Dietary Supplements
Everywhere you turn these days, you see advertisements for dietary
supplements. Miracle pills that claim to melt the pounds away, liquid
protein diets that miraculously shed ten pounds in a week. What is the
real story behind these miracle pills, powders or liquids? Are these
dietary supplements safe to use when you are losing weight? Do they live
up to their claims?
Dietary supplements comes in many forms; vitamins, minerals,
nutritional supplements, herbs and powders. How do you know which diet
supplement is the right one? Which one will work? These diet supplements
spout attractive headers such as; “Eat all you want and lose weight!”
or “Lose Weight While You Sleep!”
Most Americans are overweight. Some are looking for quick fixes to a
problem that did not occur overnight. Unscrupulous companies are abundant,
taking advantage of you, offering you a miracle in a can.
Before you start taking any weight loss product consult your doctor!
Choose wisely what diet supplement you take. Research the product
carefully. Last year, over 33 billion dollars were spent on weight- loss
control products!
Be aware that if a dietary supplement says it is “Natural” or lists
herbs as the main ingredient, this does not necessarily mean that the diet
supplement is safe. Many times, it is a gimmick used to lure you in to buy
a product that does not work.
Some diet supplements can even be dangerous. After the airwaves are
flooded with the latest, greatest diet supplement around, it is not
uncommon later on to find the FDA announcing the product has been
recalled.
Remember Fen-phen? A friend of mine took Fen-phen for months. He ended
up with major heart problems, and a settlement in a class-action lawsuit
against the maker. Fen-phen contained both Redux and Pondimum. The
combination proved deadly to the health of the heart.
Diet pills can contain high amounts of caffeine.
Caffeine is addictive, and therefore over-the-counter abuse can begin
before you know it.
On the prescription side, Prozac is prescribed by
doctors to their patients who want to lose weight. Unfortunately, studies
show that the weight loss is temporary. Side effects included: nausea,
vomiting, fatigue, night sweats and hot flashes.
If you are obese, you should consult your doctor. Discuss a safe and
long-term weight-loss goal with him. But most people, with a buffet of
dietary supplements to choose from over-the counter, will skip the doctor
and attempt to lose weight all by themselves. This may not only prove
frustrating, but sometimes it can be harmful to your health.
Currently, two popular diet supplements are Green Tea and Cayenne
Pepper
There are studies out showing Green Tea can help suppress an appetite
because it boosts the metabolism. An added bonus, Green Tea is an
antioxidant possessing properties that addresses certain cancers.
Green Tea contains caffeine and should not be abused. Drinking to
much Green Tea can cause nerves to be over-stimulated, promote insomnia
and make one anxious and irritable. You should not drink Green Tea if you
are on estrogen therapy or taking birth control pills.
Cayenne Pepper is believed to speed up metabolism and
help the digestive system. Standard use is 10 grams of Cayenne Pepper with
each meal. This is said to promote weight loss and also prevent the
forming of stomach ulcers. Side effects are a slight burning of the mouth.
If taken in excess it can cause liver and kidney damage.
These are just two of the many dietary supplements
available on the market today. You need to choose wisely and remember too
consult your doctor!
Don’t be fooled by pills and powders that come with instructions on
eating sensibly, drinking a lot of water and exercising. Chances are the
pills/powders have nothing to do with why you lose the weight.
So how do you lose weight and not get caught up in the “Dietary Pill
Craze?”
- Do you drink soda? For every glass of soda you enjoy, drink two
glasses of water.
- Going to the mall? Park in a slot far enough way from the main
entrance to allow you to walk. When you walk, walk briskly.
- Carry small weights around with you in your pockets as you are doing
your housework
- Do two laps around the mall (window shopping) before you shop.
- Eat sensibly. If you do fast food, stop super-sizing, or soon you
will be super-sizing your waist line!
- In a glass of water, add two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar. Sip
with meals.
- Take a walk after dinner. Do this on a daily/weekly basis. You will
be pleasantly surprised at the results.
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