Herbal Weight Loss Pills
Posted by Liz Delacruz
Many people want to become healthy and lose weight but sometimes hearing about all these diet plans and diet pills can be quite daunting. Which are healthy, which won’t produce many side effects and what is effective.
On your trip to the drug, department or health food stores, you can see a plethora of over-the-counter herbal weight loss pills. Many which once contained ephedra, guarana, St. John’s Wart and Senna. Many that are promoted to burn fat by increasing metabolism and some promote as effective in weight loss.
But lately there are some cons to these supplements or pills because physicians due to their side effects do not advise them. We will take a look at a variety of herbal weight loss pills and give you information on their claims and also some of their side effects. But one thing to remember is that many of these herbal weight loss pills is that they haven’t been in the market all that long and a lot of them do not have long studies done on test subjects or animals, thus the long-term effects are not know.
Popular Herbal Weight Loss Pills
Alli
All is the only dietary supplement approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A reduced-strength over-the-counter nonprescription version of orlistat.
Bitter Orange
Promoted to increase the burning of calories. It has been touted as a substitute of ephedra (a former diet pill now banned in the US). The long-term effects of Bitter Orange are not yet known.
Chitosan
Promoted to block the absorption of dietary fat. Comes from shellfish, safe but no major studies effectively showing weight loss. Side effects include constipation, bloating and digestive problems. The long-term effects of Chitosan are unknown.
Chromium
Promoted to reduce body fat and building of muscle. Safe and said to help diabetics but not known to effectively cause weight loss. The long-term effects are unknown.
Conjugated Linolenic Acid (CLA)
Promoted to reduce body fat, reduction of appetite cravings and helps build muscle. May decrease body fat and increase muscle but not known to reduce total body weight. Side-effects include diarrhea, indigestion and other digestive problems.
Ephedra
Promoted to decrease appetite. Banned in the US marketplace due to safety concerns but still sold online. Can cause high blood pressure, heart irregularities, fatigue, strokes, heart attacks and possibly death.
Green Tea Extract
Promoted to increase calorie and fat metabolism and decrease appetite. Many studies but not many to show that it effectively leads to weight loss. Side effects may include vomiting, bloating, diarrhea and indigestion. Also, contains large amounts of caffeine.
Guar Gum
Promoted to block the absorption of dietary fat and leads to decrease in calorie intake. Safe but not known to lead to weight loss. May cause diarrhea and flatulence. Can cause intestinal obstruction if not taken with enough water.
Hoodia
Promoted to decrease appetite. No evidence that it leads to weight loss and no long term effects are known, especially those taking medication.
Again, there is no “magic pill” for weight loss. These can aid in weight loss for those eating right and doing daily exercising but for now, it’s important that people who are planning to take any of these herbal weight loss pills is to do your research. Read about how others who have taken them, feel about them and what kind of side effects they have had. And if you do, decided to take any of them, to make sure you contact your physician especially if you have been diagnosed with a health condition.
