In previous posts I wrote about 6 of the most popular weight loss supplements which are available over the counter and which are quite popular with those of us struggling with our weight. (You can find them here and here).
WEIGHT LOSS SUCCESS. How You Can Lose That Weight AND Keep It Off. Kindle Edition. |
Today I’m investigating 6 more, read on …..
Orlistat [aka Alli].
Apparently inhibiting the guts ability to break down fat, Orlistat has been shown in a small number of studies to increase our weight loss by as much as 2.5 kilos when compared to a placebo.
Orlistat has also been credited with a slight reduction in blood pressure and a lesser likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.
On the negative side, Orlistat has some quite uncomfortable side effects which may include flatulence, diarrhea and some loss of control over bowel movements.
The fat soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E and K which our bodies need may also become deficient.
If you're going to take Orlistat you should consider following a low fat diet to help reduce the side effects.
A better option may be a low carb diet which has been proven to be as effective for our weight loss as both Orlistat and a low fat diet combined.
So, what is a "yam"?
You may well ask.
Often confused with the humble sweet potato loved by so many, a yam is, in fact, a completely different plant, found primarily in Africa, Asia and Central and South America.
Grown for their tubers [roots] which is the part of the plant that is eaten, the yam is very high in fibre and it's this fibre which contains the Glucomannan used in weight loss products.
The Glucomannan sits in the gut when it's consumed and absorbs water to become like a gel in our stomach and so gives us a feeling of being "full".
When we feel full we are less inclined to over-eat and so we consume fewer calories.
Studies have shown that those who use Glucomannan in combination with a healthy diet can lose up to 5 kilos in just a few weeks, Glucomannan has also been shown to lower blood sugar, triglycerides and bad cholesterol and is very effective at relieving constipation.
On the downside, Glucomannan can cause bad wind, bloating and diarrhea and may possibly interfere with some medications.
Overall Glucomannan seems to be a good addition in our weight loss strategy as it appears to do much more good than harm to our general health but, as always, we should consult our weight loss professionals before we use it.
Bitter Orange / Synephrine.
Bitter orange, also known as Seville orange, sour orange, bigarade orange, or marmalade orange is a popular inclusion in many over-the-counter weight loss products and is often used as a substitute for ephedrine which has now been banned as being unsafe.
When added to caffeine, a regular combination, it may cause some significant short term weight loss however the possible side effects make it a dangerous additive and it should have no place in our efforts to lose weight, in fact there is no evidence to suggest that it is any safer than the banned ephedrine which it is used to replace.
If we decide to try a weight loss supplement which contains bitter orange we should do so with extreme caution and then only after consultation with our doctor.
If we decide to try a weight loss supplement which contains bitter orange we should do so with extreme caution and then only after consultation with our doctor.
Weight Loss Supplements And Pills, The Final Three.
To finish off this little series of posts about weight loss supplements I'm going to look at three more of the more popular weight loss pills and potions we can avail ourselves of in the ongoing [for many of us] battle against our expanding waistlines.
These final three are:
Meratrim.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) and
Forskolin.
Meratrim.
Meratrim is relatively new in the weight loss market and it's a supplement that is a blend of two plant extracts that when combined apparently make it harder for our bodies to store fat, help us to burn the stored fat we do have and reduce the multiplication of fat cells.
Sounds impressive and the results of a very limited trial seem to confirm these claims.
Of 100 obese people who took part in the trial 50 were given Meratrim, placed on a strict 2000 calorie diet and instructed to walk for 30 minutes each day while the other 50 were given a placebo and the same instructions.
The trial lasted 8 weeks and at the end of it those who took the Meratrim had lost almost twice the weight of those who took the placebo and as a bonus if you like, the Meratrim group also had other not insignificant health benefits such as reduced cholesterol, blood sugar and triglycerides.
There were also no side effects reported so it would seem Meratrim may be an answer, at least in part, to our weight loss woes but it should be noted that this was a very limited trial, it was industry sponsored and more research needs to be done before we can claim Meratrim to be our holy grail as far as weight loss is concerned.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA).
It is considered to be one of the “healthier” trans fats and is found naturally in some fatty animal foods like cheese and butter.
How it works: CLA might cut back cravings, boost metabolism and stimulate the breakdown of body fat.
In a large review of eighteen totally different studies, CLA caused weight loss of about 0.1 kg (0.2 pounds) per week, for up to 6 months, according to another review study from 2012, CLA may help you lose about 1.3 kg (3 pounds) of weight, compared to a placebo.
CLA can however cause various digestive side effects which could have detrimental health effects over the long term, possibly contributing to fatty liver, insulin resistance and increased inflammation.
Whilst CLA may be an efficient weight loss supplement it may have harmful effects over the long term and the small amount of weight loss is just not worth the risk.
Forskolin.
Forskolin is associate extract from a plant within the family Lamiaceae (the mint family) which its advocates claim to be effective for losing weight.
It's believed to lift levels of a certain compound within our cells which may stimulate fat burning but one study in thirty overweight and rotund men showed that Forskolin actually reduced body fat and increased muscle mass but had no effect on body weight.
Another study in twenty three overweight ladies found no effects.
There is very limited data on the safety of this supplement, or the risk of side effects.
At the end of the day the two tiny studies on Forskolin have shown conflicting results so I would avoid this supplement until a lot more analysis is completed.
