Reality Check Of Over-the-counter Diet Supplements
Not many people can resist the temptation of using over-the-counter weight-loss pills and supplements. The allure of a quick-fix weight loss solution is hard to pass up. But, it’s essential to ask yourself whether an over-the-counter pill can really help you lose weight or just make a dent in your pocket.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the over-the-counter weight loss pills that may or may not assist you in getting rid of some extra pounds.
Common Weight-loss Pills and Diet Supplements
Your local drug store, supermarket or pharmacy will surely have a stock of weight-loss pills. Go online and you will come across even more options. While most of them have no clinical evidence supporting their effectiveness, some are too risky to use.
1. Bitter Orange
claiming to increase the calories burned in your body, bitter orange can actually cause health problems like those faced by use of ephedra.
2. Chitosan
supposed to block the absorption of fat, Chitosan is capable of causing constipation, bloating and other intestinal problems.
3. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)
claiming to cut down on body fat, appetite and building muscle, CLA may not really help in reducing body weight. Its side effects include diarrhea, indigestion and other such problems.
4. Country Mallow (heartleaf)
known to reduce appetite and enhance the calories burned, country mallow contains ephedra. It is dangerous to health and should be avoided by dieters.
5. Ephedra
famous for its appetite suppressing qualities, Ephedra has many side effects. It can cause high blood pressure, insomnia, heart attacks, seizures, strokes and even death. As a highly unsafe product, it has been banned from the market but still sold on the Internet.
6. Green Tea Extract
supposed to increase your metabolism rate and decrease appetite, green tea extract has not been medically proven to help in weight loss. Its side effects include vomiting, indigestion, diarrhea and bloating.
7. Guar Gum
claiming to block the absorption of fat in your body, guar gum induces a feeling of fullness and appears to be a relatively safe option. However, it can cause gastrointestinal problems if not taken properly and is unlikely to help in substantial weight loss.
8. Hoodia
widely known as the drug that reduces appetite and assists in weight loss, hoodia has no clinical evidence supporting its weight loss effectiveness.
In addition to these natural and other dietary supplements, many more over-the-counter drugs are available to dieters. Before you choose a particular diet pill, remember that losing weight is never instant. a safe and steady diet plan is far better than a short term weight loss formula that has more side effects than positive results.
Conclusion
Losing weight is an ongoing, long term process. The best way to achieve your weight loss goals is through changes in your habits. Healthier eating habits, low-calorie food, smaller portion sizes and regular exercise are basic elements of a good weight loss plan. No wonder drug can provide all these for you.
Once you get hooked to a weight loss supplement or a diet pill, it may be hard to retain the effects after stopping its usage. You might have to continue taking them to keep the lost weight off. Obviously, this is not a practical or safe way of becoming healthy.
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