Every January it seems there are more ads for weight loss supplements than ever before and one can't help but wonder if they really work.   It would stand to reason that if a particular weight loss supplement really delivered the goods, it would have put itself out of business by now.  Yet here we are- another year gone by that America is heavier than the last.  So before you call or click to get a bottle of the latest fad delivered right to your door, there are a few things I would like to share with you about weight loss supplements.

Read The Fine Print

Almost every weight loss supplement out there advises that results occur in conjunction with proper diet and exercise. The second thing you will notice is that the results they advertise are not typical.  Putting both of these together leads me to speculate that the person you see on the television screen who lost 40 pounds while taking a pill was probably also using the services of a dietician or nutritionist and following a customized exercise program provided by the supplement company.  While weight loss supplements can be a valuable aid- and we will get into some specifics in a bit- please don't be fooled into thinking that they alone are going to get you much of a result.

Look Under The Hood

On the surface, weight loss supplement ads can sound very compelling.  Claims that the formulas are "clinically proven" or "scientifically formulated" don't really lend as much credibility to the product as it may seem at first glance.   One product that claims to be "clinically proven" does not disclose that a person would have to take almost half the bottle every day in order to provide the clinically significant dosage.  Other terms frequently used in weight loss supplement ads are equally dubious.  Just because something is "Doctor Recommended" doesn't mean that a doctor recommended it as right for you.

The bottom line is that if a company feels like they need to resort to some type of gimmick in order to draw your business chances are the product isn't all that it's cracked up to be.  Believe me, if science had found the magic weight loss pill your doctor would have told you about it.

Everybody Is Different

Another thing to keep in mind is that there is not a special "weight loss button" that gets switched on when you take a pill.  Just as there are many reasons why a person may be having difficulty losing weight, so are there many kinds of supplements which can address each of those causes.  Although weight loss supplement manufacturers would love it if every overweight person purchased their product, it isn't quite that simple.  Different supplements have different actions.  This is why you may have heard from your friend that one supplement worked great for them, but didn't do anything for you.  This is because you and your friend are not overweight for the same reason.

With that being said, let's get into some of the different types of weight loss supplements and how they work.

Fat Blockers

This type of supplement binds some of the fat in the foods that you eat, thus preventing it from being absorbed and reducing the overall caloric load of a meal.  I almost never recommend this type of supplement.  I have performed many hundreds of nutritional analyses and it is quite rare for me to find somebody who is actually eating too much fat in their diet.  Most people who are overeating are eating too much carbohydrate in the form of refined flour and sugar.  If this is the case, fat blockers will not help at all.

What is worse, fat blockers may actually cause harm by interfering with the absorption of important fat-soluble vitamins which are needed to break down fat already stored in the body, regulate certain hormones, and help the liver detoxify harmful metabolites so they may be removed from the body.

Thermogenics

Thermogenics are one of the most common form of weight loss supplements, and act by increasing the body's core temperature and metabolic rate.  Some of these include caffeine and the EGCG found in green tea.  While drinking green tea can be a healthful practice, it is necessary to take a concentrated form in order to get a significant amount of the active ingredients.  When used appropriately can be both safe and effective, but due their stimulant actions, thermogenics should not be taken by those with heart conditions.  Other thermogenics include bee pollen, ginseng, 7-keto DHEA, and cayenne pepper.

Appetite Suppressants

While seemingly straightforward, appetite suppressants are actually the most varied group of weight loss supplements.  This is because appetite is controlled by many factors all acting upon each other.   Dandelion leaf, evening primrose oil, ephedra, guarana, kola nut, and 5-HTP are all common ingredients in weight loss formulas.  Of these, 5-HTP has the most promise for reducing carb cravings, but due to its potential interaction with certain psychoactive medications, can only be acquired in significant amounts through a qualified practitioner.

Hypoglycemics

These supplements can be very effective in people whose bodies have a difficult time regulating blood sugar levels. Guggul, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and bitter melon are all herbs that can help keep blood sugar from rising too quickly.  Interestingly, many of these herbs are traditionally included in recipes that call for sugar.

Adaptogens

Adaptogens are particularly useful in people who have "stress fat."  Stress fat is associated with high amounts of cortisol produced by being in a stressful environment.  While the mechanism is not yet fully understood, people under high amounts of stress tend to accumulate body fat around their waist while other areas of their body will tend to remain normal or slim.  Adaptogens act to help the body normalize the stress response.  Some examples include ginseng, licorice root, and reishi mushroom.

Diuretics

In many cases a significant amount of weight that is carried by the body is actually water weight.  While certain herbs such as alfalfa, dandelion,  juniper berries, parsley, thyme, and uva ursi can get a few pounds of water weight off fairly quickly, they do not really address the underlying reason why the body is holding onto water in the first place.  Unless the cause is treated, the water weight will probably come back once usage of the herbs is discontinued.

Fiber

Fiber can be helpful in weight loss in a number of ways. Taking a fiber supplement can help to curb appetite by stimulating stretch receptors in the gut.  Fiber also stimulates the release of bile and can help to reduce inflammation in the gut.  The most common form of fiber is psyllium husk, however other kinds such as plantain and konjac root have shown great promise in clinical trials.

Mitochondrial Energizers

Mitochondria are tiny organelles inside the cells that are responsible for converting the energy stored in the foods we eat into a form that can be used by the body. Supplements such as alpha lipoic acid, L-carnitine, D-ribose, and CoQ10 can help to rejuvenate mitochondria that have been damaged through the normal aging process, or by a strenuous exercise regime undertaken without the proper nutritional base.

In conclusion, weight loss supplements can be a valuable addition to a weight loss program that includes proper nutrition and exercise.  However, in order to be effective the right supplements should be chosen that will provide the body extra support in the areas which are most needed.  While it may not hurt to give most weight loss supplements a try, the chances are slim that you will come upon the right one by choosing based on big claims and fancy advertising.   As with any kind of herb or dietary supplement, it is best to choose based upon the recommendation of a qualified professional.