There are many different ways to lose weight, including medications and natural supplements.
They are thought to be able to help you lose weight, or at least make weight loss easier in combination with other methods.
They tend to work on one or more of the following mechanisms:
- Reduce appetite , make you feel fuller, so eat less.
- Reduce absorption nutrients like fat, make you load less calories.
- Increase fat burning level , making you consume more calories.
Here are 12 popular weight-loss medicines and supplements that have been reviewed by the scientific community.
1. Garcinia Cambogia Extract (Pineapple Fruit Extract)
Berries are widely known around the world after being described on the Dz television program. Oz in 2012.
This is a small green fruit shaped like pumpkin. Pods contain citric acid citric acid (HCA). It is an active ingredient in the fruit extract used to make diet pills.
Work : Animal studies show that it can prevent an enzyme that produces body fat from working and increasing serotonin levels, potentially reducing appetite .
Function : a study of 130 people comparing fruit with a sedative. There were no differences in weight or body fat percentage between groups .
A 2011 commentary examines 12 studies of fruit berries that found that, on average, it reduced 0.88 kg of weight in weeks .
Side effects : There have been no reports of serious side effects, but there are some talk about mild gastrointestinal problems.
The bottom line : Even if the fruit can help with weight loss, the effect is so small that no one will notice it.
2. Hydroxycut
Hydroxycut has been on the market for over a decade and is now one of the most popular weight loss products in the world.
This product has many different types, but the most popular is "Hydroxycut."
Work : It contains many ingredients that are claimed to help with weight loss, including caffeine and some plant extracts.
Function : a study showed that it helped reduce 9.5 kg of weight in a room for 3 months .
Side effects : If you are sensitive to caffeine, you may become anxious, irritable, shudder, nausea, diarrhea and irritability.
The bottom line : unfortunately only one study of this product and no information about its long-term effects.
3. Caffeine
Caffeine is the most common substance that affects the brain consumed in the world . In nature can find it in the coffee , green tea and black chocolate It is also added to a variety of mixed foods and drinks.
Famous caffeine is a metabolic stimulant and is often added to weight loss supplements that are marketed.
Work : Short-term studies have shown that caffeine can stimulate metabolism up to 3 - 11%, and increase fat burning up to 29% .
Function : some other studies show that caffeine can help people lose weight at a relative level .
Side effects : In some people, taking a lot of caffeine can cause anxiety, insomnia, irritability, irritability, nausea, diarrhea and other symptoms. Caffeine is also addictive and can reduce sleep quality.
We don't really need to use caffeine-containing supplements or drugs. The best sources of caffeine are high quality coffee and green tea, which also have antioxidants and other health effects.
The bottom line : caffeine can stimulate metabolism and increase short-term fat burning. However, the tolerance of human medicine may not last long.
4. Orlistat (Alli)
Orlistat is a drug that is sold all over the counter with the name Alli, and in the prescription it is called Xenical.
Work: This weight-loss drug works by preventing fat in the intestines, making you load less calories from fat.
Function : According to a large-scale review of 11 studies, Orlistat can help weight loss of up to 2.7 kg compared to tranquilizers .
Other benefits : Orlistat has been shown to reduce mild blood pressure and the risk of developing type 2 to 37% in one study .
Side effects : this drug is abundant Influences digestion, including loose stools, flatulence, often difficult to control intestinal activity and other effects. It may also contribute to the lack of fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D, E and K.
Experts recommend that you follow low fat mode When using Orlistat to reduce side effects to a minimum.
Interestingly, a low-carbohydrate diet (without medication) has been shown to be as effective as combining Orlistat and a low-carbohydrate diet .
The key thing : Orlistat, or Alli or Xenical, can reduce the amount of fat you absorb when eating and help lose weight. It has many side effects and some of them are quite annoying.
5. Raspberry Ketones (Raspberry Ketones)
Raspberry Ketone is a substance found in raspberries, it creates a characteristic smell for this fruit. Another synthetic substance of raspberry ketones is sold as a weight loss drug.
Work : In fat cells isolated in rats, raspberries increase fat loss and adiponectin hormone levels. It is believed to be related to weight loss .
Function: There has not been a study of raspberries on humans in addition to a study in high-dose rats that showed weight loss .
Side effects: Can cause burp slightly smell raspberry.
Key thing: There is no evidence that raspberries result in weight loss in humans, and studies in mice show that it only works when taking high doses.
6. Green coffee bean extract
Green coffee beans it is merely an unroasted ordinary coffee bean. They contain two caffeine and It is believed to help with weight loss.
Work : caffeine can increase fat burning and chlorogenic acid slows down the process carbohydrates in the intestine.
Function: Many human studies show that green coffee bean extract can help with weight loss .
A review of three studies found that this product helps people reduce by 2.5 kg more than tranquilizers .
Other benefits: Green coffee bean extract may help reduce blood sugar levels and blood pressure. It also contains high levels of antioxidants .
Side effects: It may cause caffeine-like side effects. Chlorogenic acid in it can also cause diarrhea, and some people may be allergic to green coffee beans .
Key thing: Green coffee bean extract may help with weight loss relatively, but remember that many studies are sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry.
7. Glucomannan
Glucomannan is a fiber found in elephant yam, also known as konjac.
Work: Glucomannan absorbs water and becomes dense. It accumulates in the intestine and increases the feeling of satiety to help you eat less .
Function: Three human studies show that Glucomannan when combined with a healthy diet can help people reduce from 3.6 to 4.5 kg in 5 weeks .
Other benefits: Glucomannan is a fiber that can feed bacteria in the gut. It can also help reduce blood sugar, blood fat and natural fat; It is very effective in treating constipation .
Side effects: It can cause swelling, flatulence and loose stools; It can also interfere with oral medication if taken at the same time.
Glucomannan must be taken about half an hour with plenty of water before eating.
Key thing: Steady studies show that glucomannan contains fiber when combined with a healthy diet can help with weight loss. It also helps to improve many health conditions.
8. Meratrim
Meratrim is a rookie in the diet pills market. It is a combination of two plant extracts that can alter the metabolism of fat cells.
Work: It is claimed that it makes fat cells harder to reproduce, reduce the amount of fat they get from the bloodstream in the body, and help them burn stored fat.
Function: So far, only one study of Meratrim has been performed. 100 obese people are given strict diets at 2000 calories with Meratrim or tranquilizers .
After 6 weeks, the Meratrim group lost 5.2 kg and 11.9 cm of belly circumference. They also improved their quality of life, reduced blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides.
Side effects: No side effects were mentioned.
Key thing: One study showed that Meratrim helps lose weight and has many other beneficial health effects. However, this study is sponsored so we need more research to confirm.
9. Green tea essence
The essence of green tea is an ingredient in many supplements that help with weight loss. Because experiments has shown that its main antioxidant is EGCG that supports fat burning.
Work: Green tea essence is believed to increase the activity of neurotransmitters, which are hormones that help burn fat .
Function: Many studies on humans have shown that green tea essences can enhance fat burning to help lose weight, especially Belly Fat .
Side effects: Green tea extract is usually very benign. It contains a little caffeine and can cause symptoms in people who are sensitive to caffeine.
In addition, all the health benefits of drinking green tea may also apply to green tea essences.
Key thing: Green tea and green tea extract can help increase burning a little extra fat and reduce belly fat.
10. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)
Conjugated linoleic acid for many years is considered an effective product to reduce fat. It is one of the "healthier" trans fat and is naturally present in some animal-based fats, such as cheese and butter.
Work: CLA reduces appetite, boosts metabolism and stimulates the reduction of excess fat .
Function: According to a thematic review of 18 different studies, CLA reduces 0.1 kg per week for 8 months .
According to another study from 2012, CLA may cause you to lose 1.3 kg compared to tranquilizers .
Side effects: CLA may cause gastrointestinal side effects and may be harmful if used for a long time, contributing to fatty liver disease, insulin resistance and inflammation.
Key thing: CLA is an effective weight loss supplement but it can be harmful when used for a long time. Too little weight loss is not worth the risk.
11. Forskolin
Forskolin is an extract derived from a plant of the peppermint family, claimed to have weight loss effects.
Work: It is believed that it increases the concentration of an intracellular compound called cAMP that stimulates the burning of excess fat .
Function: A study of 30 overweight and obese men showed that Forskolin helps reduce fat and increase muscle while not affecting body weight. Another study on 23 overweight women did not yield any results .
Side effects: There is very little information about the safety of this product as well as the risk of causing side effects.
Key thing: Two small studies on Forskolin showed conflicting results. It is best to avoid using this product until more research is completed.
12. Bitter Orange / Synephrine
There is a kind of orange called bitter orange that contains compounds . Synephrine is involved (white alkaloid crystalline) is used as a common ingredient in many weight loss formulation formulations.
However, ephedrine has been banned by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss drugs due to serious side effects.
Work: Synephrine has the same mechanism of action as ephedrine but is less effective. It can reduce cravings and increase significant fat burning .
Function: There has been very little research on synephrine, while ephedrine has been shown in many studies to help significantly reduce weight in a short time .
Side effects: As well as ephedrine, synephrine can cause serious heart-related side effects. It can also be addictive.
Key thing: Synephrine is a stimulant that works relatively well and definitely has a short-term weight loss effect. However, side effects can be quite serious, so it should only be used very carefully.
Pharmaceuticals prescribed by prescription
In addition, many weight-loss drugs are prescribed to be effective. The most common types are Contrave, Belviq, Phentermine and Qsymia.
According to a 2014 study, even prescription weight loss pills didn't work as well as they hoped. On average, they can help you reduce your body weight by 3-9% compared to tranquilizers .
Remember that this result is only available when you combined with one diet healthy. They themselves cannot do anything and they are not a solution for obesity, not to mention many of their side effects.
The main message to note
Among the above 12 products, some of the most effective are:
Weight loss: Glucomannan, CLA and Orlistat (Alli).
Increased burning of belly fat: caffeine and green tea extract.
However, I have to warn about Orlistat because of its unpleasant side effects and CLA due to its harmful effects on metabolism.
So we have glucomannan, green tea extract and caffeine.
These supplements may be useful but the effect is only moderate. Unfortunately, no supplements or drugs really help with weight loss. They can make your metabolic system a little annoying and help you lose a few pounds, but that's all.
Cut down on carbohydrates and eat a lot the protein More is still the best way to lose weight. This is much more effective than all diet pills combined.
Other articles on weight loss:
