There are SO many products and programs out there that make big claims about their ability to help you drop a dress size in a few days, reduce your body fat and dramatically increase muscle mass. They often claim to do this really fast with minimal effort.
The glamorous claims can be tantalizing, especially if you have been working hard for a long time without getting the results that you want. Sometimes, even good companies get in on this band wagon… After all, there’s money to be made… And of course they all claim to have “scientific research” to back up their claims.
The true scientist in me cringes when I see these claims.
In most cases, these claims are mere marketing! (It is the health version of a “get rich quick” scheme.) Many of these products contain substances that are hard on the heart and cardiovascular system and cause anxiety. Some help you lose weight, but that’s because they have laxatives added. Although that might be fine for a day, in the long run you will be losing water and therefore can become dangerously dehydrated.
In many cases, the “research” they’re referring to is loose and indirect. For example, there are actually solid studies to support organic green tea helping with weight loss. A company could make a product full of sugar, caffeine, and all kinds of toxic fillers, but as long as they add a bit of green tea (even if it’s poor quality and not at adequate doses that the research shows as effective), they can say, “backed by research!”
As a consumer, watch out!
As an average and nutritionally uneducated consumer, I would love a product with such high promises. The marketing claims make me feel like there’s a short cut to looking and feeling amazing (and who wouldn’t want that!). These types of supplements are usually in advertisements with supermodels in perfect bodies, which only acts to reinforce the claims.
As a nutritional professional, be aware:
With claims like these we need to always ask, “At what cost do I get the benefit?” There may indeed be some partial truth to the claim… (For example, caffeine from garcinia cambogia can indeed improve metabolism and drive fat burning…1) However, if something has a good benefit but also damages the liver (as is the case with garcinia) or any other detriment, rarely is that product a good idea to use or consider safe.2
Are there any safe “weight loss pills”?
When you are looking to lose weight, it’s important to first lay a foundation for health. Are you eating lots of whole foods, reducing stress, getting adequate sleep, drinking water and exercising? If not, there is NOTHING that can take the place of these foundational habits and ALL of them have been shown to support weight loss as well as overall optimal health.
Next, consider why you might not be losing weight. For example, if it’s due to high stress, then it would be good to use some stress supporting supplements. (Some of my favorites include: Adaptogen, AdrenaVen, Max B, B5, Complete B and Magnesium.) If you go to bed on time but are having trouble sleeping, that can contribute to excess weight. Trouble sleeping could be from high stress, eating too late at night, poor circadian rhythms, parasites or digestive issues. You would want to figure out the cause before you can know what supplements will help most. Melatonin can be great to support circadian rhythm issues, but it won’t help at all if the issue has to do with eating late at night or digestive disturbance.
There are, however, some supplements that support weight loss in general by increasing the metabolism. One such product that can be used in combination with a good health foundation is Lean Advantage. This is not a diet pill and will likely not produce great results on its own… It is not a quick fix or one of those “eat anything you want and lose weight” pills… This is a botanical combination that improves fat loss and metabolism. It includes green tea, raspberry ketones and green coffee bean extract. You would take 4 capsules/day with breakfast OR lunch to support your weight loss efforts.
Supplementation is important but it a small part of the weight loss equation. For more information on weight loss, check out this blog or my latest book, The Quantum Weight loss Blueprint. (My book uses almost 200 references to discuss more than 20 reasons that people struggle to lose weight, beyond just “calories in vs calories out”.)
If you want to increase your speed of success, feel free to call the clinic to schedule your consult today! 269-204-6525
Resource list:
1. Maia-Landim A, Ramírez JM, Lancho C, Poblador MS, Lancho JL. Long-term effects of Garcinia cambogia/Glucomannan on weight loss in people with obesity, PLIN4, FTO and Trp64Arg polymorphisms. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018. doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2099-7
2. Lunsford KE, Bodzin AS, Reino DC, Wang HL, Busuttil RW. Dangerous dietary supplements: Garcinia cambogia-Associated hepatic failure requiring transplantation. World J Gastroenterol. 2016. doi:10.3748/wjg.v22.i45.10071
Nothing said or implied in this post is intended to treat, cure, diagnose or prevent any disease. It does not take the place of a qualified health care practitioner and is intended for educational purposes only.