The government can only restrict products that are classified as a drug. Ephedrine is classified as a drug as it is extracted from the root of the plant and the drug used for many allergy/asthma medications. Ephedra, on the other hand, is derived from the leaf of the plant and thus falls under the herbal category. The FDA has no jurisdiction on herbal products. As a result, the ephedra is safe from the long arm of the FDA…at least for now.
Not all weight loss supplements contain ephedra, and there are many without ephedra. Some of the herbal ingredients in weight loss supplements are seen in nearly all weight loss supplements. Among those ingredients are chromium and Hydroxycitric acid (HCA)
Chromium is a mineral that plays an essential role in the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats, as well as helping control insulin. Chromium picolinate is a type of chromium that has been studied for its potential role in altering body composition. Chromium has primarily been studied in body builders, with conflicting results. In one of these studies, lean body mass (muscle) lost during a weight-loss diet was restored by continuing to supplement chromium after the diet. It makes sense that weight loss supplements would want to include an ingredient to promote lean mass preservation. Muscle burns more calories than fat, so that alone would promote faster fat loss in consumers.
Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is an ingredient that comes from the extract of the Garcinia cambogia fruit rind. It is similar in composition to citric acid (the primary acid in citrus fruits). Early studies suggested that HCA may be a useful weight-loss aid, in laboratory studies it’s shown to reduce the conversion of carbohydrates into stored fat by inhibiting certain enzyme processes. Animal research indicates that HCA suppresses appetite and induces weight loss. In one case report, an individual who ate 1 gram of the fruit containing HCA before each meal lost one pound per day. It is still unclear if the conversion from fruit to supplement is as effective.
There are some things you can do to promote weight loss without taking an explicit weight loss supplement. Adding capsaicin (the primary part of cayenne peppers) to your meal has can reduce your food intake by around 200 calories. The less you eat, the less fat you are apt to store and the less you are going to have to work off later.
Green tea is another ingredient in many weight loss supplements, but you can drink green tea by itself. Drinking or taking green tea offers a higher energy expenditure and faster fat oxidation than taking caffeine alone.
Don’t be confined to thinking that all weight loss supplements are bad or unnatural. Rather you are looking for a true to term weight loss supplement or something to supplement your actual diet to promote weight loss, the solutions are available. However, don’t kid yourself that all you have to do is pop a pill or add cayenne peppers to your meal. You have to watch what you eat, not just watch it go in to your mouth. You also will have to get moving. Exercising is a primal part of any successful weight loss program.
