Diet pills have long held a mystical place in the heart of dieters; quick results in exchange for effortless swallowing of capsules still have allure for individuals frustrated with their efforts to beat the bulge. However, many of these pills have proved ineffective, while the side effects of others make them unusable. While exercise and diet remain two important aspects of any weight-loss regimen, some diet pills could play a role in improving results.
Ephedrine
One of the most discussed diet pills in bodybuilding circles, ephedrine continues to garner attention because of both its proven effectiveness and significant side effects. Steroidology.com explains how the compound, banned for competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency, activates parts of the central nervous system responsible for heat production and fat burning. As such, both are increased; but so, too, are side effects, including dizziness, nausea, trembling and extreme anxiety, making ephedrine an unattractive alternative.
Sida Cordifolia
Sida cordifolia has caught public interest as a milder replacement for ephedrine. The herb, native to northeast Brazil, features in traditional remedies for asthma, bronchitis and nasal congestion. Because it also contains 2 percent ephedrine, some dieters use sida cordifolia as a weight-loss supplement. Although anecdotal reports give the herb a solid thumbs-up for dieting, Nutritional Reviews notes that scientific evidence to support use of sida cordifolia as a weight-loss aid remains lacking; the website, however, refers to studies that found sida cordifolia free of the stimulatory side effects associated with ephedrine.
Green Tea
As one of the world's favorite beverages, green tea features in the daily diet of billions across the globe. However, the anti-oxidant-rich leaves of the camellia sinensis plant may have a role to play in the burning of fat, with several studies showing an impressive ability to assist weight loss. David Tolson, a researcher and contributor to BulkNutrition.com, explains that the catechins in green tea inhibit the breakdown of noradrenaline in the central nervous system, resulting in increased fat breakdown. He further notes that green tea extracts can raise overall energy expenditure by 3 percent, while simultaneously increasing the proportion of energy that comes from fat. This increases the rate of weight loss.
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