Home > Learning Center > Weight Loss Supplements

Weight Loss Supplements

Weight loss supplements are a sub category of the dietary supplement market. They are often touted as an easy or surefire way to make the pounds melt away. These claims are usually exaggerated however. The truth is there is no magic dieting pill any more than there is a magic diet. The first things you should do when trying to lose weight are increase your level of exercise and regulate your diet.

Weight loss supplements make wild claims like the ability to burn fat while you sleep. In reality these claims are not required to be tested. This is because like most nutritional supplements, weight loss supplements are classified as a food rather than a drug by the FDA. This means they are not subject to the same level of control as drugs, and can actually cause harmful side effects.

A perfect example of this would be ephedra. Ephedra is an herbal stimulant that was common in weight loss supplements for several years. It increases metabolism and heart rate, which is why it was thought to be an effective way to aid weight loss. It also constricts blood vessels as one of its primary effects. Because of this ephedra had been linked to instances of high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes. Some of these were even fatal, but nothing was done. It took the death of a famous person which was linked to ephedra for the FDA to ban its use in weight loss supplements.

Ephedra remains illegal in weight loss supplements or any other form within the US. Supplement manufacturers immediately began marketing “ephedra free” weight loss pills. These pills contain other herbs which have the same effects as ephedra. This means that the pills can still cause death from heart attack or stroke. So when considering a weight loss supplement, make sure you read the labeling and research the ingredients.

 

Nutrition Supplements | Health | Learning Center | Site Map | Links | Contact | Home

©