With 66 percent of the American adult population being overweight, diet pills and energy boosters are a big business. Sifting through the multitude of products available is difficult, but finding the right ones is crucial, as some diet pills and energy boosters are not merely ineffective; they're downright dangerous. Talk to your doctor about the best products for you.
Diet Pills
Diet pills can help dieters in several ways. They can give dieters a psychological edge, increase energy and have a diuretic effect. No diet pill, however, can counteract poor dietary choices, excessive eating and lack of exercise. Dieters who combine a low-calorie diet with a regular fitness routine and certain diet pills have the best chances at success. The University of Maryland Medical Center cites green tea extracts as effective diet pills. Researchers believe it's the herb's potent polyphenols that help boost metabolism and burn fat. Consult your doctor before experimenting with green tea diet pills. The pills are potentially unsafe for some people, including pregnant or breastfeeding women, individuals with heart problems, kidney disorders, stomach ulcers or a psychological disorders.
Energy Boosters
Energy boosters are ubiquitous in today's fast-paced society. Beverages, supplements, powders and health bars are some of the energy-enhancing products you'll find on the pharmacy and food store shelves. Depending on your individual health condition and the products you use, energy boosters can cause health complications, mostly because energy drinks are highly caffeinated. Although they provide a temporary burst of energy, the effects are brief and may be accompanied by insomnia, anxiety, rapid heartbeat and increased blood pressure.
Moderate Use
Moderation is key for those who decide to use energy boosters and diet pills to enhance their weight loss efforts and promote greater energy. For most people, occasional use of energy drinks is fine, says Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky. However, sugar-laden products can quickly contribute to weight gain if you use them excessively. Consider instead the many ways to enhance energy naturally. A balanced diet, power naps, exercise and stress-reduction techniques are some examples. William Deardorff, medical adviser for Spine-health.com, says that a 20- to 30-minute nap helps recharge the body and mind while preventing a person's brain from entering slow-wave sleep, which often results in inertia, or a groggy feeling.
Considerations
Those who have experimented with diet pills and energy boosters without success should talk to a doctor to find out if an underlying medical condition exists. Chronic lack of energy could be a sign of anemia, a condition resulting from low iron levels. Additionally, problems with the thyroid, such as hypothyroidism, can lead to lethargy and slowed metabolic functioning, which in turn inhibits weight loss. This condition is most common in women, resulting from yo-yo dieting, stress and hormonal imbalances. A doctor can perform simple tests to identify potential problems.
References
- MedlinePlus: Weight Control
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Green Tea; David Zieve, MD, MHA; September 2010
- Women to Women; Thyroid Health; Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP; May 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Energy Drinks: Do They Really Boost Energy?; Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.; March 2010
- Spine-Health.com; How to Power Nap at Work; Sylvia Marten; April 2007
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