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The Best & Safest Appetite Suppressants

In the United States, 30 percent of adults struggle with obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Statistics from the World Health Organization show that more than a billion people worldwide are overweight. A vast array of products claim to help people lose weight quickly and easily, but the side effects of many of those products might not be worth the risk.

  1. Enter Mother Nature

    • In 2007, the Federal Trade Commission fined the makers of several popular over-the-counter weight loss products millions of dollars because the claims they were making had no scientific validity. In 2009, the FDA warned consumers about scores of name-brand diet pills that contained dangerous ingredients, some of which could cause high blood pressure, seizures and strokes. Since Mother Nature has provided many appetite suppressants, it isn't necessary to turn to pills with strange, costly and possibly harmful ingredients.

    Water

    • Drinking a glass of water may not alleviate your craving for chocolate cake but it can help fill you up. Instead of eating a whole piece of cake after drinking a glass of water, you might eat a few bites or maybe none at all. The sense of fullness you get when you drink water makes it a good idea to drink a glass before meals so you're less likely to overeat.

    Healthy Options

    • Almonds, a nutritional dynamo, also suppress appetite. The same holds true for apples, oatmeal, mushrooms and salmon. Research from the University of Copenhagen has shown that dark chocolate is an appetite suppressant. When you want a treat, try melting a square and dipping fresh fruit into it. Coffee can also suppress hunger but be careful what you put in it. Syrups and sweeteners won't help you lose weight.

    Choose Blue

    • As odd as it might sound, the color of your dinnerware can help you achieve your weight-loss goals. Studies indicate that the color blue can be an appetite suppressant while the colors red, yellow and orange can actually increase hunger. Serving your dinner on blue plates and enhancing your dining room or kitchen table with items such as a blue tablecloth or napkins may help you find weight-loss success.

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