bmiSMART Review: Does it Work?

bmiSMART

The product line called bmiSMART consists of three supplements that are designed to promote healthy weight and appetite control. Have you used it? We want your bmiSMART review.

Claims & Features

• Weight loss and wellness supplements
• Includes three products: I-Block, I-Control, and I-Remove
• 30-day money back guarantee
• Shelf life of three years
• Each dose is individually wrapped

Cost & Availability

You can purchase any of the three bmiSMART products from the official website for $29.99 each. You can buy all three for a reduced rate of $74.97, saving $15 over the price of purchasing all three separately.

bmiSMART Commercial

The TV commercial below has been airing as of this April 2016 writing.

bmiSMART Review

There are currently three products under the “bmiSMART” umbrella: I-Block, I-Control, and I-Remove. Each is designed to assist in weight loss from a slightly different approach. Below we will take a closer look at each of the three products which make up the bmiSMART brand.

The website claims that bmiSMART is new, but “…we feature the same ingredient technology as the #1 weight-loss product in Europe for the last four years.” Although the specific European product isn’t mentioned, one can take a peek at the website of its maker InQPharm to see what studies are shown there. That is where you’ll see efficacy studies for the proprietary blends created by the company, as well as all of the products which use it. Thus, it is safe to assume that the other products referenced by the website are Liposinol and XLS-Medical (see below.)

I-Block

I-Block is said to be a carb and sugar blocker. Its active ingredients are grape marc (Vitis Vinifera) and L-arabinose (Zea Mays). It is to be taken prior to eating a meal which will allow you to absorb less calories from carbs and sugars. Each packet contains two tablets which contain 1290mg of the proprietary complex called Tanitol™. For weight loss, you are to take 2 tablets twice a day before your two main meals. There are 40 tablets per box, which is a 10-day supply.

Their FAQ explains:

By taking Tanitol™ prior to eating, digestive enzymes are inhibited from breaking down carbohydrates and sugars. This action prevents some of the carbohydrates and sugars from being absorbed in the digestive tract, thus reducing calorie intake. As a result, Tanitol™ helps individuals maintain a healthy blood-sugar level and manage weight fluctuations associated with carb and sugar consumption.

Does it work?

Although we don’t know how much of each primary ingredient is included in this particular proprietary complex, we can take a look at studies on each component for a better idea.

L-arabinose has been studied for its ability to “block sugar.” A 1996 study concluded, “Thus, the results demonstrated that L-arabinose selectively inhibits intestinal sucrase activity in an uncompetitive manner and suppresses the glycemic response after sucrose ingestion by inhibition of sucrase activity.”

Grape seed extract (Vitis vinifera) has also been looked at in numerous studies. A 2008 report entitled Grape seed extract (Vitis vinifera) partially reverses high fat diet-induced obesity in C57BL/6J mice concluded, “grape seed extract supplements in high fat diet might normalize body weight, epididymal and back fat weights, lipid concentrations, and carnitine levels through controlling lipid metabolism.”

Reader reviews for those ingredients as standalone supplements are generally positive.

I-Control

I-Control is the appetite reducer in the set. It is to be used to suppress appetite before or between meals. The active ingredients are contained within the proprietary complex called Redusure ™ which contains konjac root (purified glucomannan), red seaweed (carrageenan) and xanthan gum. For weight loss, you are to take two capsules with liquid three times a day, 30 minutes before each meal. There are 60 capsules per box, for a 10-day supply.

By taking I-CONTROL before or between meals, the supplement’s natural formula activates to create a feeling of fullness. In fact, based on clinical research, when taking I-CONTROL thirty minutes before eating, 94.7% of subjects reported feeling moderate to strong levels of fullness.*

Does it work?

For weight loss, Konjac root provides a soluble fiber called glucomannan. A number of supplements contain this ingredient, and researchers believe that it works by absorbing water in the stomach and forming a gel, which makes you feel full longer by delaying digestion.

Another ingredient in I-Control is red seaweed (carrageenan), which is a thickening agent than can help you feel full. It is perhaps the most controversial ingredient of the bunch, however. Prevention published an article discussing the negative effects of red seaweed (carrageenan) back in 2013 as did Shape in 2015, noting, “Derived from seaweed, carrageenan has been linked to ulcers, inflammation, and other gastrointestinal problems.”

Redusure can also be found in a product called XLS-Medical Specialist.

I-Remove

I-Remove is the fat binder of the group. This is said to work best when you are consuming a meal containing fat, but still want to keep your calories low. A proprietary complex called Litramine™ is made from prickly pear cactus (Opuntia Ficus Indica) and acacia gum (Gum Arabic). Recommended dosage is two tablets with liquid three times per day, right after each meal. A box will give you a 10-day supply.

By taking I-REMOVE directly after consuming a high-fat meal or snack, the supplement’s natural formula activates to reduce fat absorption by up to 28%.*

Other products which use Litramine are XLS-Medical Fat Binder and Lipsinol.

You may be interested in the rather extensive 2012 review of  Liposinol by Diet Pills Watchdog, which gave the supplement a “rejected” rating. Keep in mind that although the supplement was listed as “rejected” it was conceded that there were “strong clinical trials” and that the ingredients were safe. It was also pointed out that there were no reports of scams or ripoffs by InQPharm.

Fat binders have been shown to reduce caloric intake, but it should also be pointed out that they have little effect if you eat a meal with little or no fat.

Observations

The two biggest concerns after reading the list above are regarding the products efficacy, and the cost. As shown above, there are studies which generally corroborate the positive claims for many of the ingredients in the bmiSmart catalog of products. The makers have done a good job of including well-received ingredients, while sidestepping some of the more controversial options (aside from red seaweed). Thus, the efficacy of the bmiSMART suite appears to be generally positive and well-documented.

The only significant complaint we have about bmiSmart is that of cost. The complete suite of products will set you back about $75 – but that will only last you 10 days if you adhere to the recommended dosage. Thus, to use the full bmiSmart set for a full month will cost you about $225.

Similar Products

Many of the individual ingredients of the three products above can be found online and in supplement stores. Consider the following.

• Grape seed extract – Perhaps the most popular of all of the ingredients listed here, grape seed extract can be found for about $12-$20 from a wide selection of vendors.
• L-arabinose – This ingredient is not often sold by itself, but is contained in a number of “sugar blocker” supplements.
• Konjac root – This popular supplement is produced by a number of vendors, ranging from about $10-$15.
• Prickly pear cactus – A number of prickly-pear supplements can be found for about $13-$20.
• Acacia gum – You can find bottles of acacia fiber for about $7-$10.

If you are primarily only interested in one of the products above, and cost is of a concern, you may want to explore some of the alternatives shown in the list above.

Epic Conclusion

There are clinical trials which do support most of the claims regarding the suite of products under the bmiSMART umbrella. The three products complement each other and present a rather comprehensive solution to managing calories throughout the day. At about $225 for a one-month supply, however, it is not for the more frugal dieters. Taking up to 16 pills a day also may not appeal to some consumers. If money and the number of supplements required each day are not an issue to you, bmiSMART could be an excellent addition to your weight loss journey.

Have you tried bmiSMART? Please give it a star rating and comment below.