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So What's Wrong with Diet Pills?

Guest post by: Terri Levine

Article Overview: There are so many diet products and pills on the market - they can't all be fake, can they?

So What's Wrong with Diet Pills?

Maybe your new year resolution is to lose weight, and maybe you've read the hype that diet pills promise, and maybe you're at your wit's end and deciding to give them a try. After all, there are some pills that not only promise you'll lose weight, but they'll remove wrinkles as you sleep!

Some, certainly not all, dietary supplements that are designed to aid weight loss can work to varying degrees. (They are often quick to add that their supplements work in conjunction with the proper diet and exercise. The latter 2 alone are often all you need!) The companies making these supplements work very hard trying to prove their products work and use very clever marketers to sell them.

Unfortunately, there are many products that do not work or they produce serious side effects. Any supplement you are considering should be discussed with your physician who will determine if it is something that may help you in your particular situation and weigh up any negative aspects. Don't be fooled. A little education here can save you a lot of money, wasted time, and the heartache of realizing you've been duped.

Some of the better known supplements that have shown promising results in promoting weight loss include:

 Chromium picolinate has been shown to reduce body fat and improve the body's use of insulin, as well as help to raise metabolism, but there are those who are yet to be convinced and would like more evidence.

 Hydroxycitric acid, in some studies, has indicated a positive effect on weight loss, but in other studies, no change. It is supposed to help prevent the absorption and storage of fat. Not enough evidence to satisfy everyone.

 Chitosan comes from the skeletons of shellfish and binds fat, preventing it from being absorbed in the intestines. Obviously, if you are somebody with a seafood allergy, this supplement could have very serious consequences for you.

 Citrin or Citrimax. Helps prevent carbohydrates from turning into fat. It is used as an appetite suppressant.

 Green tea. This is currently being tested for its potential to increase metabolism. Green Tea is considered safe and is currently touted for its other health-giving benefits.

 L-carnitine. This supplement is supposed to help convert fats and amino acids into energy.

 Ephedra: Also known as ephedrine. Undoubtedly, was the most popular supplement in use for weight loss purposes. It is also known as ma-huang, and studies showed it increases the metabolic rate and can also help suppress the appetite, but in the U.S., this was banned in 2006. Many reactions have been attributed to its use, ranging from racing pulse and sweating, through to more serious reactions such as stroke and heart attack. It took the death of a prominent sportsman for the FDA to ban it.

There is simply not enough evidence of the effectiveness and safety of many of the supplements on the market, and until more is known, it is better to just steer clear of them. Throughout history, we have seen products touted as perfectly safe, only to show up 20 years later as cancer causing, birth defect related agents, etc. The scientific and medical community is already issuing warnings about some diet pills that are suspected of causing brain damage, as well as liver damage, heart damage, etc.

The truth is, there is NO magic diet pill. Save your money! There are some prescription only medications which may, or may not, be suitable for your situation. If you are on certain medications already that are known to cause weight-gain as a side effect, nothing you can buy over the counter is going to help you and in fact, may have serious implications if mixed with your own medication. It's just not worth the risk.

Visit a dietician for a healthy eating plan and get yourself a personal trainer.

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Article Tags: diet, diet pills, diet supplements, weight loss, weight loss pills



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