Obesity is fast becoming a global health concern. The wide availability of sugary, processed, and preserved junk food, coupled with an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, has led to a rise in average body mass across the world.
Simultaneously, a flat stomach has become universally desirable. It is a beauty standard that most people are chasing today. Subsequently, weight loss has become a common goal across the world and is pursued by millions of people.
The problem is that people romanticize the destination, but detest the journey. Everyone wants to be a sports star, but no one wants to put in the training and hard work.
This has led to the rise of a global weight management industry worth $500 billion and, within that, a weight-loss supplements market worth $50 billion.
Weight loss supplements are advertised as products that can help people lose weight without making drastic lifestyle changes. This can seem appealing to someone who doesn’t have the time or access to better food or a fitness schedule.
There are several weight loss supplements available in the market today that make all kinds of claims. They vary in ingredients, claimed efficacy, and method of consumption.
Several of the ingredients commonly used to make weight loss supplements have little to no evidence of supporting the claims. Since the production of supplements does not require FDA approval, there is concern regarding the quality of ingredients, as well as the products on the whole.
If you have made the decision to use weight loss supplements in your weight loss journey, then be sure to take caution while choosing a product.
There are a lot of products out there that promise long-lasting results, but make sure to research the range of products available. In this article, we will look at two such weight loss supplements, Lipozene and Hydroxycut.
What are weight loss supplements?
Weight loss supplements are products that are marketed to help individuals lose weight. These supplements are often made from a combination of natural and synthetic ingredients and are available in various forms, including pills, powders, and drinks. The most common types of weight loss supplements include:
Thermogenics:
These supplements contain ingredients that increase metabolism and help the body burn more calories.
Appetite suppressants:
These supplements contain ingredients that help to reduce appetite and food cravings.
Fat blockers:
These supplements contain ingredients that block the absorption of fat in the body.
Carb blockers:
These supplements contain ingredients that block the absorption of carbohydrates in the body.
Diuretics:
These supplements contain ingredients that help flush excess water from the body, resulting in temporary weight loss.
It is important to note that, while weight loss supplements may offer some benefits, they are not a magic solution for weight loss. A healthy diet and regular exercise are still the most effective ways to lose and maintain a healthy body weight.
It is also important to consult with a healthcare professional before taking any weight loss supplements, especially if you have underlying medical conditions, or are taking medication.
Lipozene Overview
Lipozene is a weight loss supplement that acts as an appetite suppressant. Weight loss can only be achieved by a consistent calorie deficit, and appetite suppressants achieve this by making you feel fuller and reducing cravings in between meals.
Lipozene also promotes water retention in the body, which can aid in better absorption of nutrients apart from making you feel full.
Ingredients in Lipozene
Lipozene is a simple dietary supplement that employs the use of only one active ingredient –
Glucomannan:
Glucomannan is a dietary fiber that is generally extracted from the root of the konjac plant (the glucomannan in Lipozene is extracted from the konjac root). It has the ability to absorb a large amount of water, swelling into a gel. It has been used in traditional medicine as well as in cuisine as a food thickener.
Glucomannan has been claimed to promote fullness due to its ability to retain water. It might also slow down the absorption of sugar and cholesterol in the gut.
The weight loss benefits of glucomannan are inconclusive, as the two studies conducted in their favor have been widely dismissed as being inadequate. It can also impact the absorption of any other medication that you are taking.
How does Lipozene Work?
Lopozene doesn’t contain any stimulants and works using a single natural ingredient, glucomannan. Glucomannan is derived from the root of the konjac plant and is regarded as a dietary fiber because of its ability to absorb water.
It can create a sense of fullness by increasing your ability to retain water as well as occupying a higher volume in your stomach for negligible calories.
Lipozene's effects result in its users consuming fewer calories than average, which would result in a calorie deficit. Weight loss occurs if a calorie deficit is achieved.
Hydroxycut Overview
Hydroxycut is an interesting product that is marketed as a weight loss supplement. It is primarily thermogenic, which seeks to increase your metabolic rate. But it also has certain ingredients that can curb your appetite. Additionally, it also acts as a multivitamin and contains various essential nutrients as well.
Thermogenics generally work by increasing the resting metabolic rate of the body. When metabolic rates increase, a calorie deficit can be achieved without making changes to your diet or fitness regime.
Additionally, it has stimulants like caffeine, which can boost energy levels that encourage increased physical activity, subsequently resulting in a higher calorie deficit.
Ingredients in Hydroxycut
Hydroxycut is a slightly complicated weight loss supplement that also acts as a multivitamin. Some of the vitamins that are present in the product are:
Vitamin D:
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that aids in the absorption of calcium and magnesium. It can also regulate hormone levels and mood. Hydroxycut can meet 50% of the vitamin D Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) in a serving.
Thiamin:
Thiamin, or vitamin B1, helps the body convert carbohydrates into energy. This helps your metabolism function optimally. Hydroxycut can meet 25% of your Thiamin RDA in one serving.
Riboflavin:
Riboflavin, or vitamin B2, is crucial for the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, into energy. A drop in weight, and food intake, can increase the body’s requirement for Riboflavin. This can lead to a sharp drop in energy levels. Hydroxycut can meet 23% of the riboflavin RDA.
Niacin:
Vitamin B3, or Niacin, is essential for maintaining the health of the nervous system and skin. It also aids the digestive system by converting food into energy. It can also increase adiponectin, which helps with insulin sensitivity leading to fat loss. Hydroxycut meets 25% of your RDA for niacin.
Vitamin B6:
It is a crucial vitamin that is vital for developing a healthy brain, maintaining a healthy nervous system, and managing a healthy immune system.
Vitamin B6 can boost your metabolism and cause your body to expend more energy. It is also a mild diuretic that can help you lose excess water weight. You can meet 24% of your RDA from a single serving of Hydroxycut.
Vitamin B12:
Vitamin B12 is crucial in the metabolism of both fat and protein. It is vital in maintaining blood and nerve health, apart from being vital in creating DNA. It can boost metabolism and, in turn, help with weight loss. Hydroxycut is capable of meeting double your vitamin B12 RDA in a single serving.
Apart from these nutrients, it contains ingredients aimed at weight loss, like:
Robusta coffee extract:
It is a non-stimulant coffee extract that reduces the absorption of glucose in the intestines. This helps regulate blood sugar levels, which can help with weight loss.
Apple Cider Vinegar:
Apple cider vinegar is a popular supplement taken to curb appetite. It can reduce hunger, as well as reduce blood sugar spikes after a meal.
Plum:
It can make you feel fuller and acts as an appetite suppressant.
Baobab extract:
Baobab extract is another appetite suppressant that helps curb cravings by making you feel more full in between meals.
Cardamom:
Cardamom functions as a dual-action ingredient because it acts as both a diuretic and a metabolism booster. It helps the body shed extra water weight while promoting higher energy levels at the same time.
Coffee extract:
Caffeine is a clinically proven stimulant that increases activity in the nervous system. It also promotes the burning of fat for energy to aid physical activity.
How does Hydroxycut work?
Hydroxycut is primarily a thermogenic weight loss supplement that also acts as an appetite suppressant, diuretic, and multivitamin.
The main active ingredients, which include B vitamins, help boost metabolism, leading to higher energy levels and higher calories burnt at rest. This will, in turn, help achieve a calorie deficit by increasing the energy spent in a day. This can be further boosted by incorporating physical activity into your lifestyle.
Hydroxycut also has appetite suppressants, like Baobab extract and apple cider vinegar, which help curb appetite to reduce the number of calories you consume in a day.
The product also features diuretics, like cardamom, which helps shed excess water weight from the body.
Hydroxycut is especially interesting because it acts as a multivitamin that can meet the average person’s RDA of several essential vitamins. It is especially smart to have included vitamins like riboflavin and niacin in the formula as their requirement increases when the body loses weight.
Verdict
Lipozene is an appetite suppressant that is made up of a series of ingredients but highlights one ingredient in particular: glucomannan. It acts by absorbing water to make you feel fuller.
The scientific data on glucomannan is non-conclusive, and its classification as a dietary fiber is debated because scientists classify it as a water-soluble polysaccharide. Therefore, it might not be effective as stated in the limited scientific data gathered.
Hydroxycut is a more complicated product that primarily acts as a thermogenic. It boosts metabolism using ingredients like caffeine and B vitamins, which are backed by science after conducting exhaustive research. These ingredients can boost metabolism as well as encourage the body to expend more energy.
The ingredients that act as diuretics can help you shed water weight as well. Other ingredients like baobab…robusta coffee, however, are not backed by scientific studies, so that is something to keep in mind before you opt for this method of weight loss.
Hydroxycut is the clear choice if you have to choose between the two. It has a few essential vitamins and caffeine, which have proven benefits for metabolism. It also acts as a multivitamin and can help you meet your RDA for some essential nutrients.
Conclusion
Using weight loss supplements may seem like an easy solution for a flat stomach, and may certainly be tempting. It is important to be cautious when deciding to use supplements as a primary source for losing weight.
Remember that there is no magic pill that will help you lose weight if you don’t maintain a calorie deficit through diet and exercise.
Most ingredients used in weight loss supplements have little to no scientific backing. Make sure to read the label carefully when choosing dietary supplements to identify a product that has the most ingredients with scientific and regulatory backing.
It is vital to consult your health care provider before beginning to use any dietary supplement to ensure that it is suitable for your body.
Choose wisely.
FAQs
Q: What are some types of weight loss supplements?
A: Thermogenics, carb blockers, fat blockers, appetite suppressants, and diuretics, are the prominent types of weight loss supplements.
Q: Is taking weight loss supplements enough to lose weight?
A: No, weight loss supplements can only help the process by increasing energy or decreasing appetite. Weight loss can only be achieved by a calorie deficit, meaning you need to spend more calories than you consume.
Q: What are the main ingredients in Lipozene?
A: Lipozene has only one active ingredient: glucomannan. It acts as an appetite suppressant by absorbing water to make you feel full.
Q: What are the main ingredients in Hydroxycut?
A: Hydroxycut has several ingredients that perform different functions. The primary thermogenic ingredients are B vitamins and caffeine. It also consists of diuretics, like cardamom, and appetite suppressants, like apple cider vinegar.
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