Weight Loss Supplements: Don’t Waste Your Money

There are about a million products out there claiming that they can help people lose weight. Ok, that’s an exaggeration… But still, it seems like every 3 months or so there’s a new option that is “clinically proven” to reduce fat.

Here’s the simple truth. No. Nope. Nada. There’s nothing out there that will help in a meaningful way.

Here’s the longer truth. Weight gain is the result of too many calories in and too little calories used. There is no single mechanism that regulates weight gain or the usage of those calories. We can “hack” the system and maybe suppress appetite.

Maybe we can even use stimulants, which will “increase metabolism.” Both of those examples are not sustainable long term. These types of medicines can impact important systems like your cardiovascular system, revving the heart rate and increasing blood pressure.

Once, a product that blocks fat came out and was initially popular. It’s still out there, but undigested fat in your GI tract ends up being messy at the “end of the tube” and it turns out that people don’t really like that. 

Today’s Popular Diet Pills

Raspberry ketones were promoted by Dr. What’s-His-Name. The data he based his recommendations were animal studies with significantly higher dosing than what humans get.

Besides that, to make a product that yields such a dose would be impossible to keep under $50-100 a bottle. We also like to remind everyone that the raspberry ketones are structurally similar to a stimulant, which increases your risk for strokes in those high doses.

After the marketing dollars dried up from Raspberry ketones and green coffee bean extract, Oz focused on Garcinia, an extract from an Asian fruit. His claims sold lots of bottles, but with little benefit.

The few good studies done showed no benefit, as did the millions of people who took low quality, ineffective products recommended by this national “expert.”

A REAL Magic Pill Would Be Easier To Find

Here’s a pretty strong argument about natural products that claim they help in weight loss: Trust in the capitalistic nature of our country. Our obesity rates are through the roof.

If a product REALLY worked, it wouldn’t be a secret that only a few select “experts” or companies new about. It would be the newest brand name prescription drug shown on TV every other commercial. And guess what, it’d be EXPENSIVE – and people would pay it.

So don’t believe the hype. Instead, let’s derail the hype train. You CAN lose weight easily. It’s about starting over fresh – starting with your understanding of what healthy food is and how you’re supposed to eat. Start slow, but go. You can’t take Karate and start by fighting black belts, right?

Weight loss is not nearly as complicated as everyone makes it. See our consult page or talk to one of our experts for more info.

Just trying to keep it real…

Neal Smoller, PharmD
Owner, Pharmacist, Big Mouth

Dr. Neal Smoller, Holistic Pharmacist

About Neal Smoller

Dr. Neal Smoller, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist: and owner of Village Apothecary, an independent pharmacy in the most famous small town in America—Woodstock, NY. He’s also the host of the popular wellness podcast, The Big Mouth Pharmacist.”

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