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Exercise & Nutrition Supplements for Weight Loss

A number of weight-loss supplements found in health stores claim to help burn fat quickly. These supplements are available in the form of pills, serums and powders. With so much to choose from, it can be hard to pick the one that works best.

  1. Weight-Loss Supplements

    • Try to find a product with natural rather than chemical ingredients. Although there are several chemical products on the market, many of them can have side effects including headaches, increased heart rate, sweating, insomnia, constipation, drowsiness and anxiety due to the presence of synthetic ingredients, according to WebMD. Diet supplements containing natural ingredients can save you from such side effects.
      Find out whether the product is medically proven. Many weight-loss products do not have to meet the standards of regular prescribed drugs or over-the-counter products. They may be sold without being tested.Therefore, do not purchase a product that is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
      Two supplements, orlistat and sibutramine, are FDA approved. They have proven effective and have improved the health conditions of obese people. Orlistat is perhaps the less effective, but its side effects are restricted to gastrointestinal issues, according to the British Medical Journal.
      Consult your doctor before purchasing any supplement, especially if you find suspicious ingredients associated with the product. Moreover, check unbiased consumer reviews of the product on the Internet.

    Exercise Supplements

    • Most exercise supplements that claim to be "muscle gainers" or "fat burners" do not really work, according to thedietchannel.com. Mostly, these supplements are either appetite suppressants or high-calorie drink mixes. Moreover, the illegal anabolic steroid supplements have a number of irreversible side effects, which can include liver tumors, fluid retention and high-blood pressure.

    Risks

    • Some products that work by absorbing dietary fiber can have side effects including abdominal cramps, gas and increased bowel movements. Depending on the specific dietary supplement, the side effects can be mild and temporary or severe and long-lasting. Therefore, prescription products should always be preferred over self-prescription.

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