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Information About Ingredients in Diet Pills (1)Here is a selection of some common ingredients used in the formulation of nonprescription diet pills available online or from your health store. The effectiveness of these diet pills ingredients is typically judged by their success in clinical weight loss trials. If you wish us to add an ingredient used in diet pills to this list, please email us with details. -------------------------------------------------------------- AloeAloe is sometimes added to herbal weight-loss products. Oral aloe produces a strong cathartic response (producing bowel movements) and many aloe weight-loss products are marketed as "internal cleansers." However, aloe or aloe containing products should not be ingested orally. Use of this agent orally has lead to side effects such as abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and problems with the body's mineral balance. In addition, it can interact with medications used to treat heart failure. Whether aloe is effective for weight loss remains an open question. Alpha Lipoic AcidAlpha Lipoic Acid has an important role as an antioxidant and reputedly boosts other natural antioxidants such as Vitamin E and the carotenoids. Alpha Lipoic Acid is included in some carb blocker diet pills because it acts as a coenzyme in the metabolic process of converting glucose to energy (ATP). Alpha Lipoic Acid reputedly improves the sensitivity of the insulin receptors located in cell membrane walls. Alpha Lipoic Acid is also believed to transport nutrients to the muscle cells - one reason it is included in creatine supplements (to move more creatine to the muscles). Alpha-Lipoic Acid also has moderating effects on blood sugar levels. -------------------------------------------------------------- Bee Pollen PowderBee pollen is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and stimulates immunological responses. Bee Pollen is a rich source of protein and carbohydrates and can be used to correct body chemistry and normalize weight. Since European Gold Medal Olympic coaches introduced Bee Pollen to American athletes, they have been using it to improve strength, endurance and speed. Bee Pollen is also found in some weight loss supplements. Bee pollen powder contains 35 percent protein, 55 percent carbohydrate and 2 percent fatty acids. -------------------------------------------------------------- CascaraCascara is a common ingredient used in diet pills. One of the few herbs approved as an over-the-counter drug by the FDA, Cascara is a strong stimulant laxative. Misuse of Cascara has caused problems with the body's minerals (such as potassium, sodium). It should not be taken if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Cascara may interact with medications such as digoxin and diuretics (water pills, used to treat hypertension and other health problems). -------------------------------------------------------------- Cayenne PepperCayenne Pepper root aids digestion, improves circulation, and acts as a catalyst for other herbs. Studies indicate it has the ability to slow fat absorption in the small intestines, increase the metabolic rate and promote the burning of fat in the body. Cayenne: has traditionally been used as medicine for centuries. It has shown reductions in appetite in a double-blind trial, studying the effects on appetite and energy intake. Cayenne is commonly recommended by herbalists as a metabolic stimulant for people with sluggish metabolisms who are overweight. One of the more interesting effects of cayenne (or capsaicin) is its proven enhancement of the metabolic rate and thermogenesis. Preliminary studies suggest that capsaicin or cayenne may increase metabolism of dietary fats. These trials suggest that Cayenne may help in the treatment of obesity. -------------------------------------------------------------- ChitosanThis ingredient in diet pills is made from chitin, a starch found in the skeleton of shrimp, crab and other shellfish. Chitosan cannot be digested therefore it passes through your intestinal tract unabsorbed without adding any calories. The chemical nature of Chitosan makes it bind with fatty foods, removing some of the fat from your body as it passes though rather than allowing it to be absorbed. As yet, weight loss results from clinical trials of chitosan diet pills remain inconclusive. -------------------------------------------------------------- Chromium PicolinateChromium Picolinate helps the body regulate insulin, which regulates the level of blood sugar.Chromium picolinate: Chromium is a nutrient that helps regulate blood-sugar levels. It is found in water as well as mushrooms, broccoli, and potatoes. Chromium picolinate is a synthetic compound that's found in many commercial diet pills and weight loss supplements. Makers of herbal weight loss products claim, this element helps increase metabolism and reduces body fat. In animal tests, studies revealed that high doses may cause chromosomal damage. Also some of the weight loss patches containing exotic herbal products also seem to work by making the body lose its water content, which is not actual loss of body fat and can cause dehydration. -------------------------------------------------------------- Chromium Chelavite™Chromium Chelavite is a patented form of chromium. Chromium helps controls blood sugar and carbohydrate cravings. It also helps the body’s insulin metabolize fat, convert protein into sleek muscle, and turn sugar into energy. Makers claim it is 50 percent more absorbable than chromium picolinate. -------------------------------------------------------------- Cinnamon BarkCinnamon bark is a traditional ingredient in herb supplements and remedies. Cinnamon bark may help raise body temperature and accelerate the metabolism of fats which is why it is sometimes included in diet pills. U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers discovered that cinnamon reduces the amount of insulin necessary for glucose metabolism. -------------------------------------------------------------- Citrus AurantiumCitrus Aurantium, or Zhi Shi is a stimulant which combines with caffeine to increase metabolism, stimulate fat loss and suppress appetite. It increases physical performance by making fat available for energy, whilst maintaining lean mass by sparing muscle for use as energy. Citrus Aurantium is being viewed as an effective replacement in diet pills for Ephedra (Ma Huang). The nitrogen compounds in Citrus Aurantium are not as easily absorbed as those in Ephedra (Ma Huang), so it's effects on the cardiovascular and central nervous systems associated with Ephedra (Ma Huang) are reduced with Citrus Aurantium. Not only is Citrus Aurantium a safer alternative to the many Ma Huang-based products on the market, but preliminary studies indicate that Citrus Aurantium many contain a more effective thermogenic agent than does Ma Huang. -------------------------------------------------------------- Citrus NaringinineAn ingredient of several top brands of diet pills, Citrus Naringinine is a citrus extract that aids in weight loss by reducing appetite. Naringinine inhibits cytochrome P450, reputedly associated with obesity. A source of soluble fiber, it is an antioxidant that prevents free radical damage. See also: -------------------------------------------------------------- Information About Obesity Drugs and Weight Loss Supplements |
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Reviews of Obesity Medications and Diet SupplementsThis web site provides only general advice on popular weight loss pills and dietary supplements. Under no circumstances should this information be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Before taking any diet or weight loss pills, we recommend that you seek advice from your doctor. Only your doctor can safely advise you about which drugs or supplements are best for you.© 2006. Diet-Pills-Information. All rights reserved. |