There are hundreds of different diet pills on the market. Most of them haven't been proved to be effective, and some of them have serious side effects. Green tea diet pills have become more popular in recent times because they are reported to be more natural and usually are milder than other types of diet pills. While it is unclear whether they are effective, green tea diet pills are favored by many people trying to lose weight.
Purpose
The National Institutes of Health states that obesity is far too prevalent in the United States and that being obese puts you at an increased risk for health problems such as strokes. People trying to lose weight often turn to dietary supplements such as green tea diet pills. Green tea diet pills are created to decrease appetite so a person can eat less without feeling hungry and ultimately lose weight. The pills also are supposed to speed up metabolism so you burn fat faster.
Ingredients
There are many different brands and types of green tea diet pills, each with a different ingredient list. All green tea diet pills contain some form of green tea extract, such as EGCG. Other ingredients include herbs such as hoodia and stimulants such as caffeine, depending on the brand. There also are stimulant-free green tea diet pills available for those who have negative reactions to caffeine.
Effectiveness
According to CNN, green tea diet pills may be effective at increasing fat loss, if they contain EGCG, an antioxidant found in green tea. CNN explains that EGCG, which is safe and has no side effects, appears to boost metabolism, especially when combined with caffeine. More studies need to be done to analyze the effectiveness of green tea diet pills, rather than just the EGCG ingredient.
Safety
While green tea and EGCG generally are regarded as safe, there are still some unpleasant side effects that may occur from their ingestion. The Mayo Clinic reports that green tea extracts sometimes can cause bloating, indigestion and diarrhea. The safety concern about green tea diet pills lies in the other ingredients that may be used in addition to green tea extracts. For instance, stimulants such as ephedra and caffeine may increase blood pressure and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Cost
The cost for green tea diet pills varies based upon the retailer and the brand. Green tea diet pills usually are inexpensive. As of January 2010, a bottle of green tea diet pills cost $15 to $20.
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