Contrary to popular belief, diet pills can be a helpful, safe and effective way to lose weight. With so many weight loss products out there, however, it can be challenging to filter through your options and find the diet pills that work versus those that are nothing more than fad products making bogus claims.
One way that you can determine whether or not a diet pill will work is by looking carefully at diet pill ingredients before making a purchase. The key here is to understand the common diet pill ingredients and how to choose the right one for you. Using them responsibly is also a large part of the safety and success rate of the diet pill regimen you are on. We will touch on all of that here.
Common Diet Pill Ingredients
Here are the active ingredients in most of the popular diet pills on the market today.
- Citrus Aurantium
- Chitosan
- Chromium
- Hydroxymethylbutyrate
- Guarana
- Garcinia Cambogia
- Conjugated Linoleic Acid
- Pyruvate
Some of these are a real mouthful; however, you don’t have to be a chemist to take a diet pill. You only have to know the basics of what they do and make an educated choice for yourself.
Some Things to Keep in Mind When Searching for Diet Pills That Work
Though many common diet pill ingredients are from totally natural sources, you may opt to check with your physician first in the event you have any pre existing conditions. This way you can take a diet pill which can be helpful, without interfering with your body chemistry or interacting with any medications you may be taking at the time.
The pharmacist is also more knowledgeable than the physician about chemical compounds, so a consult with them would be a great start if you have any pre existing conditions.
So, What Do Diet Pill Ingredients Do to Cause Weight Loss?
Most of these chemicals, natural and synthetic will do two things—act as a natural appetite suppressant or actively block fat before it gets a chance to develop.
- Appetite Suppressants: Simply stated, they will affect the part of the brain that rules hunger among other things—the hypothalamus. This happens when the diet pill stops the recycling of serotonin and norepinephrine so you can feel full. In layman’s terms, you are satisfied and not craving more.
- Fat blockers: These perform “lipase” or fat blocking in the intestines. This happens when the diet pill separates and breaks down the fat in the intestinal tract and is eliminated through a bowel movement.
Two common terms related to diet pills that you need to know:
- Systemic: Appetite suppressants are “systemic” because they are in your “system” and influencing brain chemicals.
- Non-systemic: Fat blockers generally stay out of the system and work in the intestines so they are eliminated through the bowel—never really reaching the bloodstream.
It’s Also Important to Avoid Dangerous Diet Pill Ingredients
In addition to knowing what diet pill ingredients can provide the best possible results, particularly when you use them as directed, it is also important to be aware of the ingredients that are best avoided because they have the potential to be harmful.
According to Dr. Oz, the following are some of the dangerous ingredients that you should watch out for and avoid when shopping for diet products:
- Fenproporex
- Bitter orange
- Synephrine
- Ma huang
- Sibutramine
- Ephedra
- Ephedrine
- Phenolphthalein
- Pseudoephedrine
Now that you know more about the ingredients that are found in diet products, you can shop smarter. However, if you still have questions or concerns about what direction to take, consulting with your doctor is the best way to get personalized guidance.