Chinese Weight Loss

 

Looking for a diet pill? Confused about where to start? Join the club! Dieters today are faced with a multitude of choices when it comes to choosing a weight loss pill. And truthfully, there is no perfect weight loss aid that is best for everybody. Let’s take a quick look at three of the more popular categories of weight loss pills so you can determine the one that is best for you!

 1. Fat Burners. Fat burners are one of the oldest and best known categories of weight loss aids. You may have heard of Hydroxycut, a weight loss pill that has been on the market for over ten years. This type of pill assists in the weight loss process by increasing the user’s metabolism. The result is that calories to be burned more quickly. Many of old fat burners used to contain ephedra, a traditional Chinese herb also known as ma huang. But ephedra was linked to adverse effects like high blood pressure and racing heart, so the FDA banned this stimulant in 2004. These days, the key ingredient in Hydroxycut, and similar fat burners, is Garcinia Cambogia extract, which is considered safe by the FDA.

Some fat burning pills still contain large amounts of caffeine, which can cause a few side effects for people who are sensitive to caffeine. For this reason, there is a new breed of all-natural fat burners on the market. One such example would be Caralluma Burn, made from the extract of Caralluma Fimbriata. This particular fat burner works to stimulate the metabolism without the use of caffeine (or ephedra).

2. Fat Blockers. This is another category of weight loss supplements that works by attacking fat in the body. But rather than burning off the fat that is already accumulated, a fat blocker works by keeping the fat from ever staying in the body in the first place.

One of the best known fat blockers is Alli, which is the only over-the-counter weight loss aid that has been approved by the FDA. How does it work? Alli contains an ingredient called Orlistat that attaches to some of the fat-digesting enzymes in the body and prevents those fats from being fully digested. This process actually “blocks” about 25 percent of the fat eaten. This undigested fat is not absorbed — instead, it passes naturally out of the body.

Proactol is another example of a fat blocking pill, but its ingredients are a little different than Alli. Proactol’s main ingredient is a fiber complex that comes from the Optuntia Ficus India Cactus (sometimes called Prickly Pear). Proactol contains both soluble and non-soluble fiber. The non-soluble fiber interacts with dietary fats, binding with the fats to form a fluid-like gel. The new fat complex is too big to be absorbed by the body and ends up being passed naturally through the body.

The soluble fibers in Proactol bind with bile acids in the digestive system, creating thick viscous solution which slows down digestion and the absorption of glucose. The stomach finds the viscous solution a lot harder to digest than an ordinary meal, therefore, it remains in the stomach longer and contributes to the feeling of being “full”. So Proactol functions not only as a fat blocker, but as an appetite suppressant as well.

3. Carb Blockers. Just as fat blockers keep fat from being digested, carb blockers do the same with — you guessed it — carbs! Carbohydrates, while a necessary nutrient for energy, can easily be processed as glucose and stored as fat when overeaten. And goodness knows how easy it is to overeat bread, potatoes, and sweets.

Dietrine Carb Blocker is the best known example in this weight loss category. It contains an all-natural ingredient (made from white kidney beans) that neutralizes the digestive enzyme apha alylase before it can convert starch into glucose. This reduces the amount of carbohydrates  absorbed, essentially allowing the carbs to exit the body with reduced caloric intake.

So whether you are trying to burn fat, block fat or block carbs, there is a weight loss pill that can help you reach your weight goal. However, as with all weight loss aids, it is important to remember that none will do the job alone. All of these products are meant to accompany a reduced-calorie diet, regular exercise, and sufficient intake of water.

If you would like to read actual user comments on the above weight loss products, please visit the website recommended below.



By: Barb Dearing

About the Author:

Raymond Lee asked:

Those who use over-the-counter and prescription pharmaceuticals always know how much medicine they are taking because FDA regulations require precision. People who use herbs face more of a challenge. However, in controlled doses, herbs cause fewer side effects than pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceuticals are highly concentrated, and pills and capsules have little taste, factors that make it easy to overdose. The active constituents in herbs are typically less concentrated, and most taste quite bitter, which discourages taking too much. Once you decide you want to use herbs, you are still left with some key questions. Which herbs? And how do you use them? Here is a list of common safe and effective herbs to choose from, along with some information about the conditions they treat that you can consider.

1. Ephedra

In addition to its decongestant value, Chinese ephedra has a long history of use in Asia as a coffeelike stimulant. Recent studies have also shown that ephedra boosts metabolic rate – the speed at which the body burns calories. As a result, it has shown some benefit as a weight-loss aid, but only in those who are significantly overweight. Ephedra can also increase heart rate and blood pressure, so do not use it if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes or glaucoma. You should also not take ephedra if you have thyroid problems. In fact, ephedra has been shown to be harmful when taken improperly and should not be used by anyone with health problems. If you want to take ephedra or any product containing ephedra, you should discuss it with your doctor.

2. Ginseng

Prized above gold for thousands of years, ginseng root has been Asia’s most revered tonic. It was viewed as an aphrodisiac that strengthens the body, enhances health and aids longevity. Early Jesuit missionaries in Canada discovered American ginseng in 1704 and made a fortune shipping it to China. The herb was eventually discovered growing as far south as Georgia, and it quickly became one of the American colonies’ most valuable exports, until the overcollection just about wiped it out. Today Amercian ginseng is farmed in Wisconsin. Most of the crop is shipped to Asia. Evidence is mounting that the herb helps the body resist illness and damage from stress. Studies show that ginseng stimulates the immune system, helps reduce cholesterol levels, protects the liver from toxic substances and increases stamina and nutrient absorption from the intestines. Asian Olympic athletes take it regularly to boost their performance.

3. Ginger

Scientific research has shown that ginger fights nausea better than the over-the-counter anti-nausea drug Dramamine. This root herb does more than simply soothe the stomach, however. An ancient Indian proverb says, “Every good quality is contained in ginger.” Well, not quite, but studies show that it also boosts the immune system’s ability to fight infection. And like garlic, it lowers blood pressure and cholesterol and helps prevent the blood clots that trigger heart attack.

4. Rosemary

Long before refrigeration was available, the ancients noticed that wrapping meat in crushed rosemary leaves preserved it and imparted a tasty flavour. To this day, the herb remains a favourite addition to meat dishes, and its preservative action led to its use in herbal medicine. Meats spoil in part because oxidation turns their fats rancid. Rosemary oil retards spoilage and compares favourably with the commercial preservatives BHA and BHT. Rosemary’ s preservative action may help prevent food poisoning at your next picnic. Mix the crushed herb into burger meat and tuna, pasta and potato salads. Rosemary also helps soothe the stomach.

5. Aloe Vera

In ancient Egypt (1500 B.C.), the Ebers Papyrus recommended aloe vera for skin problems, and the world has been using this herb ever since. Chinese, Greek, Roman and Arab herbalists recommended it for wounds, burns, rashes and hemorrhoids. During the 1930s, radiologists discovered aloe vera’s effectiveness in treating radiation burns. The latest studies show that the herb has clear value in treating minor cuts, scrapes and burns.

6. Chamomile

When Peter Rabbit ate himself sick in McGregor’s garden and got chased out at the wrong end of a hoe, his mother gave him chamomile tea, a traditional remedy for indigestion, anxiety and wounds. Peter’s mom was a wise woman…er, bunny. German herbalists once used chamomile so extensively, they called it alles zutraut, “capable of anything.” That is an exaggeration, but recent studies show that this popular beverage herb does indeed calm jangled nerves, relieve stomach distress, prevent ulcers and speed their healing and help fight infection by stimulating the immune system. Chamomile tea is an excellent home remedy for indigestion, heartburn and infant colic. It also has mild relaxant and sedative properties.

7. Garlic

After ephedra, garlic is considered the world’s second oldest medicine. The oldest surviving garlic prescription, chiselled into a Sumerian clay tablet, dates from 3000 B.C. The ancient world revered garlic as a virtual panacea, but none loved it as deeply as the Egyptians who consumed so much that the Greek historian Herodotus called them “the stinking ones.” As the centuries passed, Europeans hung braided garlic plants from their doorsteps to keep evil spirits at bay – a custom echoed today in the garlic braids that adorn many kitchens. During World War I, army doctors used garlic juice quite effectively to treat wounds and dysentery. After the war, scientists discovered why it worked: When chewed or chopped, garlic is a potent natural antibiotic. In fact, ten medium cloves pack approximately the same antibiotic punch as a typical dose of penicillin. Garlic also has antiviral properties. Garlic is a useful herb. It can help protects against stomach cancer and reduces risk of heart disease by lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol and decreasing the likelihood of blood clots that can trigger heart attack.