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Are Supplements Effective For You?

Posted by Katherine Crawford M.S. in Weight loss on 10 31st, 2009 | no responses

A lot of people want to lose weight. Maybe you want to lose weight. And in response to this desperation, countless supplement companies have emerged offering everything under the sun.

The big problem here is that the supplement industry is NOT regulated. Anybody can put anything in a bottle, smack a label on it and put it for sale on the shelves.

But are all supplements ineffective or dangerous? Well, the truth is that there are some very effective supplements with hardly any risks. The main problem is finding companies that produce them with high levels of purity.

So without further ado, here is my take on certain supplements for fat loss:

1. Branched-chain amino acids. The claim is that amino acids increase energy levels and help build more muscle. What the marketers fail to reveal is that amino acids provide an extremely small percentage of energy compared to macro nutrients. Moreover, taking a huge amount of one amino acid can block the absorption of another.

2. L-carnitine tablets. This one is a no brainer. Carnitine is not essential. In other words, your body produces all the carnitine it needs for fat burning. So do not fall for the faulty assumption that extra carnitine will get more fat into your cells for burning.

3. Chromium picolinate. Some initial studies showed that this supplement was effective for reducing waist lines. However, since then, this supplement has failed to live up to expectations. And some research has shown it to be toxic. I recommend saving your money and buying some healthy food instead.

4. Powders. By powders I mean meal replacements. The term is very contradictory. After all, a packet of powder cannot match up to a fully balanced meal loaded with nutrients. Use meal replacements in only the most extreme situations. And even bars would be a better option here.

If a supplement is accompanied by ridiculous claims, it probably does not work. You are much better off spending your time and energy doing other things that will actually make a difference. And do not be swayed by clever marketing!

Katherine Crawford MS, a Harvard exercise physiologist and former arm fat sufferer, is an expert on arm toning. Learn how to get sexy and toned arms now by visiting her own blog on flabby arms.