Which is the best diet pill on the market? There are hundreds to choose from, most of which come with exaggerated claims from the manufacturers. Choosing the best diet pill is thus difficult.
What you think of as the best diet pill will depend a lot on what your goal is. There are numerous different types available, so what might be the best diet pill for one person will not be the same for another.
In addition, because many of these products are promoted herbal, there is a feeling that they will help you to lose weight 'naturally'. However, many doctors doubt both the safety and effectiveness of these herbal products.
If you are interested in seeing what is available, the most common ingredients include:
- Alfalfa: Often used in foods as a bulking agent to make you feel full and eat less. There is no research to suggest that it will help you lose weight.
- Chitosan: This comes from the shells of crustaceans such as crabs and shrimps. It is claimed that it attracts and absorbs fat, but again, there is no evidence that it will help you lose weight. It should be avoided by anyone who is allergic to shellfish.
- Hoodia gordonii: The big name in weight loss supplements, Hoodia is touted as a miracle extract that will reduce your appetite. While there are no proper clinical trials on hoodia, there is anecdotal evidence that it can suppress appetite.
- Chromium Picolinate: Chromium does help to metabolize sugar, but you would only need to take this if you have a chromium deficiency, which is very rare.
- Green tea extract: This is claimed to boost your metabolism and help you burn more fat. There is some evidence to support this claim, though the effect is small (3-5%).
- Caffeine: Often added to slimming supplements - it has a mild diuretic effect.
- Fucus: A type of seaweed. Claimed to speed up metabolism, though no evidence supports this.
