Ingredients in weight management pills

Hi I have done a bit looking through the forums but thought there is probably an expert or two among us that might be able to help:

I have started taking these supplements to increase energy and help with the cravings. This is the first time I have ever taken anything like this and I know there are some dodgy products out there. I am hoping that as these are suppose to be all natural and from a vitamin company they might be alright. I;ll list the ingredients and if anyone can offer an opinion on whether these are safe or worthwhile? Thanks

Hoodia cactus 2000mg

Brindleberry 2000mg - providing HCA 300mg

Citrus aurantium 1000mg

Guarana 200mg ( I know this gives me energy)

Gymnema 125mg

Green Tea 125mg

Ginger (good for circulation?) 65mg

Asorboc acid (viatmin C) 50mg

Carnitine Tartrate 50mg

Cayenne (like the pepper?) 25mg

5HTP (think this is a feel good thing) 5mg

Piperine (black pepper extract) 5mg

Several of those ingredients... ginger, cayenne, piperine, for example... will make you feel hot.  Like eating chilli peppers.  Brindleberry (a citrus fruit) is meant to be an appetite suppressant but that is unsupported by any scientific evidence.  Citrus aurantium (bitter orange) is meant to aid digestion but there is no evidence it helps with weight-control except in very high doses.  (Dangerous if you have a heart condition.)  Carnitine is an amino acid found in meat and there is no evidence that it assists with fat loss.  Vitamin C is vitamin C... water soluble so, if you already have a healthy diet, it's ending up in the toilet bowl.  Hoodia is meant to be an appetite suppressant and I think it does actually work in larger doses.  Guarana is just caffeine... gives you an temporary buzz.  Gymnema lowers blood-sugars... not recommended, therefore, if you're diabetic or if you have any pre-diabetic conditions.

I could go on.... Basically, what you're most likely to experience is some sweating (like if you eat spicy food), feeling a little 'wired' and possibly the placebo effect.  i.e. You've paid money and you want something to happen, so it'll happen.  If there genuinely were pills that worked, doctors would be handing them out & there would be no obesity.  Even if these pills do work... let's be generous....  what happens when you stop taking them?  BTW... 'natural' means nothing.  Digitalis is a substance naturally occurring in foxgloves... induces heart-attacks in large doses.

If you eat regularly, choose good, wholesome foods, watch the portions and take regular exercise you can reduce your weight and get more energy at the same time.  Best of luck

Any sort of "weight loss supplement" or "weight management supplement" cant be all that good. It may sort of work for you in the beginning, but what happens when you stop taking the pill is that everything goes back to how things were before, and if it was an aid in weight loss, you might end up gaining a few pounds back. The only true natural weight loss and weight management supplement is exercise and a balanced diet. Thats it. No miracle pills, no fasts, no detox BS...just plain old fashion hard work and dedication.

I would stop taking those pills now before its too late if I were you, "just in case"

gl.

You will find this past thread interesting and informative

A Close Look at Diet Pills

It's pretty old, so I hope all the links still work.

Thanks for the advice - I knew there would be smart people out there. I think I probably wont bother with them then and just stick to what I am doing, eating healthy, counting cals and exercising heaps. To be honest I haven't really noticed any effects from taking them.