There are so many ‘miracle’ weight loss and wellness pills out there that it leaves you wondering if any of them actually work at all, and why these companies are allowed to market such ineffectual products to the general public.
The advertising is all pretty convincing, with ‘scientific evidence’ and personal testimonials and, if that didn’t do it for you, just look at the before and after shots. However, when you look at the fine print of those people who lost all that weight with one pill, it was often in conjunction with major diet and activity lifestyle changes. Isn’t that what you were trying to avoid in the first place? You know it, but worse than that; the advertisers know it too.
So what makes a miracle these days? More often than not, these products contain herbs, vitamins and stimulants such as caffeine. This may not only let you down in the weight loss department, but could be bad for your wellbeing in the long run as the herbs contain many chemicals, and the stimulants can lead to heart palpitations and high blood pressure. Each ingredient is tested individually for safety, but the manufacturer doesn’t test for the possibility of ingredients reacting against one another or with other medications.
There are many magic active ingredients out there, but here are a few that have been investigated. Hydroxycitric acid (HCA, also known as brindleberry, Malabar tamarind and Garcinia quaesita) is a derivative of the fruit from the plant Garcinia Cambogia. It is claimed to be able to decrease appetite, reduce fat and modify metabolism, but studies provide contradictory evidence. Bitter orange is said to have the same weight loss properties, but with limited promising evidence and has been linked to fainting, heart attack and stroke. Studies on Capsaicin from hot peppers are mixed, but side effects include short term burning pain, and experts agree there is also little evidence to recommend Chromium as a weight loss tool.
If you think that weight loss pills are evaluated for safety and efficiency like prescription medicines, think again. Manufacturers manage to get these products on shelves using a few marketing loopholes, and need minimum evidence that their products actually work. You need to first consult a doctor, or do the legwork yourself, if you’re really interested in trying these pills and only do so as a supplement to a balanced, calorie-controlled diet and exercise plan.
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