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Attention all Drinkers and Smokers!!!

As our nation grapples with an obesity epidemic, one of the latest developments in the diet "wars" is a starch neitralizer called Phase2, recently available in a variety of weight-loss supplements. The starch neutralizer, a concentrated extract of the white kidney bean, represents a new ingredient category that gets to the heart of why we gain weight - our increased consumption and craving of simple carbohydrates.

Phase2 is an amylase inhibitor. In other words, it works to inhibit the action of alpha amylase - the enzyme that helps turn starch to sugar. Sugars are either burned up by the body or turn to fat. Scientists discovered amylase inhibitors when they observed that bugs that used alpha amylase to break down plants, such as the white kidney bean.

As in any diet regimen, there is no magic bullet. However, for those who have tried exercise and diet, but can't give up their carbs, Phase2 may help them shed those unwanted pounds.

For example, a recent double-blind, placebo-controled, 50-person study showed that patients who took the ingredient, Phase2, lost nearly a half-pound per week (3.8 lbs. over eight weeks), on average, or better than 200% more than those on placebo. Patients on the starch neutralizer also lost 1.5 inches around their waists, on average, or 43% more than those on placebo. The study was conducted by Jay Udani, MD, medical director, Integrative Medicine Program, Northridge Hospital Medical Center/UCLA.

One of the most surprising results of the study was the impact that the starch neutralizer had on triglycerides, a form of bad cholesterol. There was a dramatic, 26-point drop in triglyceride levels, on average, for those patients taking the starch neutralizer, while those on placebo averaged only an 8-point drop in triglyceride levels.

"The difference between the two groups was more than 300%," reported Udani. "Consequently, the ability of this product to reduce triglycerides may be an important adjunct in maintaining a good cardiac profile."

Another surprising result was the effect of the starch neutralizer on energy levels. Those patients on the starch neutralizer reported a 13% increase in energy, on average, while those on placebo reported no improvement in this area. This is important because the starch neutralizer is not a stimulant.

No significant adverse effects from the starch neutralizer were reported by any of the patients participating in the study. This result is consistent with both acute and chronic LD50 toxicity studies, which showed that Phase2 is safe and non-toxic.

Three previous double-blind, placebo-controlled human pilot trials, conducted at the University of Scranton, demonstrated that Phase2 reduced the absorption of starch calories from 57% to 85%.

For a researcher, these results are encouraging and look very promising. Phase 2 appears to be a safe, non-stimulant carbohydrate control mechanism that produces weight loss by reduction of fat mass, while preserving lean body mass.

Phase2 is manufactured through a proprietary process in a GMP-aproved facility. It is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) according to DSHEA standards.

Pharmachem Laboratories, Inc., and its subsidiaries, the H. Reisman Corporation, and American Ingredients, manufacture a complete line of nutritional ingredients for the food, nutrition and pharmaceutical industries. Standard operating procedures for quality control include testing every lot for potency, microbiology and organaleptics. All manufacturing facilities have in-house testing laboratories, and meet GMP standards.