It really chaps my hide whenever I see those commercials on TV
with a woman MD-wanna-be hawking the latest diet pill. These
"play-doctors" are usually wearing white lab coats, like they're
on the way to perform surgery and just thought they'd take time
out of their busy schedule to tell you about this "latest
medical breakthrough".
Don't be fooled. The idea is to make it appear as if this woman
(or man, I've seen them, too) is an actual doctor telling
you about this latest prescription medicine to solve your weight
problem. They even have the nerve to sell it to you in a bottle
that looks just like one of the prescriptions you get from your
local pharmacy.
With obesity and all its related health problems becoming more
and more common in the general population, people are becoming
desperate to try a "magic pill" that will help them lose weight.
As a result, there is a lot of harm you can do to yourself if
you don't choose your weight loss supplements wisely.
While many health and fitness experts will tell you flat out not
to ever use any supplements...ever...research has shown
that some can be used with success under the right conditions.
1.Are you under a doctor's care for high blood pressure,
diabetes, heart problems, depression or any other serious health
problem? Taking any of these types of supplements can be
very dangerous. Consult your doctor and get your other health
problems under control before using any weight loss supplements.
2.Are doctors involved in the design and manufacture of the
supplement? By that, I mean, do they put together the
combinations and formulas for the supplements? If so, what are
their credentials? If you see that a doctor (or group of
doctors) has been involved in the design and production of an
herbal remedy for a health problem, you have to understand that
their professional reputation is on the line. Many of
them have spent decades in medical schools and in clinical
environments, practicing medicine. No one who has invested that
much time and energy on their medical career is going to
sacrifice their reputation for something they are not absolutely
sure is going to work.
3.Read the label and research, research, research
the ingredients. Make sure you know what you're taking and
realize that the FDA guidelines for herbal supplements do not
require standardized amounts. In some cases, you only need a
trace amount of the herb in order to put the name on the label
so look for the standardized claim on the bottle. That can also
give you a clue as to whether the price is right on a certain
herbal compound. If it's really cheap...or free...
there's usually a reason why...most likely, it's because there's
very little of the active ingredient in the pill.
4.Look for the word "chelated" and "amino-acid-bound"
which means that the minerals are absorbed by your body better
and more effectively than the simple forms manufactured by other
vitamin-mineral products.
5.Realize that there is no such thing as a "magic weight loss
pill". You must follow a healthy diet and exercise
regularly in order for these herbs to work. Most good,
quality weight loss supplements will enhance your weight loss
efforts by increasing your metabolism and suppressing your
appetite while you eat those good healthy veggies and take that
30 minute walk everyday.
The definition of "supplement" is "to increase, extend, or
improve something by adding something to it." So, the best
weight loss supplements are not meant to replace, but
supplement, a healthy lifestyle.
About the author:
Eunice Coughlin is the founder of
http://www.healthy-living-for-moms.com. She has successfully
used weight loss supplements, along with a healthy diet and
exercise program, to lose 30 pounds and keep it off since 2002.
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