Q: I’m trying to lose weight. Are there any safe diet supplements that truly work?
– C.C., Palm Harbor, Fla.
A: Yes, there are. Be careful choosing, because the vast majority of diet supplements can really jack up your heart rate and blood pressure. In an overweight person whose heart is already taxed (from the weight, high cholesterol or clogged arteries), the burden of “speed” from one of these supplements can be extremely dangerous. Some products contain the same amount of jolt as five or six cups of coffee – in one dose!
Most people today live under a lot of stress, and your stress hormones (cortisol and DHEA) go out of whack. So does your estrogen-to-progesterone ratio. All this makes love handles harder to lose. Adaptogens are herbal supplements that help nourish your stressed-out adrenal glands so you can cope better and, indirectly, start to melt some fat. Adaptogens include Panax ginseng, Ashwaganda, Eleuthero, licorice root, Rhodiola and Cordyceps.
Hoodia gordonii appears to be safe, although the studies are small. It’s a natural appetite suppressant that African Bushmen have eaten for centuries. Hoodia tricks the brain so you think you are full. Some of the better products include HoodiThin and HoodiSpray liquid extracts and two oral supplements, Desert Burn and Hoodia gordonii Plus.
The fiber called glucomannan is water-soluble and swells, making you feel full. It can help with constipation and diabetes, too. Do not overdo this product.
If you’re not taking any kind of antidepressant and you don’t have any psychological disorder, you can try 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) to help improve your willpower and cut cravings for carbs. 5-HTP turns into serotonin, which boosts mood. Later on, this turns into melatonin, which helps you sleep. Dosage: 50 to 100mg at night, or 50mg twice daily. Back off if you feel stimulated by it.
Guggul (Commiphora Mukul) can improve your cholesterol profile. Also, one study showed that people taking Guggul for several months experienced three to four times the weight loss compared with a placebo. Try about 2 grams twice daily.
Enzymes break down food so you can absorb the nutrients better.
Look for products that contain lipase, amylase, lactase and protease.
Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist. To contact her, visit dearpharmacist.com.
