The Best 10 Over the Counter Diet Pills and Their Side Effects

Think about it – take a pill, go to sleep, wake up skinny. Sounds like a dream doesn’t it? Well, that’s what people want and the market will certainly provide it. There are thousands of weight-loss pills available at grocery stores, health food stores, and even online. The latest innovation is Alli, the first FDA-approved weight loss supplement. Alli is a watered-down version of the prescription strength weight-loss pill orlistat, which is able to decrease the fat absorbed by the intestines. While Alli has been proven to work, there are no magic cures and side effects to be taken into account when looking for a weight loss supplement. Here is a brief outline of the top ten over the counter diet pills, what they claim, and what you need to know.

Bitter Orange

Bitter Orange is an herbal supplement developed from the peel of a special type of orange. It has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine and contains synephrine, a chemical which is similar to the effects of ephedrine. Bitter Orange is often the “ephedra-free” substitution in diet pills without ephedra. According to National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, case studies involving Bitter Orange show no signs of effectiveness in fat loss and have been documented to have the same side effects of ephedra.

Chitosan

Chitosan claims to block the absorption of dietary fat. It is comprised of the exoskeleton of shrimp and other crustaceans. While there have been few adverse side effects, studies doubt whether it is effective as a weight-loss aid.

Chromium

The atomic element chromium has been promoted to build muscle and burn fat, however, the use of this diet supplement has been controversial and has shown damage among clinical lab tests.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid

Known as CLA for short, Conjugated Linoleic Acid is a chemical compound which can reduce body fat, specifically fat found in the abdominal. Naturally, CLA can be found not just as a supplement, but from the meat of grass-fed animals, such as mutton or beef, as well as eggs. As for side effects, CLA can cause indigestion problems, including diarrhea.

Country Mallow

Also known as Heartleaf or or Bala has shown results in reducing appetite and increasing metabolism, but that’s because it actually contains ephedra.

Ephedra

This one has gotten a lot of press, most of it negative. The negative results of ephedra are enormous. Ephedra reduces fat by decreasing appetite and increasing heart-rate and metabolism, however, it has been banned by the FDA as it has a high link to hear rate irregularities, stroke, and even death.

Green Tea Extract

Green Tea has been used since ancient times to increase calorie burning, while at the same time decreasing appetite. There has been limited evidence to support such a claim, and the obvious side effect is the massive amounts of caffeine that can be contained.

Guar Gum

Guar Gum is the ground endosperm of guar beans. Also known as guaran, it s a thermogenic substance that can increase metabolism by generating heat. It also goes largely undigested, and can be used as a filler to increase the feeling of fullness with meals to decrease appetite. The downside of this supplement is that without enough water, guar gum can produce intestinal obstructions and other digestion problems.

Hoodia

The plant Hoodia Gordonii is an interestingly leafless plant which grows in South Africa. The flowers of Hoodia Gordonii smell like rotting meat and use flies to pollinate. It has been touted to suppress appetite, however the is no published scientific evidence of the claim.

Alli

Alli is the reduced strength version of orlistat, known to the prescription market as Xenical. Alli is an intestinal fat-blocker. While the FDA has approved the use of Alli, it is not without side effects. For one, Alli must be taken as part of a reduced fat diet, or dieters risk oily discharges in stool and other bowel movement problems.

While the evidence has yet to prove that diet pills are able to drop pounds over night, it should be remember that the effectiveness of such supplements should be gauged as just that–a supplement and not a replacement to healthy eating and exercise.

By: Joely Mench