Talking about weight loss supplements, we all have our favorites. And we usually favor those that help us lose weight with the speed of light. Of course we know we should be more interested in acquiring a healthy weight loss, rather than simply being thin, but society and peer pressure and the lack of quality information make everything so difficult to manage when it comes to losing weight in a smart way. There are some healthy weight loss supplements, some are less healthy and others are outright dangerous.
Let's start with what I consider to be dangerous supplements: anything containing more than one active substance, for synthetic products, or containing more than one plant extract and has not been FDA tested and approved. Testing how a certain chemical affects our bodies is pretty much a straight-forward process. People are given a certain amount of the said chemical substance and their reactions are recorded over a period of time.
Then scientists start to see how this substance may or may not react to well known drugs and medical conditions ? is it safe to take it while also taking, let's say drugs that lower blood pressure? Is it safe when you suffer from gastritis? We are talking about one substance alone. Taking more than one drug at the time requires you to go to a health care professional and have him or her analyze the potential benefits or risks. All doctors are careful when they prescribe more than one drug because they are very well aware of the possible interactions between different substances and the human body.
Anything that contains a cocktail of plants and/or synthetically obtained chemicals is potentially dangerous and may never be approved because it's nearly impossible to test the combination. The more they are, the harder would be to test. Not to mention that people don't volunteer themselves easily to such risky enterprises, so why would you want to become a human lab rat?
The next supplements are those not-so-healthy, but with very low risk of being really harmful. These are supplements made from plant extracts that are obtained from very special, very rare plants. They can be tested and that's a big, big plus. So what's the catch? Plants that are so rare cannot be harvested in large quantities and people who grow them or pick them from the field or forest cannot afford to be picky. This means they cannot guarantee that every batch will have the same properties because it is not possible to obtain such a standardized crop when you have very little plant mass available. Think Hoodia for example. Hoodia is great in theory, but there isn't that much of this plant growing in its home region to account for all the weight loss pills on the market.
Healthy weight loss supplements are the least glamorous of them all. They are all made from one plant only and that plant has to be common enough to grow wild over a large area and never be in danger of going extinct because of over-exploitation. There are a number of such weight loss pills and one of the newest released to the general public is Proactol?, which is made from natural, organic cactus "Opuntia ficus-indica".
This cactus is an important vegetable in modern Mexican agriculture, but it's so widely spread that in some areas it is considered a noxious weed. This plant will never go away, it is perfectly adapted to thrive on an immense geographical area and you can pick and choose between different zones and utilize only perfect plants. The extract has been extensively tested by medical authorities and it's safe for human use. And this is exactly what you should be looking for when you want a weight loss supplement that does the job and never puts your health at risk!
Change Food Choices
Healthy Food - Eating a nutritious diet is always a good idea. This means eating the kinds of foods that are low in fat and simple sugars and high in vitamins and minerals. You should also avoid processed food and junk food. To successfully suppress your appetite however, you also need to change your food preferences. Some foods like apples, oatmeal, green vegetables and flaxseed for example are rich in fiber. They take longer to digest so you are less likely to look for food at different times of the day.
Modify Eating Practices
Schedule of Meals - The way you eat or your schedule for eating may also affect your appetite. Skipping meals for example may increase your inclination to eat more at odd hours of the day. So can eating large infrequent meals. If you change your habits and ate all your major meals or ate frequent small meals, you could reduce your craving for food. Other eating practices that you should consider adopting include eating salads and drinking soup and water before a meal.
Take Appetite Suppressants
Appetite Reduction - There are some appetite suppressor medications available. These medicines however have to be prescribed. This is because some people who are under certain types of medication or who have underlying medical conditions may not be good candidates for suppressant medication. Prescription is also required because some of these medicines can lead to side effects or even dependence. A doctor's advice is needed to ensure the proper and safe use of medication.
Remember that appetite suppressants are not meant for long term use. They should not also be used as the only methods for weight loss. These medications are only meant to assist individuals into adjusting to a new weight loss or diet program.
Strengthen Your Inner Mind
Meditation Technique - Appetite suppression is also possible through meditation. This technique is often used to promote relaxation but it can also be modified to promote stronger willpower to resist the temptation to eat. Naturally, this technique requires careful supervision to be both successful and safe. The disadvantage of this technique is that there are some individuals who have very strong cravings that may easily overpower whatever is achieved in a meditation session.
Take Natural Supplements
Natural Options - A final option would be to take a natural supplement such as those containing Caralluma. Caralluma is a plant that has been known for its ability to suppress the appetite. It is important to make sure though that you have a reputable brand. Make sure it really contains Caralluma and that it is all natural to reduce your risk of experiencing side effects.
Both Mn_nikk & Therese Zachary are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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