L-carnitine has not been found to increase metabolic rates, but it is thought to relieve soreness in tired muscles after a long work out.
L-tyrosine has also never been linked to weight loss, but it is tied to depression relief in some studies.
Taurine is a common ingredient in many energy drinks, but no connection has been found between it and muscle growth. It is, however, essential for cat health.
"Sometimes companies just put these different ingredients in because other companies are doing it," Kantor said.
He found this to be true in a study he performed on popular energy drinks, where unrelated ingredients are included because consumers see them on one label, assume they are important, and thus only buy those drinks that carry the same unrelated ingredients.
Janice Caulfield, a customer service representative for Freshens, explained that the ingredients in the Slim Down Booster are amino acids and that taurine is found in energy drinks that you buy over the counter. However, she did not know how the booster works in terms of weight loss.
Linda Cook, an information representative for MET-Rx, also did not know how the ingredients cause weight loss.
The Freshens and MET-Rx Web sites display footnotes at the bottom of the page saying that the Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated the statements about the booster.
The Federal Trade Commission has posted a brochure on its Web site helping consumers spot the "red flag" advertisements from the factual ones.
L-tyrosine has also never been linked to weight loss, but it is tied to depression relief in some studies.
Taurine is a common ingredient in many energy drinks, but no connection has been found between it and muscle growth. It is, however, essential for cat health.
"Sometimes companies just put these different ingredients in because other companies are doing it," Kantor said.
He found this to be true in a study he performed on popular energy drinks, where unrelated ingredients are included because consumers see them on one label, assume they are important, and thus only buy those drinks that carry the same unrelated ingredients.
Janice Caulfield, a customer service representative for Freshens, explained that the ingredients in the Slim Down Booster are amino acids and that taurine is found in energy drinks that you buy over the counter. However, she did not know how the booster works in terms of weight loss.
Linda Cook, an information representative for MET-Rx, also did not know how the ingredients cause weight loss.
The Freshens and MET-Rx Web sites display footnotes at the bottom of the page saying that the Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated the statements about the booster.
The Federal Trade Commission has posted a brochure on its Web site helping consumers spot the "red flag" advertisements from the factual ones.
