Chitosan Side Effects

Chitosan is a supplement that is taken along with meals, and it is said that chitosan helps in losing weight. The idea of an all natural remedy to lose weight appeals to a lot of people, and chitosan is accepted as a remedy in spite of the existence of some chitosan side effects. Many people call chitosan 'fat inhibitor' or 'fat magnet', as it is said to possess extraordinary ability to enable a person to lose weight. Despite these claims though, it is hard to say if chitosan does have all these great abilities, or if this is just another marketing gimmick. Understanding the origin, the nature and the side effects of chitosan will help you make an informed decision for yourself.

What is Chitosan?
Chitosan is a sugar or a fiber that is derived from the outer skeletal layers of crustaceans like shrimp, crabs or lobsters. The purpose of obtaining this fiber is for purely medicinal reasons. Chitosan has been around for more than 30 years now, and even though there are some people who favor it and some people who oppose it, there is medical or scientific evidence to back up the claims about the benefits of this supplement. There are a range of chitosan side effects though, that can commonly affect anyone who is consuming chitosan.

Since it is a non-digestive substance, it cannot be consumed directly by anyone. This requires chitosan to be consumed in the form of some supplements to go with the meals a person takes. There are a few basic chitosan side effects that are common to most people, but any long term side effects of chitosan cannot be accurately stated, as there are not enough studies conducted on the use of chitosan. This factor has further led to increased controversy and debate about the benefits and advantages of chitosan, as well as chitosan side effects.

Benefits of Chitosan
As mentioned earlier, chitosan is considered extremely useful in order to lose weight. Marketers of chitosan widely and actively claim that you can eat absolutely anything and supplement it with chitosan, and you will not gain any extra weight. On the contrary, you will end up losing weight they say. The explanation for this is that chitosan is said to attach the fat present in the body to molecules, and thus prevents the absorption of fat by the body. This makes it a great weight loss supplement.

Apart from its use for weight loss, there are some other benefits of chitosan as well. It is widely claimed that consuming chitosan also improves one's immune system, and lowers the blood pressure. Treating anemia and lowering of cholesterol levels in the body are also benefits of chitosan that should not be overlooked. Apart from this, chitosan also increases the strength, stamina, endurance and the appetite of an individual. Chitosan also speeds up the healing of tissues after plastic surgery, and helps cure tooth and gum problems as well.

Chitosan Side Effects
Even though chitosan has been around for many years, there are not many scientific tests that have been carried out in order to check its usefulness and side effects. This has led to the debate about chitosan being endless, and till these tests are carried out, we will never know what the exact properties of chitosan are. Apart from the chitosan side effects that are mentioned here, there are many more which may not have yet been recorded, or which may have passed unnoticed. Here are a few of the known side effects of chitosan.

• Constipation
• Gas
• Upset stomach
• Anyone allergic to any form of shellfish will have an adverse reaction to chitosan
• Occasionally chitosan can hinder the absorption of useful minerals and chemicals by the body as well
• Pregnant women should definitely stay away from chitosan as it can affect the growth of the child
• Problems in breathing
• Swelling up of the wrists and the heels
• Rashes on skin

You must remember that not every single individual will display these chitosan side effects. Each person will react differently to the supplement, and may display some different symptoms of their own. If you are looking for a quick way to lose weight you can give this supplement a try, but be wary of the known and unknown chitosan side effects.