Supplements For Weight Loss You Can Skip

Everyone is looking for a quick, safe, easy way to lose weight. Diet and exercise work, but they take a long time and can cause big changes to your lifestyle. Scientists have been searching for supplements that help speed up the weight loss process by making slight adjustments to the way the body’s system handles food. 

If you’re looking for an effective weight loss supplement, don’t waste your time and money on these:

• Coconut oil – Laboratory research has not proven that coconut oil makes any difference in a person’s metabolism or thyroid function. The only sure thing about the oil is that it is higher in saturated fat than butter or lard.
• Hoodia – Hoodia is made from an African plant that is said to suppress hunger. Clinical trials have not proven the appetite suppression claims, and the FDA has warned weight loss manufacturers to stop making unsubstantiated claims about the product.
• Capsaicin – The European Food Safety Authority performed tests to see if capsaicin helped a person manage weight loss. The results showed that there was no connection between capsaicin and weight management.
• Chitosan – No scientific research has been performed on the effectiveness of chitosan, which is produced from the shells of crustaceans. Although it is safe for consumption, it has not shown a link to weight loss.
• Glucomannan (lipozene) – A researcher from the University of Toronto has stated that you would have to take in an unhealthy amount of glucomannan for any measurable weight loss. The substance is approved by the FDA as a thickener but not as a weight loss supplement.
• HCG – The FDA has issued warnings to companies that sell HCG for weight loss because the substance has not been proven effective. Possible side effects from an HCG regimen include problems with self-injections and vitamin deficiencies.
• Fucoxanthin – Fucoxanthin is still being researched in laboratories, but it has not been proven to provide weight loss in humans. The substance is not standardized for humans, which means there is no recommended dosage or regulation of supplements.
• Resveratrol – Although this ingredient in red wine does have the ability to reduce blood pressure, it does not show any difference in weight loss or gain. Long-term research is still underway, but current results clearly indicate no change in weight.
• CLA – CLA is a high fiber supplement that claims to suppress hunger. Researchers have found that people who eat their daily-recommended fiber from a normal diet will experience the same results as those who take fiber supplements.

Supplements in Development That May Really Work

• Nicotinamide riboside – Laboratory tests of this vitamin have had some promising results in mice, although human studies have not started yet. If humans react the same way the mice do, this supplement could improve muscle performance and decrease fatty deposits.
• L-Theanine (green tea extract) – While some studies indicate that green tea extract does have a beneficial effect on fat absorption, there are too many conflicting studies to make a solid argument for or against the tea.

Sources:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2210.htm

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/psychology/health_psychology/chitosan.htm

http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/09/health/he-skeptic9

http://www.webmd.com

http://www.supplementcritic.com/fucoxanthin-reviews/

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/w_DietAndFitnessNews/red-wine-ingredient-resveratrol-mimics-calorie-restriction-obese/story?id=14852698

scienceblog.com/55037/hidden-vitamin-nicotinamide-riboside-in-milk-yields-remarkable-health-benefits/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21810286

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