Diet Pills - Full Review of Leading Brands

Currently there are over 130 million Americans who are considered overweight or even obese. And majority of people who are overweight find it embarrassing to go to the doctors, have health insurance claims or even deal with picking up prescriptions to get help in losing weight, so they turn to over the counter diet pills. In fact more than $23 billion is spent on over the counter diet products each year. So how do you know what diet pills are the best when there are so many to choose from?

Here is a look at a review of the leading brands of diet pills.

• Hoodia Gordonii - most talked about diet supplement of all of the diet pills. The pill was derived from a cactus-like plant in South Africa and has actually been well known to the indigenous Bushmen for years.
• How it works - the pills works by fooling your brain into thinking that you are full. Normally nerve cells in the hypothalamus detect your blood sugar levels which are used to tell your brain if you are full or not. This diet pill makes that part of your brain think you are full so you won't have to eat again.
• How it is made - this plant is found in the semi-desert areas of South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. It grows on clumps of upright green stems that look very similar to a cactus. After about 5 years of growth pale purple flowers will start to appear on the plant and the plant can then be harvested.

The main ingredient in Hoodia Gordonii is P57. But one thing about this plant is that no matter how hard people have tried they have not been able to isolate the main ingredient, which means that when making any product that contains Hoodia you are also going to get other harmless compounds from the plant.

Currently there are 13 different types of Hoodia products on the market and all 13 of these products contain the main ingredient P57.

• Supplements that contain Hoodia - currently Hoodia has not yet been regulated by the FDA so you want to make sure that you are actually buying from a reputable online merchant and that you have done your research before buying a specific supplement. In fact it has been claimed that over 80% of online Hoodia products are fake and most of that is a result of its unproven status and that it isn't properly regulated by the FDA. You should also keep in mind that Hoodia is usually sold in capsules, powder, liquid or tea.
• Side effects of Hoodia - so far there doesn't seem to be very many side effects for this weight loss pill, which is one of the main reasons why it is so popular. But there has been some controversy over the drug in the New York Times. It has been suggested that there are some unwanted effects on the liver, but it is caused from the other parts of the plant that is hard to remove, not the main ingredient. But since there have been no comprehensive studies done on the effects of Hoodia on people, if you are using Hoodia products you should be very careful.

• Alli - this is an over the counter diet pill that promises the strength of a prescription diet pill, minus the prescription. There is some controversy over its approval by the FDA but it is considered a safe, effective, and popular option for weight loss. This pill is a move made by the FDA to help introduce some scientific credibility into the over the counter diet pill market. This pill differs in that market because of the fact that it has been rigorously tested and trialed, which means it should be safer and more effective in the long run.
• How it works - this pill is also known as Orlistat and is actually a half-dose version of Xenical, which is a prescription diet pill. But what the pill does is that it acts as a fat blocker and cuts the amount of fat that your body absorbs by about a quarter, which is about 150-200 calories worth. If you combine the pill with a low fat diet you can lose an extra 1 to 2 pounds per month. But the pill also works to help train you to eat a low fat diet because the side effects are less if you eat a healthy diet compared to a fatty diet.
• How you take Alli - simply take the diet pill with a full glass of water. Keep in mind that the pill should be taken at the same time as any meal with significant fat content. But you also want to try and avoid high fat foods with this diet pill because it can cause side effects with your digestive system. The total cost to taking Alli is around $2 per day and you can buy it at most drug stores. But keep in mind that this diet pill can flush out some vitamins from your system along with the excess fat so you want to also take multivitamins along with these diets pills.

Pros and Cons:

• Easy access. You can find the diet pill next to other over the counter diet pills at your local drug store or pharmacy.
• Pretty inexpensive. On average you will spend about $2 per day, but even $4 per day for this pill isn't bad.
• Is considered prescription strength even though it is over the counter because it is half the strength of Xenical, which is a prescription diet pill.
• Side effects can be rather unpleasant, but for the most part usually pass after a week or two of taking the diet pill.
• Weight loss is going to require maintenance. The majority of your weight loss is going to occur in the first 6 to 12 months of taking the pills. After that you are either going to have to come off the pills and modify your diet or you can stay on the pills for the rest of your life to keep the weight off.
• Can get expensive to use if you decide to stay on the pill for the rest of your life. The beginning price of $2-4 per day is not bad but can add up quickly if you take the pill for a long period of time.
• Who shouldn't take Alli - If you have diabetes you should avoid this diet pill or if you have had an organ transplant you should stay away from this diet pill. The reason you shouldn't take the diet pill if you have had an organ transplant is that it can interact with the tissue rejection drugs. Also if you are pregnant or breastfeeding you should avoid these diet pills, as should younger dieters because of the fact that it can deprive you of certain needed vitamins. People with gastro-intestinal complaints should also stay away from this diet pill because of the known side effects it can have on the digestive system.
• Side effects - the most common side effect this diet pill is known to provoke are gastro-intestinal problems. The reason why it provokes these problems is because it prevents the proper absorption of fat. In most cases the feces become oily and people taking the pill might notice involuntary leakage of these fats. But you can reduce or minimize these side effects by eating meals that are low in fat and avoiding high fat foods. Alli also can prevent the absorption of fat soluble vitamins, such as D, E, K and beta-carotene.

• Trimspa X32 - this diet pill used to contain Ephedra until it was banned in the United States. After the ban they remolded their formula and got a celebrity endorsement by Anna Nicole Smith, which made it quite popular because she claimed to have lost 69 pounds in 6 months. But the future of this diet pill is uncertain in light of Anna Nicole's death.

Ingredients found in Trimspa:

• Hoodia Gordonii - currently the most sought after weight loss supplement on the market. Comes from a plant that is native to South America and has long been known as an appetite suppressant among the native people of South Africa.
• Glucomannan - a water soluble dietary fiber that expands the dieter's stomach to reduce appetite.
• Green Tea Extract - this is actually one of the most popular and effective appetite suppressants
• Other ingredients in unknown proportions due to protecting the formula from copying - Chromium, Cocoa, Citrus Naringin and Vanadium
• How you take Trimspa - this is going to depend on your weight and your age because there are different recommendations based on the dieters' different needs. The maximum dose is 6 pills per day, but the most common dose given to dieters is 3 to 4 pills per day. The cost of this diet pill per month is about $50.
• Side effects - the most common side effects that people have reported from taking this diet pill are anxiety, insomnia and migraines. Other people have found it more effective to buy Hoodia and Glucomannan separately rather than in the Trimspa package. Not everyone can afford this diet pill because of how expensive it can get.