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What do you think of when you consider weight loss dietary supplements? Do you consider whether they are good for you? Will they affect your weight loss quest positively, negatively, or have no affect at all? People who are looking for a quick and easy to solution to weight loss often consider over the counter supplements.

Some people use weight loss dietary supplements to enhance their exercise and diet regimens. These supplements are a blend of various vitamins, amino acids and minerals. Some supplements also contain herbs. Remember to seek your doctor’s advice before using any supplements.

Weight loss dietary supplements are typically not approved by the FDA, so use them with caution. They don’t have to meet the guidelines that most other medications have to conform to. They can be prohibited for sale if the FDA finds that they do not meet the standards of being fit for human consumption.

A weight loss dietary supplement that was banned from being sold is ephedra. Ephedra contributes to depression and chronic headaches, will cause blood pressure to rise, can cause seizures, and can even lead to death. Sometimes what you read on the label isn’t what is actually found in the supplement, because these pills are not regulated by the FDA.

Ever since ephedra was recalled from the market, bitter orange has been touted as being safe although its effectiveness has been unproven. Its effects on the body may be similar to those of ephedra. Bitter orange as a weight loss dietary supplement has not yet been recalled, although it has been shown to be unsafe and unhealthy.

Guar gum and chitosan have been shown to be two very common but ineffective weight loss dietary supplements. Ingestion of these two dietary supplements for weight loss is not encouraged anymore. Their long term effects on the body are not known since neither of them has been studied or tested for that in particular. However, it has been shown that they do not contribute or help dieters to reduce appetite or lose weight.

When combined with proper diet and increased exercise, green tea and St. John’s Wart have both been shown to assist in weight loss. Both weight loss dietary supplements help to control appetite and use more calories, which in turn help people lose weight. Green tea is available in various forms, including pills, patches and, of course, tea.