Ingredient profile
Ginseng, Cayenne and Banaba in Slim Metrix: The Last Three in the Blend
Cayenne, Korean ginseng and banaba are the last three of eight ingredients in the Slim Metrix 276 mg blend, so they are likely the smallest shares; no amounts are published. Cayenne's effects on energy use are small, ginseng's blood sugar research is inconclusive, and banaba rests on small, short studies.
Written by the Slim Metrix editorial teamUpdated
Label facts
How much ginseng, cayenne and banaba are in Slim Metrix?
The label gives no amount for any of them. They are the sixth, seventh and eighth ingredients in a 276 mg blend that shows only its total weight (Slim Metrix label graphic).
Blend ingredients must run from most to least by weight (FDA: labeling guide (proprietary blends)). Five ingredients come before these three, so cayenne, ginseng and banaba are likely the smallest parts of the capsule. If the blend were split equally, each would be about 34.5 mg; the real split is not published. None of the three is on the seller's six-ingredient list.
| On the label | Per capsule | What research used | Main caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) aerial extract, 8% ginsenosides | Part of the 276 mg blend (not disclosed) | 16 trials: small fasting-glucose drop, no A1C change | May lower blood sugar and interfere with clotting; insomnia is the most common side effect. (NCCIH: Asian ginseng) (Shishtar et al.: ginseng and blood sugar (meta-analysis)) |
| Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) fruit, 40,000 H.U. | Part of the 276 mg blend (not disclosed) | Effects on energy use and appetite described as small | Stomach irritation; avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding; may raise cyclosporine levels. (MSK About Herbs: cayenne) |
| Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa) leaf extract, 2% corosolic acid | Part of the 276 mg blend (not disclosed) | Small, short, partly open-label studies | Little safety research; one kidney-injury case report with corosolic acid in a person with kidney disease. (Miura et al.: banaba and corosolic acid (review)) |
Cayenne
Is cayenne what makes Slim Metrix "thermogenic"?
It is the ingredient behind that word, but the effect is small. The sales page calls Slim Metrix a "Thermogenic Daily Capsule" (Sales page, quickslimstep.com/frt); Memorial Sloan Kettering says capsaicin's role in energy use and weight needs further clarification (MSK About Herbs: cayenne).
Capsaicin is what makes chili peppers taste hot. "Thermogenic" means it may nudge the body to make a little more heat. MSK describes both that effect and capsaicin's effect on appetite as small (MSK About Herbs: cayenne).
The label lists "Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) fruit, 40,000 H.U." H.U. stands for heat units, a measure of how hot the pepper is. It is a heat rating, not a dose.
| On the label | Cayenne fruit, 40,000 H.U., sixth in the blend |
|---|---|
| Amount per capsule | Not published |
| Weight effect | Small; needs more study |
| Side effects | Sweating, stomach irritation |
See how every sales claim compares with the research on our claims page.
Korean ginseng
Does Korean ginseng lower blood sugar?
Maybe a little, but the research is inconclusive. NCCIH says some evidence suggests Asian ginseng might lower blood sugar, and a review of 16 trials found only a small drop in fasting glucose (NCCIH: Asian ginseng) (Shishtar et al.: ginseng and blood sugar (meta-analysis)).
| Measure | Finding |
|---|---|
| Fasting glucose | About 0.31 mmol/L (roughly 6 mg/dL) lower across 16 trials (Shishtar et al.: ginseng and blood sugar (meta-analysis)) |
| A1C (long-term blood sugar) | No effect (Shishtar et al.: ginseng and blood sugar (meta-analysis)) |
| Consistency | Large differences between studies; larger, longer trials needed (Shishtar et al.: ginseng and blood sugar (meta-analysis)) |
| Overall view | Diabetes research inconclusive (NCCIH: Asian ginseng) |
The Slim Metrix label lists an aerial extract, made from the plant's above-ground parts, standardized to 8% ginsenosides (Slim Metrix label graphic). NCCIH advises people with diabetes to consult a provider before using ginseng (NCCIH: Asian ginseng).
Banaba
What does banaba do, and how strong is the evidence?
Banaba is sold for blood sugar, and the evidence is limited. A review found mostly small, short and partly open-label human studies, several using mixed products, that reported glucose drops of about 10 to 15% (Miura et al.: banaba and corosolic acid (review)).
Banaba comes from the leaf of Lagerstroemia speciosa. The Slim Metrix label says its extract is standardized to 2% corosolic acid, the compound most banaba research looks at (Slim Metrix label graphic) (Miura et al.: banaba and corosolic acid (review)).
- Small studies: few people, short time frames.
- Open-label in part: some people knew what they were taking.
- Mixed products: several tested banaba alongside other ingredients, so its own effect is hard to separate.
The review's authors say more human studies of both effect and safety are needed (Miura et al.: banaba and corosolic acid (review)). Banaba is last in the blend, so it is likely the smallest share of all.
Safety first
Who should be careful with ginseng, cayenne and banaba?
Anyone pregnant or breastfeeding, and anyone on diabetes, blood pressure, transplant or blood-thinning drugs, should ask a doctor first. People with kidney disease have a reason to ask too.
| If you | Ingredient | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Are pregnant or breastfeeding | Cayenne | Should be avoided (MSK About Herbs: cayenne) |
| Take cyclosporine | Cayenne | May raise cyclosporine levels (MSK About Herbs: cayenne) |
| Take blood pressure medicine | Cayenne | May affect these drugs (MSK About Herbs: cayenne) |
| Take diabetes medicine | Korean ginseng | Might lower blood sugar; consult first (NCCIH: Asian ginseng) |
| Take a blood thinner | Korean ginseng | May interfere with clotting (NCCIH: Asian ginseng) |
| Have kidney disease | Banaba | One case report of kidney injury with corosolic acid, in a patient with poor kidney function also taking diclofenac (Miura et al.: banaba and corosolic acid (review)) |
A single case report does not prove banaba harms kidneys, but it is a reason to ask first. The full interaction list for every ingredient is on our side effects page.
Your day
Why does the label say to take Slim Metrix in the morning?
The label graphic gives no reason. It simply says one capsule daily, preferably in the morning. If you notice trouble sleeping, tell your doctor: insomnia is ginseng's most common side effect (NCCIH: Asian ginseng).
- Morning, about 7:30
One capsule, as the label graphic suggests. Same time every day, so you never double up.
- Meals, as planned
A calorie-aware eating plan does the heavy lifting. Keep taking every medicine your doctor prescribed.
- Move most days
About 150 minutes a week of activity was part of the program that cut new type 2 diabetes by more than half.
- Weigh in weekly
Same scale, same time, once a week. A pace of 1 to 2 pounds a week is more likely to last.
Times are examples. Diabetes Prevention Program results (NIDDK: Diabetes Prevention Program results); a healthy pace of weight loss (CDC: losing weight).
Meals, movement and a weekly weigh-in do the real work. For a checklist on judging any weight-loss product, read how to choose a weight-loss supplement.
The rest of the formula
Which ingredients come before cayenne, ginseng and banaba?
Zinc and chromium, then five blend ingredients led by alpha lipoic acid. Each has its own page.
FAQ
Ginseng, cayenne and banaba in Slim Metrix: common questions
Will the cayenne in Slim Metrix upset my stomach?
It might. Memorial Sloan Kettering lists stomach irritation and sweating as side effects of cayenne (MSK About Herbs: cayenne). The amount in Slim Metrix is not published, and cayenne sits sixth in the blend, so it is likely a small share. If your stomach is sensitive, ask your doctor first and stop if it bothers you.
Does Korean ginseng keep you awake?
It can. Insomnia is the most common side effect of Asian ginseng, according to NCCIH (NCCIH: Asian ginseng). The Slim Metrix label already suggests taking the capsule in the morning. If your sleep changes after you start, tell your doctor and mention every supplement you take.
What is banaba leaf extract?
Banaba leaf extract comes from Lagerstroemia speciosa, a plant sold for blood sugar support. Slim Metrix lists it last in its blend, standardized to 2% corosolic acid (Slim Metrix label graphic). Studies of banaba are mostly small and short, and the reviewers call for more human research (Miura et al.: banaba and corosolic acid (review)).
Is banaba safe for your kidneys?
There is too little research to say. One case report linked corosolic acid, banaba's main compound, to kidney injury in a patient with poor kidney function who was also taking diclofenac (Miura et al.: banaba and corosolic acid (review)). If you have kidney disease, ask your doctor before taking Slim Metrix.
Is the ginseng in Slim Metrix made from the root?
No. The label lists a Korean ginseng aerial extract, which comes from the plant's above-ground parts, standardized to 8% ginsenosides (Slim Metrix label graphic). The label does not explain that choice, and it gives no amount. It is seventh of eight ingredients in the 276 mg blend.
What does 40,000 H.U. mean on the Slim Metrix label?
H.U. stands for heat units, a rating of how hot the cayenne pepper is. It describes the pepper's strength, not how much cayenne each capsule holds (Slim Metrix label graphic). The amount of cayenne is not published, because it is part of the 276 mg proprietary blend.
Can I take Slim Metrix with blood pressure medicine?
Ask your doctor first. Memorial Sloan Kettering says cayenne may affect blood pressure medicines (MSK About Herbs: cayenne). The amount of cayenne in Slim Metrix is not published, so the size of any effect is unknown. Keep taking your blood pressure medicine as prescribed.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the brand's label graphic, the sales page and linked medical sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. stocking partner for Slim Metrix, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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