Calorad Collagen Weight Loss Potion: Review of Marketing Claims
INTRODUCTION
Calorad collagen dietary supplements stormed onto the scene around the mid to late 1990s with claims that you can “lose weight while you sleep.” The marketing claims the product can improve a multitude of ills. The magic that seems of particular interest to the athletic consumer is the claim that this product will enable one to lose fat and increase muscle mass without any real effort. We want to believe, but are we really that gullible? Are there any facts behind such claims? Let’s start out with a closer look at the mystery ingredients found in Calorad.
MYSTERY INGREDIENTS?
Truth be known, there is nothing whatsoever mystical or magical about Calorad other than it is an expensive protein supplement. A breakdown of the ingredient list reveals:
- Collagen Hydrolysate—Simply hydrolyzed collagen which is nothing more than degraded protein (collagen is a bodily protein). Why not eat an egg or a slice of chicken, or a can of tuna for $1.39?
- Aloe Vera—has a laxative effect when ingested orally and can cause gastrointestinal upset in some individuals. I guess frequent trips to the bathroom could theoretically cause weight loss
- Glycerin—chemically, it is a sugar alcohol (1,2,3 propanetriol). It is probably used as a mild sweetener, as many users have mentioned Calorad’s off-taste
- Potassium Sorbate & Methyl Paraben—Nothing more than preservatives to keep the collagen from spoiling
- Natural Flavor, Demineralised Water—Just a couple of extras for flavor and volume, but would hardly have any effect in the body
There doesn’t appear to be any magic here. All of these nutrients can easily be found in food that we all eat on a daily basis.
WEIGHT LOSS
It is probable that the said weight-loss associated with Calorad stems from the fact that its users don’t eat anything before bed, three hours to be exact. Then the consumer is supposed to take the Calorad on an empty stomach right before going to sleep. Lo and behold, watch the pounds not-so-miraculously melt away.
Enter critical thinking here: Let’s say Joe Public was formerly eating 2500 calories per day, and hypothetically, 500 of those calories were regularly consumed within three hours before bed. So now he’s replacing those 500 calories with 14 calories worth of Calorad, for a deficit of 486 calories per day.
Considering about 3500 calories per pound of fat, we estimate that 486 calories (round up to 500 for simplicity purposes) multiplied by 7 days per week equals 3500 calories extra that are not being consumed. This alone would constitute a pound of fat per week. Add in exercise and the caloric deficit would be larger, consequently leading to greater weight loss. No magic here, just elementary arithmetic. If we eat less that what our bodies need, we lose weight. We certainly don’t need to spend extra money on collagen supplements.
LEAN BODY MASS INCREASES?
Believe it or not, claims persist that Calorad will actually increase muscle mass. Irrespective of what is claimed, muscle does not just spontaneously develop from consuming of a protein supplement. To take this one step further, you could inject yourself with anabolic steroids (not that I advocate that) and not gain an ounce of muscle unless you provide additional demands on the body’s musculature via resistance training. So it’s quite unlikely that taking hydrolyzed collagen supplements will cause an increase in lean body mass.
Ceding the benefit of the doubt, consuming protein while lowering calories can help attenuate the loss in muscle tissue associated with its breakdown for use in gluconeogenesis (forming glucose from not carbohydrate sources). But even so, this would not cause an increase in lean body mass. In this case, the burden of proof is on the company to provide legitimate evidence that it can, in fact, INCREASE lean body mass, and consequently the metabolic rate.
To those selling Calorad, if this proof exists please provide it for all to see. If you are convinced that it can increase lean body mass, explain how you quantify this increase. What tests have you done to prove that Calorad does indeed increase the amount of muscle? These are honest questions that deserve an answer. Is this not a claim made by Calorad and its force of distributors?
THE RESEARCH
There is no formal research on Calorad that can be found in peer-reviewed journals. Why? Simply because it does not exist. Anecdotal testimonials considered to be “testing” or proof of efficacy are completely unscientific and hold no merit except for those that sell the product. And, separating cause and effect from coincidence is difficult outside of experimentally controlled conditions, so making definitive statements as to its effectiveness is inappropriate.”
13 Responses to "Calorad Collagen Weight Loss Potion: Review of Marketing Claims"
Since I studied it myself for 10 years, I never read a post that write perfectly about hits subject. Thanks
[...] Calorad weight loss supplement: Facts you need to know [...]
I am really sorry that I read such an ill-informed article on Calorad but then I guess articles are needed to stay in business. I used the product exactly as directed. Lost from 36 pant size down to 14 pant size and 363 pounds down to 156 pounds. Arthritic problems in back disappeared and looked much younger because I used the other products Dr. Grisha offered. My dog lost 12 pounds and does not suffer from artritic hips, and a friends cat lost 19 ( he was huge and also did not have an alergic reaction to grass. All of this in 9 months. It is the perfect formulation for the daily needs for our bodies. Also, rubbed the liquid on the incision right after carpel tunnel surgery 3 times a day and there is no scar because of the body’s ability to produce new tissue if given what it needs so that it can do what it is designed to do. IT IS ALL ABOUT GIVING THE BODY, DAILY, THE PERFECT FORMULATED FOOD THAT IT NEEDS TO OPERATE AT AN OPTIMAL LEVEL. My grey hair went back to it’s original color, eyelashes started growing again, nails get longer and denser and my eyesight clears up as long as I use this product. GET INFORMED !!!!! I am 60 years old and I do not share my Calorad because I will never be without it.
Dear Mary,
It’s unfortunate that you feel that way. Though you should be aware that this is hardly a money-making website. You’ll note the conspicuous absence of products for sale. My articles provide free information to those looking for a perspective on things other than those influenced by vested corporate interests (i.e., supplement manufacturers).
Regarding your weight loss, I don’t deny that you lost weight using the product. If you read my article again, you will see that I highlight the fact that Calorad is merely a ploy to get you to reduce your calorie intake. Very simply, reduce calories = reduced body weight. The fact that you don’t eat three hours before bed and then take a product which contains next to no calories explains the weight loss.
Irrespective of how you lost the weight, it is quite common to feel an improvement in arthritis symptoms by virtue of reducing overall gravitational load on your body (particularly the hips, knees, and ankles. I’d be willing to bet this has nothing to do with Calorad’s “miracle” formulation.
It looks like you’re convinced that Calorad is a dietary panacea, so I won’t bother going into any more detail. Good luck with everything.
Yours in health,
Bill
Hi, Bill,
I enoyed your article. Years ago my mother bought a case of the stuff. She did loose weight and and claimed she was sleeping deepr . She gave me a bottle. I did not lose any weight, although I wa not religious about the abstinence before bed requirement. I did note a marked iprovement in sleep and I have always been a notoriously light sleeper.
My motherhad many friends who swore they lost weight like the lady who posted above. I wonder how much of that is due to the placebo effect in addition to the calorie deficit you highlight?
I also am curious as to whether you think there is the posssibility of any harm fromlong term use? I just read an article which said the popular weight loss product Sensa is primarily MSG. That may be deemed “safe” but I wouldn’t want a steady diet of it.
again thanks for an interesting website.
Gia
Hi Gia,
Thank you for taking time out to leave a comment. Most appreciated. I am not convinced any collagen-based weight loss products post any real safety threat (fortunately), but to date the company has yet to provide any independent scientific evidence that the product itself has any real impact on fat loss. They’ve just found a clever way to get people to eat less which likely explains the weight loss. Scientists like to view things from the perspective of “what does the preponderance of evidence show?” I know the general public and researchers will always butt heads on this point and perhaps that’s just an agree-to-disagree kind of thing. I think the religious fervor surrounding nutrition is quite disturbing. It is a very polarized topic and one that’s been raging on for ages.
I’m sensitive to both sides because when I was a kid I used to take all kinds of supplements and read what I like to call the muscle comics (Muscle and Fitness, Mens Health, etc) and believe a lot of the fluffy nutrition info they published. When I started studying nutrition at the university, I realized that much of my education was not only in nutrition but also in the foundation courses like biochemistry, nutritional biochemistry, exercise biochemistry, physiology, diet therapy, etc. I was thirsty for information because I wanted to be able to evaluate all the supplements i used to take from a scientific perspective. And over time, I came to realize that the vast majority of products were actually sold to consumers with VERY little objective proof that they did anything in the body. Or they used very tiny doses of active ingredient compared to massive doses used in the scientific studies (i.e., no effect in small doses – see pyruvate: http://www.drbillofhealth.com/nutrition/pyruvate-supplements-comprehensive-review-marketing-claims).
Anyway, getting back to Calorad or other collagen based products like it, the burden of proof is still on the company to prove that their product does what they say it does (and that it’s not just a calorie reduction sleight of hand) before going to market. It should not be on everyone else to prove that it doesn’t work. Unfortunately the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) does nothing to educate and is merely a legal loophole in the law which allows products to be sold to the public without having to be prove safe, effective, or that the dose on the label is what’s in the product SO LONG as it’s branded as a supplement and not a food product.
I’ve been painted as a rigid skeptic but this is not true. There are other products on the market that enjoy scientific support and can have positive health effects (St. John’s Wort, Creatine, etc). I don’t think there’s anything wrong with demanding fair and full disclosure for all dietary supplements so consumers can make an educated purchase. And if after all that someone still wants to spend their money, knowing full well that there is little to nil evidence supporting its efficacy, then that’s fine. But if there turns out to be a safety risk, then can’t say the warnings weren’t there.
The same rules of thumb still apply. Ease off the sodas, chips, cookies, and Big Macs, get out for regular exercise (walking), and don’t drink/smoke. Most people would benefit enormously just from this alone, without the need for dubiously marketing supplements.
Yours in Health,
Bill
Hi Bill, Thank you for your article. We saw a commercial for this right after watching Joyce Meyer. Like others, I also turn to the lord for every aspect of my life. After seeing this I had a overwhelming feeling to browse and it’s your article that drew me. I agree once someone who may not notice what they eat before bed then stops three hrs before will definitely lose weight. I have several medical issues myself, one being having had three surgery on each knee and needing knee replacement. I also became diabetic. With sugar ranging well over 200. My dr referred me to a dietitian who explained carbs to me and how they affect sugar and Weight. It’s amazing how many carbs a person eats who do not take notice. She gave me a set no. Allowed a day of carbs at 15 grams each. In three months I an down 30 pds and my highest sugar No is No more than 109 !!! My dr said He wishes all his diabetic patients listened like I have. I could NOT walk with my husband and dog due to my knees before.Now I walk a mile and half every other day. I definitely have more to lose and will do so safely with my dietitian and dr.I believe the lord wanted me to see your article to make me aware of my accomplishments without risk. Ty.
Hi,
I actually lost 30lbs in 3 months on Calorad PM marine formula. I did not change my eating habits or exercise much at all.
Hi Brooke,
If you followed the Calorad product instructions as indicated then it is highly probably that you did change your eating habits. Weight loss while using Calorad is not likely due to anything in the formulation, rather it is because you are consuming fewer calories (i.e., don’t eat anything for three hours before bed). All things considered, losing 30 lbs in 3 months translates to approximately 2.5 lbs of weight loss per week, which is what one would expect with mild calorie restriction anyway. I would like to commend you on your personal efforts and your subsequent success, though I think you should accept more credit for your results than what you give to Calorad. Keep up the great work.
Kind regards,
Bill
Thank you so much for the information. Yesterday when I saw the commercial I thought this might be the way to lose weight. Fortunatly the Lord told me that it took me years to put the weight on and that there is no easy way to take the weight off. So I decided to investigate calorad for myself. The fact that you stop eating 3 hours before bedtime and get more protein makes since to me. Your artical just saved me probably another $1000 by confirming Gods word. Thanks again and God bless
God bless is right! Further evidence that the lord works in mysterious ways:)
Dr Bill,
When Colorad 1st began to advertise on AM radio, the annoucer extolled that “Colorad is back!” I’d love to know why it left in the 1st place. If it was as great as they claim, why stop, unless they were forced to?
I agree with you; show me the empirical studies.
Thanks Jim, point well taken. You’re right. Seems as though these types of products come and go in waves. I’ve been doing consumer health advocacy for a long time now and the same old tricks seem to keep resurfacing one way or another and, sadly, people continue to fall for it hook, line, and sinker. Thanks for your comment! Cheers, Bill
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