Raspberry Ketone – Basic Information

What is Raspberry Ketone exactly?

                Raspberry ketone is a compound gives the raspberry fruit its pleasant aroma. It is also what gives red raspberry its antioxidant properties.  It is also referred to as Red Raspberry Ketone, European Red Raspberry or RK. In scientific terms, they are called Rubus Ideaus, Rubus Strigosus and Framboise Rouge.

 Since the 1960’s Raspberry Ketone has been used as a fragrance and flavoring agent . This compound was given a safe classification by the US Food and Drug Administration. It was classified as a GRAS substance which simply means is Generally Recognized as Safe.

What is its relevance to weight loss?

                A published 2005 study on raspberry ketone and its anti-obesity action revealed that raspberry ketones resulted in a reduction in total body weight after 10 weeks of use.  Aside from the weight reduction, the subjects also had a decrease in fats in the liver.

This is the effect of RK at a consumption of between 1 to 2 per cent of total calories consumed.  RK is believed to have a direct effect on the brain hormone called norepinephrine.  Norepinephrine is also a neurotransmitter that affects the body’s ability to burn fats. It was observed during the research that a combination of raspberry ketones and norepinephrine caused the fats cells to shrink. The combination alters lipid metabolism, increasing norepinephrine induced lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation in adipocytes.

The results of the study also show that taking RK at 5 per cent of total calorie intake lowers the amount of triglycerides in the body.

                There has been a more recent study which supports the previous one and it further reveals that RK has a positive effect on adiponectin in the fat cells.  Adiponectin is a protein hormone that is responsible for the regulation of a number of metabolic processes including glucose regulation and fatty acid oxidation. Adiponectin increases sensitivity of insulin.  Increased insulin sensitivity means faster metabolism and in effect results in better fat burning.

Is Raspberry Ketone for you?

                Raspberry Ketone supplement is great for people who want to lose weight but can’t seem to find the time to go to the gym or prepare diet meals. Raspberry Ketone is also for those who have a lot of weight to lose who want to supplement their work out for faster results.  The good news is that raspberry ketone supplements give people another alternative to lose weight because it lets the body metabolize faster than it would with exercise alone.