The Best-Selling Diet Aids

You see their advertisements all day long. Whether you are reading a magazine while waiting to see the dentist, or you are just trying to catch up on a little news on the television, ads about weight loss supplements seem to jump out and grab your attention. Like many individuals in the United States, you may wish you could lose a little weight. Many ads for the best-selling diet aids make weight loss seem easy.

Alli

This over-the-counter (OTC) weight loss supplement claims to limit the absorption of dietary fat. The Mayo Clinic lists this drug as a milder version of the prescription drug, Xenical. This diet aid includes guidelines for food consumption and may be an effective means of losing weight, although the Mayo Clinic advises that the amount of weight lost with this OTC supplement is generally less than the amounts lost by those individuals who are taking the prescription strength medication. Some reports of liver injury are also under investigation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Green Tea Extract

These non-prescription pills contain polyphenols, an ingredient extracted from green tea. This substance might help reduce cholesterol levels, increase metabolism and enhance weight loss. Unfortunately, this extract also contains caffeine that may cause you to become restless and experience difficulty sleeping. Although more research is necessary to confirm this ingredient's ability to help you lose weight, the University of Colorado advises that if you are on blood thinning medications to contact your doctor before taking green tea extract.

Chromium

Chromium may lower your blood sugar, increase your muscles mass and reduce the amount of fat you carry, according to manufacturers' claims. This ingredient may also act as an appetite suppressant. About half of the scientific studies conducted on chromium's effect on weight loss support these claims; the other half do not support the claims. Although generally thought to be a safe supplement, the University of Colorado warns against taking one form of chromium, chromium picolonate, which may lead to DNA damage, anemia and possible memory loss.

CLA

CLA, short for Conjugated Linoleic Acid, may help with weight loss. According to the Mayo Clinic, this diet aid may be an effective way to reduce some body fat and build more muscle tissue. This ingredient appears naturally in many meat and dairy products. Studies performed on animals show it may contain antioxidant properties.

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