The attraction of diet pills and there appealing weight loss claims can be hard to pass up. But are all diet pills as safe and effective as they claim to be?
But the big question still remains - ‘do diet pills actually work and if they do which diet pill should I choose?’
The effectiveness of diet pills and there main ingredients has been extensively studied by hundreds of research institutes and organizations across the world. However this research has never been pulled together or published in a way that gives consumers the chance to research and compare all of the different diet pills and weight loss products available on the market.
This lack of information means that it is very hard for consumers to make an informed decision on the effectiveness, safety and quality of the thousands weight loss products that they have available to them and according to ‘Fat Exploding the Myths - by Lisa Colles’ Americans are reported to spend an estimated $50billion each year on weight loss products and it is estimated that over $6billion of that is spent on weight loss products that are fraudulent.
Weight Watchers Zone aim is to help consumers to avoid buying into fraudulent weight loss products and claims. Weight Watchers Zone has conducted extensive research on a large number of diet pills and their main ingredients. Below you will find a detailed overview based on this research.
Our research made us realize that a large number of diet pills on offer to consumers are ineffective and some even have dangerous side effects. Although through our research we did find a few diet pills that are effective, have no known side effects and are very good value for money.
Appetite Suppressants:
Ephedra:
Is the active ingredients used in many diet pills and weight loss supplements. Many of these products are advertised as ‘Thermo’, ‘Lean’ or ‘Fat Burners’. Since early 1990, the FDA has issued numerous warnings to consumers of diet products and supplements containing Ephedrine and we would recommend that you exercise extreme caution before consuming any products that contain the substance.
Ephedra is made up of amphetamine-like compounds. These compounds have powerful stimulant effects on the central nervous system and the heart. Ephedrines act in a similar way to that of adrenaline. It dilates the bronchial muscles, contracts the nasal mucosa, raises the blood pressure and is a cardiac stimulant. These powerful stimulants can cause dangerous side effects such as irregular or rapid heartbeats, and psychological side effects such as depression, nervousness, insomnia, and rapid heart rate. When taken in combination with caffeine and other herbal stimulants, ephedrine can over-stimulate the central nervous system, with potentially life threatening consequences.
In conclusion Weight Loss Watchers Zone believes that weight loss products containing Ephedra should be avoided because of their serious and potentially life threatening side effects.
Phentermine:
Phentermine is a prescription medication. However you can find it readily available online in many different forms and strengths. Phentermine works by suppressing appetite via a central mechanism in the brain. Phentermine is a stimulant that increases the amount of adrenaline in your body and this suppresses the appetite. Phentermine has been used as an effective form of therapy for obese patients who need to lose weight. However, Phentermine can cause a series of side effects so it should only be used as a short term drug to help patients with the beginning of their weight loss, while they make a series of long term changes to their lifestyle including changes of attitude towards food and exercise.
In conclusion Weight Watchers Zone believe that patients should really consider the potential side effects and consult medical advice before consuming Phentermine. Whilst most of the reported side effects of Phentermine are mild, there have also been reports of more serious side effects. These side effects include blurred vision, dry mouth, sleeplessness, irritability, chest pain and rapid heart beats.
Hoodia:
Hoodia is probably the most well known diet pill ingredient. For the last few years Hoodia has been heavily marketed and consequently it has become very popular.
Hoodia is a cactus-like plant known as the prickly pear cactus. It grows in semi-deserts and can be found in South Africa, Botswana, Nambia and Angola.
Hoodia contains a chemical called P57 that targets the hypothalamus which is the part of the brain that tells you that you are hungry or full. Some studies have shown that Hoodia is 10,000 times more effective than glucose at telling hypothalamus that you are full. This means that Hoodia can suppress your appetite without you eating that much.
The problem with Hoodia is that there are over 13 types of Hoodia. However the only active ingredient for appetite suppressing found so far is P57 and this can only be found in one type of Hoodia called Hoodia Gordonii. It takes about five years for Hoodia Gordonii to mature so that it can be harvested and the P57 can be abstracted.
Hoodia has been in very high demand yet it is very hard to grow and harvest so there is very low supply. With a high demand and low supply it is very questionable whether all the products claiming to contain Hoodia actually do?
There have been widespread reports of counterfeit Hoodia products. Some of the reports estimate that almost 80 percent of Hoodia products are contaminated or counterfeit. Therefore many Hoodia consumers will be wasting their hard earned money on counterfeit goods that contain nothing but bulk and filler. It is impossible to know if a Hoodia product contains pure Hoodia, and the active ingredient P57, unless it has been tested by an independent laboratory.
In conclusion Weight Watchers Zone would advise that you should be very cautious about purchasing Hoodia weight loss products because you could be wasting your money on a product that contains nothing but bulk and filler and will do nothing to help you.
Fat Burners:
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA):
So, what does CLA claim to do? CLA is a fatty acid that is produced by bacteria in the gut of animals such as sheep, cows and turkeys. It is also found in small amounts in plants such as sunflowers and safflowers. It is thought that humans can also make CLA, given the right balance of bacteria in their gut and a healthy diet. Its function is to help transport, store and metabolise fats in the body.
Most of the research into CLA has involved studying its anti-cancer properties in animals and human volunteers. More recently, studies have looked into CLA’s ability to increase lean tissue (build muscle), while reducing fatty tissue in the body.
So far, scientific research on CLA's weight loss claims have been mainly based on animal studies. Although these have shown an improvement in the muscle-to-fat ratio i.e. fat loss and muscle gain, very few studies have been conducted using human volunteers. Those studies that were carried out on humans have shown a range in results from loss of fat to either negligible effects or even in an increase in fat mass. We are still awaiting data from long-term studies involving humans before we can draw conclusions as to its efficiency and safety in helping people lose weight. In the meantime, we would suggest caution in taking CLA supplements. Pregnant and breastfeeding mums should avoid this altogether.
In conclusion CLA is an expensive fat burner that has very little clinical evidence to back up it’s claims of fat burning and fat reduction. Until more research is carried out Weight Watchers Zone would advise consumers to think carefully before spending a lot of money on a product that may have very little effect.
Fat Blockers:
Chitosan:
Chitosan is the name given to fibre derived from the exoskeleton of shellfish and it claims to have the ability to block fats. There are some outrageous claims about Chitosan across the internet from sellers claiming that you can eat whatever you want and still lose weight. However, there is very little evidence in the form of clinical studies to back up these claims.
Most of the Chitosan research has been carried out on animals. These studies did show that Chitosan had some fat-absorbing abilities. However, we could not find any conclusions from studies that were carried out on human participants. From our research we have found that most weight loss experts tend to agree that Chitosan does not work effectively for weight loss. However Chitosan does have a different benefit. Studies have shown that Chitosan can lower cholesterol levels.
In conclusion Weight Loss Watchers Zone would advise you against buying Chitosan as a complete weight loss supplement as there is no evidence that it works. Although Chitosan has been proven to lower cholesterol levels, most Chitosan products are very expensive and there are cheaper, more effective cholesterol lowering products available.
Prescription Weight Loss:
Xenical (Orlistat)
Xenical is a prescription only diet and weight loss pill useful for the long-term treatment of significant obesity. Xenical can also help to improve risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar. Each Xenical capsule contains an active substance called orlistat, which acts as a lipase inhibitor. Basically, taken after a meal, Xenical binds with dietary fats and stops them from being absorbed into your body. Xenical is a proven method of weight loss, however ,you can only get Xenical on prescription and it will only be issued if you suffer from significant obesity.
In conclusion Xenical is a medically proven product, that will help patients with long term weight loss. However Xenical is only available on prescription so you will have to consult your doctor if you are interested in taking the product.
Clinically Proven Weight Loss:
| Weight Watchers Zone Recommend: |
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Proactol™ is a licensed medical device product (MDD 93/42/EEC) and it has been recommended by doctors for the treatment of obesity and weight management. Proactol™ is also proven to decrease food cravings and lower blood cholesterol levels.
After our extensive research on diet pills we believe that Proactol™ is the most suitable non prescription weight loss product available to the general public. Proactol™ efficacy and claims are supported by strong clinical studies and research. Consumers can also be re-assured that they are buying a quality product because of its medical device (MDD 93/42/EEC) certification which is upheld by the strictest regulations.
| Visit www.Proactol.com |