Diet Supplements: Under the Scanner

Most people are interested in losing weight to look good and help protect against the development of a number of diseases. People also know that consuming fewer calories may result in a longer life span accompanied by optimal health and wellness. While the practice of calorie restriction has its advocates, most of us find it challenging to eat less while maintaining proper nutrition. This is where Diet Supplements come into picture. By consuming specific amino acid supplements, weight loss supplements, and/or other dietary supplements targeted to reducing excess body fat, men and women find it easier to meet their dieting goals.

A dietary supplement, also known as food supplement or nutritional supplement, is a preparation intended to supply nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, fatty acids or amino acids that are missing or are not consumed in sufficient quantity in a person's diet. Some countries define dietary supplements as foods, while in others they are defined as drugs. People use dietary supplements for a wide assortment of reasons. Some seek to compensate for diets, medical conditions, or eating habits that limit the intake of essential vitamins and nutrients. Other people look to them to boost energy or to get a good night's sleep. Postmenopausal women consider using them to counter a sudden drop in estrogen levels.

Diet supplements vary from basic multivitamins to the more advanced weight loss and body building/body sculpting formula. All these are widely used but the best thing is to know the ingredients as far as safety, research and efficacy is concerned. Here are some general ingredients under the scanner:

Chromium

Chromium is a mineral which is found in nature especially in whole grains (like chilka dal, brown rice, whole wheat flour etc). It is needed by the body hormone insulin which is responsible for fat storage and sugar metabolism. Optimal levels of chromium help the body to effectively work the insulin function. This leads to the right insulin-sugar balance which results in better utilization of fat in the body as a result the cells do not store too much fat. Most of the sugar released in the blood gets converted to energy. An unhealthy diet which consists of white flour (maida), nan, white bread, aerated drinks and processed food results in chromium deficiency. Plus consuming lot of sugar also strips the body of chromium. The supplements containing chromium are very beneficial to people who have diabetes (because a deficiency of chromium leads to diabetes). But these supplements have NO effect on people trying to lose weight as it does not increase metabolism.

Ephedrine-Caffeine mixture

Ephedrine is a compound which closely mimic's the stimulant neurotransmitter in the body as a result the person who consumes this feels very energized. It also increases body heat and is supposed to increase the fat breakdown. Caffeine has been the most popular stimulant for many years and the combination of the two compounds makes it a very powerful stimulant which besides increasing thermogenesis also increases alertness and stamina. Most body building, weight loss and sports nutrition bottles have this compound. It is safe under medical supervision but unsupervised consumption may have harmful effects because it may cross react with some other food product which you might be inadvertently consuming (like aereated drinks). It is definitely not safe for children, pregnant and lactating women, people with kidney or liver problem and heart patients.

Carnitine

Carnitine has the major function of transporting the fat into the cell for it to be burnt down by the mitochondria. It is made by an amino acid Lysine plus vitamin C and niacin. It is found in all non-vegetarian diets and especially in weight loss supplements and body building supplements nutrition. Beyond the laboratory, this product has never been able to prove any real result in obese or overweight people in helping them to reduce weight. Also the quantity of the active carnitine is far too low in these supplements to have any real effect.

Flaxseed oil

Flaxseed oil is very rich in Omega 3 fatty acids which are beneficial in weight loss because they improve the fat metabolism by diverting fat into active burning mode other than storage form. It is also helpful in healing and restoring inflamed tissue and improving the lipid profile which is good for heart patients and people suffering from arthritis. It is best eaten as a salad oil because using it for cooking results in dilution of the beneficial properties of this oil. Flaxseed oil can be consumed thrice a week and about 15 gms per person per day. Rest of the week, oil rotation with other oils is recommended as all the essential fatty acids are not found in any single oil.

Dietary supplements can complement your regular diet if you have trouble getting enough nutrients. But they aren't meant to be food substitutes. Dietary supplements can't replicate all of the nutrients and benefits of whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables. So depending on your situation and your eating habits, a daily dietary supplement may not be worth the expense. Truth is, lifestyle changes are the key to healthy weight loss. Without them, you won't get anywhere.