Weight loss pills and supplements are all over the place and their number is so large, and increasing almost daily, that making a choice becomes difficult.
There are over-the-counter supplements and prescription pills. Herbal supplements have also become extremely popular as people look around for natural alternatives. The supplements differ because they work in varied ways to aid in your fat loss. To add, each contains a unique combination of ingredients, hence, you need to be an educated consumer to make sure you choose the best and the safest ones.
Here are the four main types of weight loss supplements:
Appetite Suppressants
They are the most common type of weight loss supplement. The ingredients here manipulate the appetite-regulating hormones and chemicals in the hypothalamus; they release serotonin reuptake inhibitors. An increase in the amount of serotonin in the brain creates a general sense of well being; thus, you feel fuller sooner, although you might have barely finished half your meal. This helps you control your calorie intake and also prevents overeating at every meal.
As far as hunger pangs are concerned, they release norepinephrine and epinephrine. These are the body’s chemicals which block signals from the brain that tell the body “It is hungry and must eat”.
Fat Blockers
They are by far the most effective because they control the problem at the source. They reduce the amount of fat absorption in the body by inhibiting the action of the enzyme lipase. Lipase breaks down the fat in food as it passes through the intestine. When the activity of lipase is blocked, all the ingested fat is not digested by the body; part of it is eliminated through bowel movements. In this way, it puts a stop to the fat formation process and also controls the production of LDL (Low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol.
There are also fat, carb and cortisol blockers too. Cortisol increases the accumulation of body fat especially around the midsection.
Fat Burners
Losing weight includes getting rid of the fatty baggage you always seem to carry around. This is possible only if your metabolism works at optimum speed. The metabolic rate is the rate at which the body expends its calories.
There are thermogenic fat burners. The ingredients speed up metabolism by raising body temperature and eliminate excess fatty deposits. It forces the body to use up the fats from ingested food instead of storing it. In addition to this, it also boosts the production of muscle proteins. A good amount of muscle mass keeps fat burning continuously as they use up a lot of calories for their upkeep and maintenance.
Diuretics
This type of weight loss supplement is not a preferable option as there is no real weight loss. You only lose water weight; there is no reduction in the body fat percentage. That’s why they are also called water pills. It is not a healthy option as you run the risk of potassium deficiencies and severe dehydration.
It might be an option if you want to lose weight quickly. But be prepared for disappointment, for sustaining such weight loss is hard. The body soon starts replacing it with other substances and in time you’ll regain all the lost weight back again.
