GUIDE – Weight Loss Pills & Weight Loss Tablets – How do They Work?

Weight loss pills and weight loss tablets are increasingly popular because of their promise to get rid of excess fat and make you hot. While the intention is good, there are many concerns surrounding this type of pill because of the threats they pose in humans. In fact, there are even ingredients that led to total ban because they led to death.

This led to a bigger concern:

Are weight loss pills and weight loss tablets safe for human consumption without compromising your health? If they are, how can you ensure that you are getting quality product?

This article aims to address everything you need to know about weight loss supplements – from ingredients, to how they work, to possible side effects, to banned ingredients, to tips on how to properly use this type of pill. Stick around and make sure you read this from top to bottom to better understand how this type of product could make or break your health.

It can be compared to Viagra for men. Apparently, weight loss pills and weight loss tablets are taking the world, the female world in particular, by storm. After all, who doesn’t want to lose weight and fit into small-sized clothes again?

Exercise and healthy diet will help you in losing weight, but when was the last time you actually took time to go to the gym and sweat it all out? With kids, chores, and work getting in the way, finding time for workout and preparing nutritious foods often take the backseat. As a result, you rely on weight loss pills and weight loss tablets to get you back in Sexy-ville.

What exactly are weight loss pills and weight loss tablets?

There are many ways to define it, but in essence, these are oral products that contain ingredients intended to promote weight loss. Weight loss pills are often viewed as a “savior” because of its promise to help you lose weight in just a few days from the time you started popping tablets.

According to the journal, Eating Behavior, approximately 50 percent of individuals with eating disorders use weight loss pills and weight loss tablets on top of the unhealthy diet they are employing in order to lose weight. Whether or not this is healthy is something you will find out in the succeeding sections.

Common Ingredients Found in Weight Loss Pills and Weight Loss Tablets

There are two kinds of ingredients found in weight loss pills: commercial and natural. Some manufacturers stick to just one form while there are others who combine both natural and commercial ingredients in their weight loss tablets.

So, what’s in a weight loss pill? Here’s what:

  • Caffeine – You know what they say, a cup of Joe a day keeps you awake the entire day. This is why most weight loss pills and weight loss tablets contain caffeine. It has modest effect on your body by increasing resting metabolic rate and helps decrease weight over time. Nonetheless, caffeine is not advisable to be taken in excess because it can trigger restlessness and palpitation.
  • Chromium – This may not be as effective as compared to commercial weight loss ingredients, but it does a good job in promoting fat loss, increasing lean muscle, and reducing your food intake.
  • Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) – This is a natural fat burner and a type of polyunsaturated fat that is safe for human consumption. Many weight loss tablets include this ingredient because it helps reduce appetite, increase lean body mass, and cause positive effects on energy metabolism. Still, take note that not all CLA are of high quality. To be safe, go for the branded types of CLA, Clarinol and Conalin.
  • Garcinia Cambogia – You will see this ingredient in many weight loss tablets. Users of this ingredient reported reduced hunger, which explains why it is also a popular ingredient when it comes to weight loss pills and weight loss tablets.
  • Glucomannan – Also called konjac, this ingredient absorbs water and turns into gel-like composition. This will sit in the gut to help promote the feeling of fullness and makes you eat fewer calories.
  • Grapefruit Essential Oil – The active components of this ingredient can reduce your appetite, boost metabolism, and minimize your cravings. It also contains enzymes to help the body break down sugar. This is a good energy booster as well.
  • Green Tea Extract – This is a common ingredient found in many weight loss pills and weight loss tablets, and generally the safest as well. When taken, green tea extract may increase fat oxidation and energy expenditure. It also boosts the level of norepinephrine, a kind of hormone that helps burn fat.
  • Guarana – If you are looking for a plant with highest concentration of caffeine, then guarana takes the spot. It has up to 5.8 percent caffeine that also helps increase your mental focus and energy. Similar to caffeine, guarana may cause quickened heartbeat, difficulty sleeping, and changes in blood pressure if taken excessively.
  • Orlistat – This is a pharmaceutical drug-slash-fat blocker that inhibits the breakdown of fat in the gut. As a result, you take fewer calories from fat and help increase weight loss, thereby making it a favorite in many weight loss tablets. w
  • Psyllium Husk – This is a mixture of both soluble and insoluble fiber. This go-to fiber supplement reduces absorption of carbohydrates and increase fecal bile acids.
  • Raspberry Ketones – This ingredient is found in raspberries and responsible for the fruit’s distinct smell. Many weight loss pills and weight loss tablets have this because when taken, it increases the breakdown of fat and adiponectin, a hormone related to weight loss.

Keep in mind that weight loss pills and weight loss tablets manufacturers have their own formulation that sets them apart from their competitors. Although these ingredients are the most common, some may include more components that are not included in this list. Read about those ingredients and keep yourself informed to enable you to make better decisions.

How Weight Loss Pills and Weight Loss Tablets Work

Now that you know what weight loss tablets and weight loss pills are, and what could be the possible ingredients inside every pill, it’s time to find out how this works.

When taken, it could have the following effects on your body:

  • Curb food cravings
  • Speed up metabolism
  • Makes you feel fuller and satisfied with food even with little food intake
  • Slow down body’s production of fat
  • Prevents your body from absorbing fat from the food you eat, thereby reducing your calorie intake
  • Work on brain receptors to dull your appetite

Still, take note that every person reacts differently. Pay attention to how your body reacts to the weight loss pills before buying it in bulk. You might also want to consider changing your weight loss tablets until you find the right one for you.

Side Effects of Weight Loss Pills and Weight Loss Tablets You Need to Know  

Weight loss tablets mean well and that is to help you lose weight and get rid of all the clothes with “L” on it. Still, you have to be careful on your intake of weight loss pills since the following might happen:

  • Agitation
  • Anxiety
  • Diarrhea
  • Dry mouth
  • Headache
  • Higher risk of developing kidney problems
  • Indigestion
  • Loose stools
  • Liver damage
  • Nausea
  • Rapid or unusual changes in the heartbeat
  • Trouble sleeping

Does this mean weight loss pills and weight loss tablets are bad? Not really. In fact, some people are allowed to use weight loss tablets, especially if they belong in high-risk groups.

It all boils down to choosing the right product with the right ingredients and taking the weight loss pills or weight loss tablets properly and according to the recommended dosage. If you overdose in your intake of weight loss pills, then you are more likely to experience these side effects.

Make sure to stick around because there are illegal weight loss ingredients that you need to know to protect yourself from experiencing these side effects.

Get to Know the Different Types of Weight Loss Tablets and Weight Loss Pills

Did you know that weight loss pills come in variety? The end goal of pills and tablets you buy is the same and that is to help you lose weight. Apparently, there are two types, which are:

Appetite Suppressant

Do you want to lose weight but have a hard time saying no to food? Don’t feel guilty because everyone knows how you’re feeling when it comes to eating. To help you with that, you can try appetite suppressant.

When taken, this product will help you regulate your hunger and keep your satiety levels higher. As a result, it lowers your caloric intake, which means an effective way to lose extra pounds.

READ MORE – What are the best Appetite suppressant

Diuretics

You often see this being associated with coffee and fruits and vegetables with high water content like cucumber and lemon. Diuretics are substances ideally for those who have lean physique but still want to hold on to that water weight. By taking diuretics, you get to remove a layer of fluid from your body to achieve a leaner look.

Apparently, diuretics are not advisable to be taken on a long-term basis.

Fat Burners

Also referred to as “thermogenics,” this type of supplement is usually a combination of essential fatty acids, up to three herb-derived stimulants stacked together, chromium, pyruvate, picolinate, and/or hydroxycitric acid. It works by burning stored body fat using fat reserves as a source of energy.

Other purposes include:

  • Increase fat metabolism
  • Boost energy expenditure
  • Speed up weight loss
  • Increase fat oxidation

In other words, the main selling point of this fat burners or thermogenic pills is to boost your metabolism, or the rate, which your body burns calories, in order for you to lose weight.

READ MORE – Fat Burning Pills – This Guide Goes REALLY DEEP

Fat Trapper

There are several ways you can choose to allow you on how to deal with excess fats and weight inside your body. Now that you encountered fat burner, it’s time to say hello to fat trapper.

Fat trapper pills and tablets usually contain chitosan, an ingredient that is rich in fiber and comes from powdered shells of crabs, shrimps, and other shellfish. When taken, fat trapper ingredients will bind to fat from the food you ate, thereby keeping it from being digested.

Fat trapper ingredients are effective if you are under calorie-restricted diets. On the other hand, fat trappers, specifically chitosan, could negatively affect your body’s ability to absorb fat-soluble nutrients such as fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins A and D. This is why it is advised to limit your intake up to three months only.

Fat Blocker

In its simplest definition, fat blockers are supplements that, well, block fat from being absorbed by your body. This type of weight loss tablet work in two ways:

  1. Direct inhibition wherein the blocker will bind itself to the carb or fat molecule so that it won’t be absorbed by the body.
  2. Indirect or enzymatic inhibition wherein the blocker component targets and prevents the enzymes responsible for digesting a macronutrient to do its job. This is the most common type of fat blocker since carbs and fat rely on different enzymes in order to be digested properly.

Apparently, fat blockers are not very effective in causing fat loss but it can prevent the gaining of fat.

Best Weight Loss Tablets and Weight Loss Pills

For Men

Here’s the surprising part: weight loss pills are not just for the ladies. In fact, even your partners can also give this a try, especially if they want to suppress appetite and get back on the fit side of the scale.

The next question is this: what is the best weight loss tablet for men?

The answer is it depends. If you consult with a doctor, some would allow you to take FDA-approved appetite suppressants to help you trim and manage your weight – and waist.

Keep in mind that how your body reacts to a particular pill is different from others. In fact, what works for you might not necessarily work for them. When it comes to weight loss supplements, all of those tablets you see in the market are good and will benefit you in whatever way.

Here’s what you need to remember: you need to read about the ingredients as much as you can before you commit. Know about the acceptable and illegal ingredients (which was enumerated in this post) to be included in weight loss pills and make it a point to read the label before you say yes.

For Women

Of course, women will always be priority customers when it comes to weight loss pills. If you are looking for the best in the market, the answer is it depends on the goal you laid for yourself.

Similar to weight loss tablets for men, you can go for FDA-approved weight loss pills since they have studies that will show both safety and effectiveness. You can also go for natural supplements to minimize side effects, if any. If you prefer commercial weight loss pills, then make it a point to go through the labels and check the ingredients so you can see if there are illegal ingredients included, which you will learn more about below.

New Weight Loss Tablets and Weight Loss Pills in the Market

Change is constant – and the weight loss pills market is not an exception. While there are perennial ingredients included in every weight loss tablets, experts are constantly looking for other ingredients that will help everyone lose weight fast to get that desired body.

Below are some of the newcomers in the weight loss market:

  • Contrave – On 2014, the FDA approved this new weight loss pill that aims to help overweight individuals with risk factors like high cholesterol, diabetes, or high blood pressure. It contains antidepressant and anti-addiction ingredients and helps in curbing hunger and food cravings. Apparently, experts are questioning its relationship with weight loss, but according to its manufacturers, the antidepressant ingredient lessen your appetite while the anti-addiction component blocks certain receptors in the brain to curb any food cravings.
  • Meratrim – This ingredient is a combination of two herbs, Sphaeranthus indicus (flower) and Garcinia mangostana (fruit) in 3:1 ratio. It decreases the amount of fat picked up from the blood stream, help burn stored fat, and makes it difficult for fat cells to multiply. So far, there are no side effects reported, but further studies are needed to evaluate the safety of this ingredient.

Watch Out: Illegal Weight Loss Pills and Weight Loss Tablets

Unfortunately, there are harmful ingredients included in weight loss supplements sold in the market. Worse, manufacturers will make it appear that these ingredients are safe for consumption and even promise you that you will get the body you’ve always wanted.

Before you become one of the victims of false advertisement, make you read and memorize these illegal ingredients:

  • DMAA – This is also known as 1,3-dimethylamine, methylhexanamine or geranium extract. Although it is a stimulant that promotes weight loss, FDA reported that this ingredient poses serious health risks such as cardiovascular problem and heart attack, which led to its ban in 2012.
  • Ephedra – Once upon a time, this Chinese herbal stimulant is part of every weight loss pills and weight loss tablets. Also known as ma huang or ephedrine, this was banned in the American market in 2004 because of its ability to increase the risk of stroke or heart attack and its link to several high-profile deaths. Combining ephedra and caffeine is also a big no-no since both increase your resting metabolic rate.
  • Fen-Phen – This weight loss drug has two active ingredients. One is fenfluramine, which is linked to lung disease and heart damage. The other ingredient is phentermine, which can be used for weight loss but with doctor’s prescription.
  • Forsokolin – This ingredient is not really illegal, but must be regulated. It does stimulate fat burning by increasing the levels of a compound called cAMP, but there are few studies to support the safety of this ingredient. In fact, there are two studies with conflicting results and until the US Food and Drug Administration shed light on this, it is advisable to avoid this – for now
  • Hydroxycut – This has caffeine and several plant extracts known to help you achieve your weight loss goals. Unfortunately, this was recalled and banned in 2009 because it could cause severe damage to liver, kidney, and other vital organs. Serious adverse reactions such as jaundice and hepatitis could also happen when this ingredient is taken.
  • Sibutramine – This weight loss drug was originally prescribed as weight management solution and long-term appetite suppressant. Sadly, this was associated with increased risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack. As of this writing, this drug is withdrawn in the US market.
  • Synephrine – Also known as bitter orange, this one is related to ephedrine. Despite sharing similar mechanism with ephedrine, this ingredient is less potent. Nonetheless, it helps increase fat burning and reduces your appetite, but it is never a safe substitute for ephedra.

Things to Remember when Taking Weight Loss Pills and Weight Loss Tablets

  • Know what you want. You learned that there are different types of weight loss pills and weight loss tablets. Before you say yes to one, establish first your fitness goal and choose weight loss tablets that are in line with this goal you want to achieve. This will ensure you that you will achieve the results you wanted because you are taking the right kind of weight loss pills.
  • Always research first before you buy weight loss tablets and weight loss pills. This is a must. Weight loss pills and weight loss tablets are selling like hotcakes, which many companies are taking advantage of. Don’t easily fall for marketing strategies that promise to help you lose 10 pounds in three days. Make it a habit to do your homework, read about the healthy ingredients, and find out the illegal ones before you say yes to a product.
  • Read the label. This is another must. Manufacturers put the ingredients used in their label to give customers an idea on what’s inside the pill. Aside from this, it tells recommended dosage – another important portion you need to look into – to make sure you won’t overdose yourself and compromise your health.
  • Talk to your doctor. This is a must, especially if you have existing health problems and/or under medication. The ingredients in weight loss tablets and weight loss pills may counteract the components in your prescription medication, thereby making the latter less effective. You don’t want to compromise your health for a 24-inch waistline, do you?
  • Consider your budget. Surprisingly, there are weight loss pills and weight loss tablets that cost a fortune, but are not necessarily the best and most effective in the market. On the other hand, the most affordable pills are not exactly the poorest in terms of quality. Therefore, look into the cost and find a pill that fits your budget without compromising quality of the product.
  • Take it easy on your intake. There is a reason why “recommended dosage” is printed on the label. Weight loss ingredients are not harmful per se, but when taken excessively, these could cause negative effects on your body. Combining more than one weight loss pills or weight loss tablets or taking them with diuretics or laxatives are also not advisable.
  • Combine pills with healthy lifestyle. Apparently, popping weight loss tablets and weight loss pills is not enough. In fact, relying on pills alone are not advisable because you need to do something to be able to contribute to your weight loss goal. Therefore, make sure to watch what you eat and go for healthy, nutritious food. Sleep is an important factor in weight loss to you should be getting at least seven to eight hours every night. Last but not the least, add workout in your routine to help you burn those fats you don’t really need.

They say there is no magic bullet when it comes to losing weight. That’s true. Weight loss pills and weight loss tablets could help, but you have to be careful on how much you take. Follow the recommended dosage, eat right, sleep well, and exercise regularly to achieve the body you wanted. You can do it.