Swallow a small pill and watch the pounds slip away. No doubt you have seen this ad on TV or the internet but can it really be true? It certainly would be an attractive offer, take a tablet and forgo all the physical activity and strict dieting that is a part of many weight loss plans. Its true that such a pill would represent the ultimate solution for lots of people who are trying to lose weight the reality is unfortunately not that easy.

There are a range of herbal pills on the market, there are supplements that can be bought in pharmacies and others for which you need a doctors prescription, that have proven useful but presently there is no totally safe supplement that works all the time for every person. There are a variety of herbs that are sold as helpful for weight loss. The majority function in one of a few ways such as increasing caloric burn rate, suppressing hunger, raising feelings of fullness, or by limiting absorption of food during the digestive process.

The herbal extracts that have proven effective in laboratory settings must still be combined with a long term diet and exercise plan to result in safe, sustained weight loss. Supplements are helpful if used as one part of a healthy lifestyle. Some of the most widely used nutritional supplements include Hoodia, Green Tea, and Guar Gum. Other supplements like Ephedra have been found by researchers to be a health risk and should be avoided.

Accepted as one of the most popular herbal extracts presently being used is Hoodia. It is a flowering plant native to the continent of Africa and is claimed by lots of users to suppress hunger. It has been used for a long time by Africans for many afflictions but has risen in popularity throughout the world as an effective appetite suppressant. The claims by its users have sparked a lot of clinical study, most of which is ongoing, that has produced conflicting results. As scientists try to document the precise way by which the supplement works its use as a weight loss extract continues to grow around the world.

A number of supporters of herbal medicine tout green tea as an effective natural medicines available. Green tea is the specialized tea that is the product of a unique process that allows for only one species of tea leaf and consists of no oxidation during processing. Believers in the benefits of it cite a range of uses including; protection from heart disease; anticancer characteristics; appetite suppression, and increased caloric burn rate. It is known to have high levels of antioxidants and is now the focus of many studies to find out the range of its effects.

Often called guaran, Guar Gum is the result of ground up guar beans. It is an additive in lots of industrial food recipes and is being examined for having medical value. It is a fiber that is soluble in water and is under study as a treatment for several digestive tract conditions. It is claimed by lots of users to help block absorption of fat and increase a sense of satiety. A number of are convinced the impact of guaran was instrumental in their reduction in weight.

The extract Ephedra is derived from a plant native to Asia and has been in use as a medicine for thousands of years. For many years it was one of the most popular weight loss supplement around the world but lately has been discovered by doctors to pose significant health risks. While lots of people claimed it helped them to shed pounds there were also signficant reports of dieters experiencing heart problems including heart attack and arterial narrowing. Ephedra is an important reminder that any extract you consume can have serious ramifications on your health. Before you begin taking any pill you should educate yourself about all the possible risks. Beware of any diet supplements that are created from Ephedra or list it in the ingredients.

There are a number of diet supplements available that claim to produce a range of health benefits. Although it is true that a number of extracts can be useful it is important that you thoroughly educate yourself on any extract before ingesting it. For every extract that can really help you drop pounds there are others that result in no gain or even worse may be a risk.