There’s a supplement for that!
There are supplements for almost anything you can imagine.
Weight loss is certainly no exception and there are tons of them available for people who want to lose weight and do it as quickly and as painlessly as possible. Some supplement ads have even claimed that you can eat anything you want and still lose weight. Is that even possible? I’m a little skeptical.
Even though everyone knows that the key to weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight is through a healthy diet and proper exercise habits, people will still look for ways to lose more weight faster and with less effort.
This desire has lead to a myriad of weight loss supplements, all promising to do just that.
Diet Supplements
There are two main uses for dietary supplements. Vitamin supplements can help ensure that you get enough nutrients when you start eating less. Others are used as appetite suppressants to keep you from feeling hungry.
Two entirely different things and you may have to decide which way to go. WebMD has a great article on appetite suppressants and if you’re doing something that might impact your health, you might want to talk to your doctor or dietician.
Supplements might be used to jump start a weight loss program, but they should not take the place of a healthy diet and active lifestyle that is needed for lasting results.
Health food stores are now making their own natural supplement equivalents. This is because many supplements put on the market in the 80’s and 90’s were found to either have adverse side effects or a good effect as a weight loss supplement.
The term dietary supplement is sometimes used refer to vitamins, but has been used to describe weight loss supplements and appetite suppressants. Some are advertised to be all-natural, which for a lot of consumers means “all-good”.
The Problem With Supplements
The problem is that supplements don’t have to be tested and cleared by the Food and Drug Administration in order to be sold. They just have to be labeled appropriately. This means that drugs claiming to be all-natural, could actually contain other chemicals that could have adverse effects that we don’t yet know about yet.
Stimulants are a common ingredient used in most diet pills and supplements. The long-term effects of taking a stimulant, especially when other medications or supplements are being used may not be known and could be highly risky. Some supplements have caused high heart rates or high blood pressure.
It’s up to the consumer to do the necessary research on the ingredients to find out how any supplement may effect the body. Most of us are not going to take the time to do that level of research.
Supplements are not meant to be a magic bullet to fix problems caused by unhealthy living habits or poor eating choices. They should only be used as a gap filler to enhance a healthy lifestyle or to help us ease into a healthier lifestyle.
Here’s the thing about supplements. FDA regulates diet supplements under a different set of rules than those covering “conventional” foods and drug products. Supplements usually have a disclaimer that “These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA”. There’s a reason for that!
Companies that make supplements are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products to ensure that they meet the FDA regulations. There are only a few that have bothered to submit their products to FDA for evaluation. Alli is one of those. It’s up to you to read the labels, read some reviews and make a wise decision.
Final Thoughts
If you want to use a diet supplement to jump-start your weight loss, there are hundreds, maybe even thousands available. Amazon has one of the largest selections and some of the best prices around for supplements, but do some research to learn about possible side effects.
Read the reviews and label then decide if you want to spend your money for a supplement you may not need. The only recommendation I have is talk to your doctor about using a supplement first and find a supplement that has gotten FDA approval. Your health should be the first consideration.