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Calorad Collagen Supplement Review

Calorad Collagen Supplement Review

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Calorad collagen supplements stormed onto the scene around the mid to late 1990s with claims that you can “lose weight while you sleep.”

They have since moved away from this and now make claims that it can help you improve your shape and sculpt your body.

The currently active website for Calorad (calorad.com) claims that the products is “known internationally” and is “sold in many industrialized countries such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, France, Poland and others.”

But as of February 2016, it appears few people are actually searching for it on Google, returning less than 100,000 results for the term “Calorad.”

A promotional video on YouTube only has 1900 page views in two and a half years. Not quite the supplement juggernaut it once was.

Interestingly, Calorad does seem to be enjoying a bit of a resurgence in Nigeria.

In fact, this article receives most of its views from the West African nation, which makes sense given the Calorad Nigeria Facebook page has over 14,000 subscribers.

Calorad marketing claims

The company website claims that Calorad is a “major phenomenon” with “millions of users” and that it:

  • “is the most powerful protein supplement in the world market”
  • “is an amazing powerful body sculpting and health supplement”
  • “provides a perfect chain of amino acids to support your body in many critical areas including fat loss, rebuilding lean muscle, restoring the body’s collagen base, and providing balance to the metabolism.
  • “will improve your sleep”
  • “helps you attain your ideal shape”
  • “gives you more energy and make you feel great”
  • “will help you achieve your goal of total well-being of body and mind”

That sounds like a pretty impressive list, but is there any evidence that supports these claims?

In a word: no.

As I’ll discuss below, there is interest in the scientific community about the therapeutic use of collagen for arthritis sufferers, but nothing that supports lofty claims of enhanced weight loss.

Calorad research rundown

There is a Wikipedia page which provides a few references for collagen hydrolysate, but none of these directly support marketing claims around weight loss and muscle gain.

One reference suggests that cartilage-derived type II collagen can help relieve arthritis pain, but it is not clear whether or not Calorad was used in the study.

Another study suggests that collagen hydrolysate can help improve symptoms of fibromyalgia with concurrent temporomandibular joint problems, but as there are a number of collagen-type supplements on the market, it is not known if Calorad was used in this study.

There are other reports here and here which are cited on the wikipedia page, but these references do not support claims for weight loss, muscle gain, energy levels, improved sleep, etc.

The bottom line is that the main marketing claims for Calorad appear to be embellished hot air with no clinically proven substance.

Calorad testimonials

The company also lists a number of anecdotal testimonials claiming that (of course) Calorad is great.

Whilst I have no doubt that people can lose weight at the same time they’re taking the product, this does not mean that the product caused the said results.

One of the main limitations of testimonials is that they do not separate cause and effect from coincidence.  

For example, if someone started using Calorad at the same time they started eating healthier and exercising, then they would have lost weight and felt healthier anyway.

But many people might erroneously attribute their results to the product with no consideration for all the hard work they did with their diet and exercise.

What are Calorad’s ingredients?  

Calorad’s ingredients are actually quite basic and, in practical terms, make it nothing more than an expensive protein supplement

The ingredients include:

Collagen hydrolysate

Hydrolysed collagen is nothing more than degraded protein (collagen is a bodily protein).

Why not eat an egg or a slice of chicken, or a can of tuna for $1.39?  

The source of the collagen appears to be of both marine and bovine sources, but there is limited disclosure across the variety of Calorad websites.

Aloe vera

Aloe vera exerts a laxative effect that can cause gastrointestinal upset in some individuals.

Frequent trips to the toilet certainly could cause “weight loss” on the scale, but this would not do much in the fat loss department.

Glycerin

Glycerin is probably used as a mild sweetener, as many users have mentioned Calorad’s off-taste.

Potassium sorbate, methyl paraben, sodium benzoate

Nothing more than preservatives to keep the collagen from spoiling.

Water and natural lemonade and orange flavour

Just a couple of extras for flavour and volume, but would hardly have any effect in the body.

Citric acid

Citric acid is just the natural acid from a lemon. It is used in products as a preservative.

The bottom line on Calorad’s ingredients: There doesn’t appear to be anything magic here. All of these nutrients can easily be found in food that we already eat on a daily basis.

calorad ingredients

Does Calorad work for weight loss?  

It is probable that the said weight loss associated with Calorad stems from the fact that you’re not supposed to eat anything before bed – three hours to be exact.

Then you’re supposed to take Calorad on an empty stomach right before going to sleep and watch the weight melt away.

Enter critical thinking here: Let’s say you were previously eating 2500 calories per day, and hypothetically, 500 of those calories were regularly consumed within three hours before bed.

So now you’re replacing those 500 calories with 14 calories worth of Calorad, for a deficit of 486 calories per day.

Considering about 3500 calories per pound of fat (half kg), we estimate that 486 calories (round up to 500 for simplicity purposes) multiplied by 7 days per week equals 3500 calories extra that are not being consumed.

This alone would constitute a pound of fat (half kg) per week.

Add in exercise and the caloric deficit would be larger, consequently leading to greater weight loss.

No magic here, just elementary arithmetic.

If you eat less that what our bodies need, you lose weight.

You can save that extra money you were going to spend on Calorad and instead spend it on fruits and veggies at the supermarket.

Can Calorad increase muscle mass?

Believe it or not, claims persist that Calorad will actually increase muscle mass. Irrespective of what is claimed, muscle does not just spontaneously develop from consuming of a protein supplement.

To take this one step further, you could inject yourself with anabolic steroids (not that I advocate that) and not gain an gram of muscle unless you add in some heavy resistance training.

Bottom line: it’s quite unlikely that taking hydrolyzed collagen supplements will cause an increase in lean body mass unless you do the hard work.

Giving the benefit of the doubt, consuming protein while lowering calories can help minimise muscle loss associated with its breakdown for use in gluconeogenesis (forming glucose from not carbohydrate sources).

But even so, this would not cause an increase in lean body mass. In this case, the burden of proof is on the company to provide legitimate evidence that it can, in fact, INCREASE lean body mass, and consequently the metabolic rate.

If you’re selling Calorad, then you should be able to provide evidence that the product can support muscle growth. To date, no research exists to support this claim.

Calorad reviews

To the best of my knowledge, there are no other independent and unbiased reviews on the internet that do not have an ulterior marketing motive.  

I would advise you to be wary of other reviews that are selling the product or slamming Calorad but then offering their own products.

How can I contact the company that makes Calorad?

If you need to get in touch with the company, there is an email and physical address, though I had to do a bit of digging through the website to find them.

Corporation Santé Naturelle Carpe Diem Inc.
470, boul. Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier, Suite 103
Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Québec  Canada J3H 6K3

Carpe Diem Customer Relations: info <at> corporationcarpediem.com

Does Calorad work?  The verdict

Before you take out your credit card and start typing in your digits, let’s quickly review the facts.

First, the company makes some very lofty claims and has nothing to support them other than a few testimonials and a “take our word for it.”

Second, there does not appear to be anything in the product that has been shown to cause fat loss or muscle gain.

Third, the testimonials on the company website are not evidence that the product does what they say.

The bottom line is that Calorad appears to be an expensive protein supplement with no body of scientific evidence supporting marketing claims.

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Kelly

Sunday 21st of May 2023

Actually, I lost 5 pounds a week taking this supplement. I took the nighttime bovine formula, the drank 8 glasses of water during the day. I lost 95 pounds. If you do what the directions say, you will lose weight. If you are somebody who is hundred of pounds overweight, then I suggest working on your mental addiction to food as well. Nobody can eat 4 pizzas a day, and three tubs of ice cream and lose weight. I didn’t change my eating habits much, but I did try to eat healthier so I could develop new habits. After I added the Calorad is when the 5 pounds a week weight loss-started happening. I suggest adding at least some walking so you will continue to change bad habits.

ADele

Friday 17th of March 2023

Sorry you putting your claims that don't give Calorad an A+. I injured my back after lifting a large heavy rock with 2 guys and myself (a 50 year old woman) causing a vertebrae to pop out. I went to dr's, chiro's, ate healthy, nothing helped the debilitating pain. I took Calorad for 3 weeks! I stood up one day from bed with no pain and was fine for over 30 years. I'm strong! Keeps me fit if I keep active! It will always be my go to for rebuilding cartilage and keeping me strong!!!!! 76 now lifting heavy furniture with no problem!

Sharon Free

Friday 8th of April 2022

LMAO, They must have really pissed you off for you to go through so much time and effort to try and destroy them......

Dr Bill Sukala

Friday 8th of April 2022

There's no destroying misinformation. It lives on in the hearts of millions and there will always be marketers ready to serve them.

Adele Breeden

Monday 25th of October 2021

I need to throw in my 2 cents of very valuable info on Calorad.... that I love! 25 years ago I lifted a huge rock wanting to help the 3 guys that were putting their muscle to the work of moving it. Well being a 50 year old woman pushing my limit of strength caused something to go awry so bad that I ended up crawling out of bed each morning for weeks .....until I was told about Calorad from a friend. Calorad had healed her bone to bone knee problem! So I took it for 3 weeks the whole time having to keep pillows under my knees when in bed to relieve the pain.THEN one morning...I just got up like "pre lifting of rock" like nothing ever happened to me and have been fine for 25 years. I haven't taken it since then, but now that I'm 75, I'm feeling I could use it again, hopefully to strengthen my connective tissue. I'm looking on this site to see what others have healed from. Sorry to see a dr. that puts his 2 cents in that has not talked to those like myself or my friend! I never had a weight problem, just cartilage issues. It regrew my cartilage as it did my friend! HUGE I'm so thankful for Calorad! Also since we live in a society that eats junk food, our bodies are filled with toxins. Many people may have to deal with ridding the toxins before their bodies could take on ridding the fat molecules. We're all differently fed, so results will be different. I've been eating healthy for years so my body healed quickly. Other's may take longer.

Dr Bill Sukala

Monday 25th of October 2021

When you pull a muscle in your back, even if you do absolutely nothing other than rest, it will improve on its own - with or without a collagen pill (which would be digested like any other protein in the body).

You mention toxins. Which toxins? Can you specifically name them?

Jerry

Tuesday 9th of March 2021

In the early 2000's I used Calorad at bedtime and did indeed lose weight, 20lbs in 3 months. However, it was during this time that the manufacturer, per enclosed literature when my third bottle arrived, was having trouble getting bovine (cow) sourced collagen and had started using marine (fish) sourced collagen. I simply could not tolerate the fishy taste, which was like licking a tuna fish can, so I stopped using it. The weight came back.

I recently decided to try Calorad again. Today, they offer both bovine and marine formulations. I had to laugh because their webpage says they offer marine sourced as an alternative for the vegetarian and kosher market.

I ordered three bottles of the original or classic bovine formulation, which came last week. First off, the flavor is much improved. There really is no comparison. It used to be hold your nose, down the hatch, and pray it stayed down. Now it's more like a citrus flavored soft drink.

As for weight loss. In the first week I've lost 6lbs. I'm 6' 225lbs. What I notice more than anything is my appetite during the day is substantially reduced. Also, I'm not craving empty calorie carbs like usual.

Unfortunately, and the reason I searched out and read this article is that yesterday I had a terrible headache, which is not unusual for me, a chronic migraine sufferer. Not sure if the headache was triggered by something in the Calorad or my eating differently. If I have another whopper like yesterday's I'm going to have to stop using it and see if the headaches stop. I read one other person's comments expressed headaches so I'm not alone.

One other thing then I'll stop. One commenter suggested eating some cheese or an egg. After I stopped using Calorad the first time I tried cheese instead. For whatever reason it did not have the same effect.