getting enough. One 8 oz cup of milk has 300 mg of calcium, which is double the amount that is found in SlimQuick.
SlimQuick side effects
See my updated review of SlimQuick for potential side effects as well as a run down on its new ingredients.
The SlimQuick website and advertisements say that the product is supposed to work specifically with a “woman’s body” but I could not find any peer-reviewed research that any of the ingredients in SlimQuick were found to promote weight loss in a woman. Likewise when I searched the National Library of Medicine for “SlimQuick“, no peer-review studies on the product could be found.
I could also find no peer-reviewed studies comparing SlimQuick to other weight loss products. The website does say that SlimQuick is most effective when combined with diet and exercise but I could not find any study on the SlimQuick website that compared how effective it is when diet and exercise were used vs. when diet and exercise were not used. For more info see my updated SlimQuick Review.
Here is SlimQuick on Amazon if you want to see what others say.
What do you think?
Hola Joe im Shia, im 23 years old, and 5’8 I’ve always been very conscious about how i look sense 90% or latin girls are short and have small body configuration… not me, i weight 156 and I’ve tried everything… but i just can stick to anything… any pep talk? Thanks in advanced.
Hi Shia, take a look at this post and scroll to the end – the weight loss ideas section and see if any of those help.
http://www.joe-cannon.com/what-weight-loss-supplements-work/
Have you had your thyroid checked?
what about caffeine free slim quick? I bought it yesterday but am hesitant in taking it until i know a little more. Im looking to loose the last 10lbs. My normal diet is low sugar low caffeine.
Aricka, I have not looked at the caffeine free version of slimquick yet. Id think most of the ingredients might be similar to my updated slim quick review (but Im not sure. compare the ingredients).
I always think its best when you start a new supplement to take less than is recommended for the first week, to see how you respond.
Hi Joe
I am 25 years old; I am 5ft and I weigh about 230lbs. I have been trying to lose this weight for a while now. Some of the weight I know I gained from poor eating habits and some I believe I gained from being on birth control (depo shot). I am trying to get into the routine of exercising and eating smaller portions but then I get unmotivated because I don’t feel like I am losing any weight and I stop working out.
I have always been anti weight loss pills or anything of that sort. But now I am considering taking slim quick to help me with my weight loss. I still plan on working out and trying to eat smaller portions. I was just wondering if you think its a good idea because I am worried about any side effects slim quick may have on my body.
I do not plan on relying solely on slim quick I just want to use it to aid my weight loss efforts. Please let me know what you think. Thank you.
Hi Toya,
I think its smart to get a check up first to make sure all is ok. After you do that, if you are going to try slimquick – or any wt loss supplement – start with less than is recommended for at least the first week. this is to see how you respond to it.
I think the key for you is to not get depressed that you are not making progress. Toya, consider that in any 24 hour time period, there are 3 things that burn calories
1. exercise
2. calories used to digest/process food
3. resting metabolism (calories used when we are sitting, sleeping etc)
of these 3 things, its the resting metabolism that results in the most calories being used! Its about 65-75% of the calories you burn in a day! this is great news because it means that you are burning the most calories when you are NOT DOING ANYTHING! So, when you are sitting there thinking you are not making progress, your body is working hard to burn lots of calories! Exercise helps too and it accounts for about 30% of the calories you use in a day (this makes sense because you cant exercise all day right? this is why it uses less calories overall in a day).
Ive written about this on my personal site also. here is the link http://www.joe-cannon.com/what-weight-loss-supplements-work/
The important thing Toya is to stay the course and have patience. Focus on being healthy a not on losing weight. Being healthy is what its really all about.
I believe in you Toya – and I’m rooting for you 🙂
Thank so much for getting back to me Joe I really appreciate it. I think I am definitely going to talk to my health care provider about this and figure out how to go from there. Thank you for your advice I really appreciate it.
Toya, anytime glad to help 🙂
You are so sweet joe im taking ur advice given to tammy
Thanks Carmen, that’s very kind of you to say 🙂
i want to loose weight fast im 21 weight 150 … can anyone help me
Tammy, you didnt gain weight fast and so it wont come off fast. I know the ads for slimquick make it seem like the weight will come off fast but that is just not healthy. here are a few ideas to definitely consider
1. Start writing down what you eat. You can use the website MyFitnessPal.com to do this online for free
2. Use the food plate to eat better. Here is the website to learn about it http://www.choosemyplate.gov/
3. start a walking program. Try to walk at least 30 minutes a day.
4. If you can have a friend to exercise with, even better. We exercise more when we have a friend
5. Eat more fruits and vegetables – again look at the Food Plate.
6. Find out your Body Mass Index. google “free BMI calculator” to do this
I not feel stimulants are the way to go when it comes to weight loss. Ive written about this on my personal site here is the link
http://www.joe-cannon.com/what-weight-loss-supplements-work/
If you are thinking about a supplement, then search my site for “Glucomannan” its a fiber and its cheaper than most of the products that contain it. no guarantees but there is some evidence for it. Fruits and vegetables have fiber too 🙂
7. If you belong to a gym, try some weight lifting. pick 3 exercise machines – a chest press, leg press and seated row. choose a weight you can lift for 20 times. start with only 1 time on each exercise and slowly progress-as you get stronger – to 3 times on each machine.
I hope some of this helps Tammy.
I bought a bottle of slimquick and right now it just sits on my desk un opened. I want to take it, but I worry about a few things…the side affects, my age (I’m 19, too young?) and also because I love to lift weights and build muscle mass even as a girl. But the fat is tough to get rid of so I got this stuff… I’m curious if this stuff could negatively affect my muscle tone?
Also, because I haven’t started taking the pills yet, I figured I’d start off with a month of just diet and my routine gym workouts to lose the quick water at first, then when I plateau I’ll start the pills to push me past that barrier.
Kate, I think SlimQuick is for the most part, just a stimulant. If you do try it, start with less than what is recommended, at least for the first week to see how you feel. I do think starting with diet and exercise is a right way to go so Id do that.
So it’s your site that I saw mention of the “wellness programs” offered by some hospitals! I’ll be darn.
Lowell, yes some do offer these. check into them.
Thank you. You’re very kind. I’ll do that. I’m really worried because I don’t know the first thing about these supplements and I was going to get some of the Alli for her since I’ve seen some indications that it might work. However, yesterday I came across a warning that Alli causes kidney damage to about 1 in 50 people who use it and she only has one kidney now so I’m afraid to try that one now.
I want something that will help her although I’m of the opinion that it needs to be used with diet and exercise and perhaps one of these weight loss programs (I’ve heard some hospitals might offer some sort of free programs but I’ll have to check into it).
I’ll go to the site you suggested now and hopefully we can help her in a way that is both safe and effective.
Lowell, yes try free programs at hospitals. weight watchers and jenny craig also get high marks too.
I have a friend who wants to try one of these weight loss drugs. I don’t know anything at all about them. Is there anything at all you can suggest that is effective and hopefully safe? I’m pretty desperate here. I want to help her but I simply don’t know how.
Lowell, a lot of people who tell me that a product worked for them, also worked out and ate a little less. In that way, if a product like slimquick etc. -is going to help, I think it might work best when people did other things. Slimqick for the most part looks like a caffeine pill to me. Check out my resource page and look at the “weight loss category” and look at the first link – what weight loss supplements work http://supplementclarity.com/resources/ thats a link to a post I wrote about weight loss supplements and other things that might help your friend.
i just started to use the slimquick razor and I work all the time so i don’t have time to go exercise i do a lot of walking at my job tho but is there anything i can do to try to speed the weight loss up like drinking slim fast or anything also does smoking cigarettes decrease the effect of this.
Hi Candice, please dont start smoking to lose weight (and if you do smoke I hope you quit). Slimfast is just a meal replacement so you drink that instead of eating. I would eat rather than do slim fast because food is better. remember its not just about loseing weight but being healthy. As for losing weigh fast, the weight didnt come on fast and it may not leave fast either. Also, its often not good to lose weight fast either because that can lead to things like skin sagging which Im sure you dont want.
if you want to keep using slimquick that fine, give it a month or so and see if it worked. If not, try the slim fast. I would not combine them though. I don’t think its needed.
could you research the new Slimquick green tea and raspberry ketone flavour thank you
Shar, I will add it to my list but Ive already looked at green tea and raspberry ketones. here they are
If you know the research on those you can pretty much figure out if the new Slimquick is worth your money or not.
I actually lost weight with Slim Quick, I lost so much weight I went through around 5 or 6 bottles..I really liked it. I did develop some health problems and my doctor told me that it may have been aggravated by high doses of caffeine. None the less, It did boost my metabolism and I lost a lot weight quickly.
EMatthews. can you elaborate a little on what health issues you developed? Blood pressure?
I have stumbled upon your site and I’ve found it to be super informative. As a summary, through all of your research which if any of the weight loss supplements that you’ve researched would you recommend or at least say would be the most beneficial/ least harmful or useless? Thank you! Keep up the great work!
Hi Ashley, so far, I have not found anything I feel comfortable saying is safe and works for everybody. Ive noticed that most weight loss products seem to contain the same ingredients. They are all either stimulants or laxatives and Ive been seeing a few lately that contain iodine /seaweed in the hopes that this will increase thyroid hormone. Here is something else I wrote about weight loss supplements that may help http://www.joe-cannon.com/what-weight-loss-supplements-work/
can you review the slimquick razor?
Jezabel, Ive already reviewed Slimquick here is the review if you missed it http://supplementclarity.com/slimquick-weight-loss-review/
I looked at Slimquick Razor and it just looks like a lot of things that have caffeine and it also has some iodine (the idea is that iodine helps you make more thyroid hormone). It doesn’t look much different than other fat burners Ive seen.
Amanda thanks for saying all of that! I appreciate your impute 🙂
I was just researching different supplements and thought I’d add something to this one (even though it’s old). I have poly cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and have what you would call an unreliable reproductive system. 🙂 The various fertility drugs my dr was prescribing 2 years ago had side effects I didn’t deal well with and I went the homeopathic route (under his care/direction) as an alternative and had success conceiving our son, born just a few months ago and hence why I’m looking to lose weight now.
Anyway… Soy isoflavones and vitex agnus-castus were the 2 supplements that I took to increase ovulation or the possibility of ovulation. There is a SLIGHT increase in the possibility of multiple egg release with SI (I think it was a 1-5% increase) which would lead to the potential to multiple births, usually just 2 though high birth orders are possible.
Vitex didn’t have this increase but does increase the potential for ovulation. Both of these supplements definitely can affect birth control pills because of this. For the women that consider this supplement for themselves I think it’s very important to know of these risks, though slight. Knowing Slim Quick has it in it definitely crosses it off my list, I have enough problems with reproductive health as it is. Thanks for your reviews!
I may have PCOS, I’m waiting on my results to come back, If i do have it which my DR was pretty confident that i could have it. Im kinda iffy about taking pills i prefer the natural ingredients. Is there anything else you did differently besides take the 2 supplements?
Hi Kay. you posted this under my SlimQuick review but you said you were taking Zi Xiu Tang. Can you re-post your comment in the zi xiu tang section so everybody can chime in.
I have been taking Zi Xiu Tang for almost 2 weeks and haven’t lost a pound! It does decrease my appetite, makes me feel full faster when I eat, made my mouth dry in the beginning and gave me hot flashes.
As for the detox part, it didn’t make me go as much as I thought that I would. I’m going to continue taking them until finished to see if I end up losing weight, but so far, I wouldn’t purchase it again since its not really working for me. I don’t see how all of these people are losing all of their weight because its not working for me! I’m 5’6 and weigh 155, so its not like I have tons to lose. I was just trying to lose 10-15lbs.
Thanks Mary. Its hard to say how much caffeine is in SlimQuick. I did see a label that mentioned it has “more than 200mg of methylxanthines (including caffeine)” Methylxanthines are a group of related compounds of which caffeine is a member. Does that mean it has 200 mg of caffeine? Im not sure because they dont seem to break it down for us to see. I’d call them and ask.
Ill also review the other types of SlimQuick and post them in the near future.
Joe
Joe –
Thanks as always for another breakdown of verifiable science vs. advertising!
Just curious, what is the total amount of caffeine per serving / dose for this material? I considered buying SlimQuick recently: however, I recognized a few of the ingredients as “hidden” caffeine, but was unable to calculate how many cups of coffee-equivalent I would be taking in.
PLEASE research the other SlimQuick products.