It is common for anyone wanting to shed some pound to try to find help somewhere. Well before turning to herbal remedies or supplements, it is important to keep in mind the mixed reviews given by various research findings. However, there appears no scientific backing in some of the claims but some cases; adverse side effects have been reported. It is, therefore, important to discuss with your healthcare provider before trying any of them.
Another important point to note is that FDA is doing everything to crack down on certain weight loss supplements containing substances that are not specified on most labels. The fact is that, although there are top diet pills out there, it is sometimes hard to know what exactly you are ingesting.
What you should understand is that although FDA is responsible for regulating diet supplements, it does not consider them as medicine but food. The difference between drug manufacturing industries and diet supplement producers is that the latter is not required to prove the effectiveness or safety of their supplements before presenting them to the market.
Well, there are various claims that point to the fact that weight loss supplements can aid in weight loss. As it were, below are some of the weight loss shakes that could help in weight loss.
Chitosan
This is a type of sugar obtained by consuming the outer part of crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. There are claims that this sugar can inhibit the absorption of cholesterol and fats by the body. The question is, does it help in weight loss? As it were, there is no enough scientific evidence to back this claim. According to the National Centre for Complementary and Interactive Health, there is no indication that chitosan can cause weight loss. However, in normal cases, it causes no adverse side effects, but constipation and stomach upset have been reported in some individuals. Considering that it is made from shell fish, shell fish allergic people should avoid it.
Chromium Picolinate
Chromium is responsible for insulin (a hormone that turns food into energy) enhancement. Most importantly, the body requires insulin to store proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. In this case, there are various claims that point at chromium supplements as being able to:
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Suppress appetite
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Burn more calories
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Boost muscle mass
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Burn fat
However, the findings of 24 studies that looked into the effects of two hundred to one thousand micrograms of chromium intake daily indicated that although it could help to some extent, the benefits aren’t quite significant. According to Natural Medicines, chromium is not effective for weight loss. Although rare, chromium supplements can result into:
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Irritability
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Insomnia
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Headache
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Thinking problems
There are cases where people using chromium have reported liver and kidney damages. Thus, if you have liver or kidney problems, stay away from chromium supplements at all costs.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)
CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) comprises of chemicals mostly found in fatty acids popularly referred to as linoleic acid. Though not scientifically backed, claims are that ingesting these supplements can m aid to keep the body full and inhibit body fat. Well, research on CLA with respect to weight loss has produced mixed results.
While some claim that in some individuals, taking between 1.8 and 6.8 grams of CLA daily could help:
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Enhance muscle mass
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Inhibit body fat
Others indicate otherwise and dismiss the fact that they can help in weight loss. However, unlike in other suggestions, Natural Medicines backs the fact that CLA can help in weight loss. However, various studies have warned that using CLA for a long time, especially people with obesity could result in increased levels of insulin, which could be eventually leady to type 2 diabetes. Long term use is also likely to aggravate cholesterol in the blood and expose one to a heart condition.
Other side effects include:
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Stomach upset
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Nausea
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Fatigue
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Watery stools
