Frequently Asked Questions about FORM
(Carbomer Homopolymer)- Carbomer is an
industry trade name which identifies a series of crosslinked hydrogel
polymers of acrylic acid. Carbomers have been in wide commercial use
for decades since they are non-toxic, not absorbed, and are listed as
generally recognized as safe (GRAS)." A wide variety of carbomers are
FDA-approved in products as bulking agents, laxatives, thickening
agents, drug delivery excipients, pharmacuetical adjuvants, cosmetic
emollients, and food additives among others.
How Does Form Work?
SIMPLE: It's all about meal portion control...
Each FORM
capsule contains hundreds of microbeads made from our proprietary,
non-toxic, superabsorbent polymer called SWELL that has been designed
to expand 500 to 1,000 times it's weight in water when taken as
directed. Each FORM rapid-acting capsule dissolves within
minutes of ingestion. The microbeads absorb the free water and expand
to partially fill the stomach; promoting the release of hormones that signal the hunger center in the brain to suppress your appetite. So by the time you sit down and start eating, you are already beginning to "feel full."
Simply stated FORM lets you eat less without feeling hungry. And in combination with a healthy lifestyle and weight management program, most people using FORM tend to lose more weight than with dieting and/or exercise alone.
Can FORM clog up my system?
No: FORM microbeads have an extremely slick and slippery
surface so they do not stick to one another and they do not adhere to
the mucous membranes or the linings of the GI tract. Fully expanded,
each microbead is about the size of a grain of steamed rice allowing it
to easily and gently slide through the GI tract without clumping or
sticking to anything.
Is FORM associated with GI or bowel problems?
No: FORM is totally bio-inert. It is made from a
water-swelling polymer that is not absorbed or digested, neither does
it absorb nutrients or other ingested materials. FORM is designed to
behave like many natural foods that pass through the GI tract
undigested (i.e., corn,lentils, peanuts etc,)
Does FORM have any significant side effects?
No: FORM is a mechanical gastric bulking agent that has no nutritional
value. It does not contain ephedrine, or any stimulants. Form promotes
bowel regularity, but it is not a laxative; nor does it interfere with
digestion, or blood sugar levels. FORM is not known to promote any significant side effects. It is non-fermenting and does not cause flatulence.
Do I have to drink water with Form capsules?
Yes: Drinking 6 to 12 ounces of water with each FORM capsule is VERY IMPORTANT for two reasons:
First: FORM capsules work best if they are swallowed whole - without chewing or breaking them open in the mouth.
Second: Once the capsules dissolve in the stomach, the microbeads
expand by absorbing water. In order for the beads to expand properly,
the stomach needs to have enough free water present. Six to twelve
ounces of water must be taken with each capsule 30 to 60 minutes before
meals for FORM to work safely and achieve maximal swelling effectiveness.
What is the maximum number of capsules that I can take with each meal?
Maximum Limit- 2 capsules per meal or 6 capsules per day. Taken as directed FORM microbeads are designed to expand 500 to 1,000 times their weight in water
(about the size of an apple). Taking more than 2 capsules at a time
(unless directed by a physician) for a single meal is NOT RECOMMENDED
since this may over-distend the stomach causing severe cramping,
nausea, vomiting or other complications.
How soon does FORM begin to work?
Less Than 15 Minutes: Taken as directed, FORM's specialized fast-dissolving capsules release the SWELL microbeads quickly, which gently expand within about 15 minutes of ingestion.Once
the stomach begins to expand with meals, the brain's hunger center is
signaled to slow down the hunger drive; providing the user with a more
rapid sense of "Fullness."
Is FORM recommended as a stand-alone diet or weight management tool?
No: FORM works best if used as part of a healthy lifestyle
in combination with exercise and a low-fat nutritious whole-food diet.
We recommend supplementing the diet to ensure complete absorption of
all of the necessary vitamins and minerals needed for good health -
some of which may become restricted in some diets and weight management
programs.
Can FORM be used with other diet products?
Yes: FORM's natural mechanism of action compliments other
weight loss products, as well as those weight management programs that
may be recommended by your doctor. FORM can be used in combination with these technologies to obtain maximal and synergistic results.
Once I reach my target weight, can I use FORM as part of my daily lifestyle?
Yes: FORM has no nutritional value. Each capsule is drug
free, stimulant free, and is non-habit forming. Once most people reach
their target weight, the brain will attempt to adjust to the new body
mass and reset its "hunger-stat" (the amount of food it needs to
consume). For some people, this process can take a year or more. In the
meantime, if you still feel hungry before meals after reaching your
target weight, for best results and as part of a healthy daily weight
maintenance program, FORM consumption can be adjusted to one or two doses daily, whatever works best for you and your body.
What happens in an overdose?
In the event of an overdose: If enough water is consumed such that the
microbeads expand to cause over-distension of the stomach, gastric
cramping, nausea and vomiting will ensue, which will mechanically clear
the body of the excess material. If Form
is ingested in an overdose amount without sufficient water to cause
vomiting, the microbeads will pass on their own with severe abdominal
cramping as the primary outcome. Intestinal obstruction is
theoretically possible, but has never been reported.
Does FORM damage the environment?
No: Carbomers are listed on the EPA's Inert Ingredients List (4B) and the Exempt from Residues List (CFR 180.960). FORM
is incinerated with the residue biomass in waste treatment facilities.
It is non-toxic and does not accumulate in groundwater, lakes, or other
ecosystem niches.
Diabetics, pregnant and nursing mothers, children under 18, morbidly obese people, or those with any form of pre-existing gastrointestinal diseases or medical conditions should consult with their physician before use.
