Your basal metabolic rate, or resting metabolism, is the sum of all physiologic functions that occur in your body, specifically in your dells and tissues. You can speed up your metabolism by eating healthy foods and being physically active every day. For those who opt not to change their eating and exercise habits but desire the effects of an increased metabolism, diet pills may be the answer. To be on the safe side, consult your doctor about prescription and over-the-counter, OTC, weight-loss aids.
Chromium
In order to adequately metabolize carbohydrates, you need chromium, a metal that is not produced naturally in the human body. Without chromium, carbohydrates turn to fat and are stored in adipocytes, or fat cells, for later use. Dietary supplements containing chromium improve your body's ability to metabolize carbohydrates while preserving lean muscle. Because of this, chromium encourages weight loss; however, harmful side effects have been identified. An excess of chromium may lead to DNA damage and cell death, which may cause cancer. Until the long-term effects of chromium have been identified, consult your doctor about dosages that meet your needs.
Caffeine
Caffeine is found in typical household products, such as coffee, chocolate, many beverages, teas, energy drinks, colas and dietary supplements. According to Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D., of the Mayo Clinic, caffeine may give your weight-loss attempts a boost, but "there's no sound evidence that increased caffeine consumption results in significant or permanent weight loss." Caffeine supposedly acts as an appetite suppressant, which imposes caloric restriction and burns calories via thermogenesis. Caffeine may also help rid the body of unwanted water weight; it acts as a diuretic and increases your urine output. It increases metabolism by stimulating the central nervous system. Though caffeine may slightly help with weight loss, it can lead to unwanted side effects, such as elevated blood pressure, nervousness and nausea.
Phentermine
In 1959, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, approved phentermine for use as a short-term weight-loss aid. It works as an appetite suppressant, which limits calorie consumption, and is a stimulant. According to the NIH-affiliated website Daily Med, individuals using phentermine in conjunction with a healthy diet lose more weight than those who use dietary changes as their sole means of weight loss. Phentermine can lead to a weight loss of less than 1 lb. per week with success tapering off as the 12-week program continues. Like other medications, phentermine, which is available with a prescription, may cause side effects, including nervousness, dizziness, high blood pressure, pulmonary hypertension, chest pain or an arrhythmia, also known as an irregular heartbeat.
Considerations
OTC diet pills that claim to increase metabolism tend to be popular because they are cheaper and easier to acquire than prescription weight-loss aids. It is important to note that the FDA does not regulate all OTC medications and supplements. Without FDA monitoring, you may not know how much of the active ingredient is in the product, if it works in accordance with its claims or if dangerous ingredients have been added. In 2008, the FDA released a statement about its investigation that uncovered 72 diet pills that were spiked with dangerous drugs, most of which contained sibutramine, a prescription weight-loss aid that was pulled from the market because of its dangerous side effects.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Caffeine: Can it help me lose weight?; Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.; May 2011
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Questions and Answers about FDA's Initiative Against Contaminated Weight Loss Products; January 2011
- MayoClinic.com: Is Phentermine a Good Option for Weight Loss?; Donald Hensrud, M.D.; October 2009
- Colorado State University Extension: Weight Loss Products and Programs; J. Anderson, et al.; December 2008
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