by admin on January 7, 2011
There is much disagreement and argument about what the best weight loss supplements really are.In this article, I’ll review a number of different supplements and their respective pros and cons.
Hoodia Gordonii:
Hoodia gordonii is a plant that has gained a lot of press in the past few years, mainly because it has been touted as one of several new groundbreaking weight loss supplements.
Hoodia gordonii is a plant native to Southern Africa and has long been used by natives as an appetite suppressant. It is available in many forms such as in a capsule, as a tincture, a tea and various others.
There are no conclusive clinical studies showing that Hoodia gordonii is effective for weight loss. Like many other supplements with huge marketing campaigns behind them, there is no proven reason to take them. Do not be swayed by the marketing.
Ephedrine:
Ephedrine is a stimulant chemical that is found naturally in some plants and herbs. As a stimulant, it causes an increase in metabolism and other body processes – as a result, your body uses more energy.
Ephedrine definitely helps to burn more energy and this has been proven conclusively. It was once available in capsule form in many countries but has now since been banned in many of them.
The major side effect of any stimulant, ephedrine included, is that there is a cost for working your body harder than normal and you will pay for it by the need to sleep for longer in order to recover.
Comparison Between Drugs And Herbal Supplements
The best weight loss supplements have thermogenic properties and increase your metabolism. The same can be achieved with exercise or by eating less in the first place but many people are looking for the convenience of a single pill.
Any supplement that works especially well will have all the common side effects of a strong stimulant: in the short term you will feel tired and weak and in the long term you risk damage to your cardiovascular system.
It is for this reason that the best stimulants are classified as drugs (illegal or pharmaceutical). Any others that are legal are nowhere near as effective.
by admin on January 4, 2011
Weight loss shakes can be a great tool to help you lose those unwanted pounds. If you have been trying to lose weight for the longest and you have not been able to stick to any diet for more that a couple of days, weight loss shakes can be the key to your success.
Now, have you ever been to a health food store or the diet section of your regular grocery store looking for one of these shakes?
If you haven’t you are in for a real treat. There are dozens of products out there that have the same claims: “easy to use”, ‘nutritious”, “filling”, “satisfying”, “will help you lose weight”.
So which one are you going to choose? Here are a couple of the ones that I recommend and a couple of the ones that I wouldn’t touch with a barge pole:
Slim Fast: Run the other way! There is nothing to Slim Fast that a cup of chocolate milk cannot cover, plus the tin taste is very prominent.
Ok, maybe it has a couple more vitamins, but seriously, you drink a cup of chocolate milk plus a multivitamin and you have surpassed Slim Fast nutritional value. If you don’t believe me go to the store and take a look at the first four ingredients: Fat Free Milk, Water, Sugar, and Cocoa.
Right Size Smoothies: I have heard these smoothies advertised on the radio like crazy. I finally went to the store and looked at their ingredient list in anticipation… and I was disappointed again.
Right Size smoothies have not one but two kinds of artificial sweeteners, Sucralose (generic for Splenda) and Acesulfame K. If a product has anything other than a natural sweetener, I pass. There have been way too many studies to prove that artificial sweeteners have no rightful place in anyone’s diet.
Vega Complete Whole Food Health Optimizer: Now we are talking! These shakes are amazing. I couldn’t believe it when I saw them. They are all natural and all vegan too. Don’t get me wrong I am NOT vegan but the quality of this product is amazing.
The only reason I didn’t choose them as my very best shake is because most of us are not looking for a vegan product, due to the quality of the protein. I usually look for something with whey protein which is a lot better in terms of body absorption and distribution than any vegetarian protein.
