Are Diet Pills
Good For You? (Part 1)
With so many over-the-counter diet remedies
promoting weight loss, it's no wonder that desperate
folks continue to throw away their hard-earned money.
This article presents ammunition for making a more
rational decision the next time you find yourself
searching the shelves at your local pharmacy or health
food store. Remember to always read every ingredient
listed on a brand name label; chances are you'll find one
or more of the following substances. If it sounds too
good to be true, then it probably is.
Ephedra (Ma Huang, Ephedrine): Ephedra is the
botanical form from the plant ma huang. The synthetic
alkaloids, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are found in many
over-the-counter cold and asthma medications and dietary
supplements. Ephedra alkaloids are powerful central nervous
system stimulants, and cause vasoconstriction and cardiac
stimulation. According to a review study in 1995, several
studies suggested that ephedrine plus caffeine act by
centrally suppressing appetite and peripherally stimulating
fat oxidation. Ephedra alone did not show any significant
effect on weight loss. That's why you'll generally find
caffeine (or guarana) coupled with ephedra in the
over-the-counter diet remedies.
Unfortunately, the side effects are extremely
dangerous and outweigh any weight loss advantage: rapid
heartbeat, hypertension, arteriole constriction, heart
attack, stroke, tremors, insomnia, and death in
individuals in otherwise good health. In fact, the FDA
and health professionals are working on having ephedra
outlawed.
Chitosan: Found in a few popular diet
supplements, chitosan is a dietary fiber-like substance made
from chitin, which forms the hard shells of crabs, lobsters,
and other shellfish. Chitosan works by binding to fat and
other fat-soluble substances. According to the
manufacturers, this undigested fat is then excreted in our
bowel movements. By reducing the amount of fat we absorb,
these pills hope to make it easier to lose weight. However,
there is no clear evidence to suggest that these weight loss
pills have any sort of lasting effect on weight loss.
Moreover, some pill manufacturers themselves have stated
that there are no guarantees as to their effectiveness.
Chitosan can block the absorption of certain medications and
fat-soluble vitamins. For example, drugs such as estrogen
and contraceptives are fat-soluble and therefore subject to
interference from chitosan. Also, shellfish allergic folks
should stay clear of it.
Carnitine (L-Camitine): Carnitine is
synthesized in the body from lysine and methionine, two
essential amino acids. It plays a central role in
transporting long chain fatty acids into the mitochondria
for oxidation. It also affects the metabolism of
acetyl-coenzyme-A. However, supplemental carnitine only
"provides extra energy" if a true clinical carnitine
deficiency exists. There is no evidence that carnitine
supplementation in healthy individuals improves energy, or
enhances weight loss.
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