Sensa® Crystals
Sensa® crystals, called tastants, supposedly promote satiety and lead to weight loss. Sensa
sprinkles are made of maltodextrin, tricalcium phosphate (tribasic), carmine, soy, milk, silica,
and natural and artificial flavors. They enhance the aroma of food. The crystals come in the
several flavors.
Sensa was developed by Dr Alan Hirsch, a licensed neurologist and psychiatrist, who had spent
much of his career studying smell and taste. He is the founder and neurologic director of the
Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago. He is a faculty member in the
Dept of Medicine, Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, and assistant professor in the Dept of
Neurology and Dept of Psychiatry, Rush Presbyterian St Luke’s Medical Center.
How Sensa works
The manufacturers refer to Sensa as causing “sensory-specific satiety.” One article broke the
process down as follows:
 The aromas from the combination of crystals and food go to your nose and tongue, triggering
nerve receptors
 These nerve receptors send signals to the center of the brain to stimulate olfactory response
 The brain signals the “fullness” nerves of the brain
 These signals are then sent to the pituitary gland
 The pituitary gland releases hormones that tell a person to stop eating
Nutritional content of Sensa crystals
According to the product Web site, the active ingredients in Sensa are the patented blends of
natural and artificial flavors, which change each month. Sensa contains maltodextrin (derived
from corn from the United States), tricalcium phosphate, silica, and natural and artificial flavors.
Sensa also contains soy and milk ingredients. It is sodium free, sugar free, and calorie free, and
contains no stimulants, diuretics, or monosodium glutamate.
A new product, Sensa® Advanced, is formulated with stronger Sensa tastants to help curb the
appetite, so you can lose weight without feeling deprived. It also contains chromium, a key
ingredient that helps support the body’s natural ability to metabolize carbohydrates and fats.
Sensa crystals and weight loss
No validated studies are completed to prove that Sensa crystals work for weight loss, and peerreviewed journals have not published any research.
The makers of Sensa gave 1436 participants, who weighed an average of 208 pounds (lb) and
with a body mass index of 34, Sensa for 6 months. The company claimed that the average
participant lost 30 lb in these 6 months. According to the Sensa Web site, an independent
research company found that 83 participants lost an average of 27.5 lb while using Sensa,
compared to a 0.5-lb gain in the control group after 6 weeks.
Side effects
Calcium phosphate can cause nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, constipation, dry mouth,
increased thirst, and increased urination. Anyone with a history of kidney stones or a parathyroid
gland disorder should not use Sensa. All of the ingredients used in Sensa are generally
recognized as safe (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration.
The Sensa system
The Sensa system lasts for 6 months. Each month, you receive a different blend of Sensa
crystals. You are supposed to use Sensa crystals on everything that you eat, including hard
candy, according to the product Web site. You should resprinkle leftovers and add the crystals to
already cooked food. Sensa crystals are for use only on solid foods and not on items such as soup
or smoothies.
According to the product Web site, Sensa does not change the taste of food, although some
people have noticed a “subtle enhancement of flavor.” Interestingly, the makers of Sensa warn
that you should discard any remaining product left at the end of the month because, “your body
can become accustomed to the tastants and will not be as effective if you use them longer than 30
days.” On day 31, apparently, the magic stops working.
The negatives of using Sensa crystals for weight loss
As previously mentioned, no solid research exists to prove any relationship between Sensa and
weight loss.
The Sensa Web site does not advertise that good nutrition and exercise information are provided,
but people who have bought Sensa can join a member community and receive advice, weightloss tools, logs and journals, workout routines, recipes, and healthy living and wellness tips.
However, Sensa advertising revolves around the fact that you can eat whatever you want and still
lose weight—no “stimulants, fat blockers, diuretics, pills, drugs, food restrictions, calorie
counting, weigh-ins or meetings, skipping meals or fasting, prepackaged meals, drastic lifestyle
changes, intense cravings, jittery side effects, dangerous yo-yo effects, or mood swings”
involved. Essentially, their advertising does not promote any changes in lifestyle, which are key
to long-term success with weight loss.
According to experts, the ingredients in Sensa are not unique.
The cost
The monthly cost is around $70. A 6-month kit is $399. Nutritional supplements are available for
$50.
References and recommended readings
Calcium phosphate, tribasic. Drugs.com Web site. http://www.drugs.com/mtm/calciumphosphate-tribasic.html. Accessed April 18, 2014.
Doheny K. No-calorie seasonings help lose weight: ‘sprinkle diet’ study suggests new ways to
let dieters to feel full more quickly. WebMD® Web site.
http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20080616/no-calorie-seasonings-help-lose-weight. Accessed
April 18, 2014.
Sensa® Weight Loss System. Shake away the pounds with Sensa! Sensa Web site.
http://www.trysensa.com/. Accessed April 18, 2014.
Smith MW. The truth about Sensa. http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/truth-about-sensa.
Accessed April 18, 2014.
Review Date 4/14
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