Diet supplements are products that can aid the individual in his goal to lose weight. Diet supplements typically contain a variety of herbal ingredients that can potentially boost the body's ability to perform tasks that aid in weight loss. Diet supplement claims include the capability to boost metabolism, burn fat, suppress appetite and increase energy. Supplements are also used as a way to prevent or correct a nutritional deficiency. Rating each diet supplement can help you choose a type to use. It is important to speak to your doctor before using diet supplements.
Step 1
Review the label of the diet supplement. The Food and Drug Administration requires that diet supplements contain the ingredients advertised. You should also look at whether the product has approved the claims made by the supplement's manufacturer. If they have not been approved, a disclaimer must be printed on the label.
Step 2
Check for any potential side effects linked to the ingredients found in the diet supplements. For example, ephedra has been banned by the FDA due to adverse side effects, but is still sold online. Bitter orange has replaced ephedra in many products and can cause side effects such as rapid heartbeat and dizziness.
Step 3
Read reviews of diet supplements by writers, editors and users. For instance, Redbook has information on various weight loss supplements, including the risks and effectiveness of each product. For user submitted reviews, try a site such as ViewPoints. Consider both the positive and negative feedback when rating diet supplements.
Step 4
Consider the cost. A part of rating diet supplements is to look at the cost for the products. Although you may be able to find very cheap diet supplements, they may not prove effective. For example, the weight loss drug alli may seem expensive, but is one of the few over-the-counter FDA-approved supplements.
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