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Weight Loss Supplements -- the Overweight Person's Constant Companion

In the growing quest among many people worldwide for a slimmer, younger-looking body, weight loss supplements have come to play a more prominent role. After all, the premise is tempting: just pop a pill and your weight loss problems will come to an end, or so the marketing gurus would have you believe. But don't be fooled; these diet pills are no substitute for a nutritious diet and exercise when it comes to effecting healthy weight loss.

It's a well-known fact that a person will shed unwanted pounds if he or she partakes of moderate and healthy food portions and if regular physical activity is maintained. However, some weight loss supplements can help facilitate the process. This is because they can affect how the body's metabolism, or how it burns fat. In addition, they can also influence the body's absorption and storage of fat and how the body builds lean muscle mass instead of fatty tissues.

Some herbal supplements taken for weight loss contain ingredients that have been used in many cultures throughout the ages. Take hoodia gordonii, for instance. This plant grows in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa, and has been found to be effective in suppressing the appetite. This would be a big benefit for people whose weight problems stem from food cravings and large appetites. Other herbal supplements may contain extracts from the rind of the Garcinia cambogia fruit, which contains hydroxycitric acid and is reputed to lessen food intake and prevent the body from storing fat. Synephrine, a substance derived from the bitter orange, is said to super-charge the metabolism. However, like another metabolic stimulant, ephedra (which has been banned from the market) synephrine can have significant and potentially deadly side effects.

Preliminary studies have shown promising results for chromium picolinate and conjugated linoleic acid for weight loss. They suggest that taking chromium supplements could result in as much as a 2.5 pound weekly weight loss in some persons. Conjugated linoleic acid, which occurs naturally in beef and dairy foods, is generally considered to be a safe weight loss tool, but more studies are needed to assess these two substances' effectiveness. Both are possibly helpful in not only reducing fat, but also in building lean muscle mass.

People who are overweight or obese should consult a physician or dietitian before going on any reducing diet. These health experts will be able to help them craft the right nutrition and exercise plan, in addition to recommending the appropriate weight loss supplements that they can take.