Dietary supplements unsuitable for losing weight and more of a risk

Dietary supplements: Less effective and sometimes dangerous

With the beginning of the new year, many people have decided to reduce existing overweight and henceforth to live healthier lives. For example, nutritional supplements promise to support weight loss and are often touted as "natural" or "purely herbal". "Mostly a success is doubtful. Some slimming products can even harm, "warns the consumer center in a recent press release.

The advertising promises phenomenal customer success with the dietary supplements, but these help, according to the consumer advocates, not to reduce the weight permanently. In addition, medical advice should be given before taking it, as it may interfere with other drugs and, if it is overdosed and / or taken long-term, may also cause significant negative effects. In a recent communication, the Consumer Center has made an assessment of the different dietary supplements.

Nutritional supplements are hardly suitable for losing weight and sometimes even dangerous. (Image: tortoon / fotolia.com)

Diet-ready drinks as a food substitute

A common variant of dietary supplements are ready-made drinks that are taken in lieu of meals. Although powders for mixing diet shakes and corresponding ready-to-drink drinks or formula diets promise that you will not have to eat anything else. But care should be taken because the body needs more than what is contained in such mixtures. Replacing all meals with such powders may pose a risk. The products must therefore have the warning "Can not be used for more than three weeks without medical advice", explains the Consumer Center. Instead of replacing all meals with these ready-made drinks, it would be better to use them to replace just one main meal. An introduction to weight loss, but only works, if otherwise low in calorie is eaten.

The Consumer Center also recommends to pay attention to the sugar content of the finished drinks, as often contains very much sugar. Also artificial flavors and artificial sweeteners in the powders are unnecessary for the diet.

Appetite brake effective only in the short term

Dietary supplements that act as an appetite suppressant, according to the consumer advocates contain mostly mate or guarana extracts and act hunger-suppressing and at the same time stimulating and slightly dehydrating. But these are also the critical sticking points. Dehydration may quickly reduce weight, but this is not a true fat loss. And the hunger-damaging effect does not last long. Once the funds are no longer taken, the weight is quickly back.

Yo-yo effect is preprogrammed

For preparations with swelling and fiber is set to the filling effect, but at the same time enough liquid must be supplied, otherwise there is a risk of intestinal obstruction. Although these preparations are really filling, but with prolonged ingestion, one could get used to the effect. If the funds are then no longer taken, a hunger for too large portions threaten. In addition, these drugs sometimes contain additional active ingredients with laxative or dehydrating effect, so that the weight loss is only partially true. In the case of "appetite brakes, the yo-yo effect is programmed if they are not slowed down and replaced with fiber-rich vegetables and cereals," according to the Consumer Information Center.

Threatening unwanted effects

Another variant of the diet supplements are the so-called "fat burners", which target the metabolism and fat burning. They are used, for example, by athletes and bodybuilders to reduce their body fat percentage. "The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has rated the excessive promises of fat burners scientifically unsound", emphasizes the Consumer Center. Fatburners often mix a large number of plant extracts and even if the individual substances are not contained in hazardous quantities, the effects of these substance mixtures can not be assessed and there are unexpected and undesirable effects.

Fat burners can lead to hypertension and palpitations

In addition, many of the substances contained can interact with drugs, according to the consumer advocates. In addition, the substances contained often have an effect on the cardiovascular system and the higher the proportion of the corresponding substance, the higher the risk of these products, reports the Consumer Center on. "The combination with caffeine (eg as green tea, mate, guarana), as is common in products with synephrine (also known as bitter orange extract, Citrus aurantium), increases the effect of many substances and can lead to hypertension and palpitations to heart attacks," warn the consumer advocates. The often used in Fatburnern ephedrine was therefore banned for some years in Europe and the United States.

Easily available but not harmless

The Consumer Center concludes that it is often the best case when the diet supplements do nothing at all. In dubious products from the Internet, however, may contain illegal and highly harmful substances, warn the consumer advocates. And even those who use drainage or laxatives to lose weight, endanger his health. Overall, dietary supplements are not suitable as a slimming agent, even if the advertising gives this impression. Although they are easily available on the Internet, "they are not safe for a long time yet", so the conclusion of the consumer center. (Fp)