Weight Loss Dietary Supplement

Before using any, you need to known the definition of a weight loss dietary supplement first. Then ask yourself: do you need it? what kinds are safe? is it effective for weight loss?

Weight Loss Dietary Supplement – Is It Safe To Use?

Just what is a weight loss dietary supplement? Prior to 1994 it referred to products made of one or more of the essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and protein. But in 1994 the U.S. Congress expanded the definition to include herbs, or other botanicals, (except tobacco), and any dietary substance that can be used to supplement the diet.

So now besides vitamins and minerals, herbs, amino acids, animal gland extracts, enzymes and other
hormone like substances were added to the definition.

Since dietary supplements are not regulated in any way, including the amount of substance actually included and the ability of the substance to perform, there are some questions the consumer should ask himself before taking any of these supplements. Questions such as:

* Do I need this supplement?

* Do I know that this supplement is safe? Is it really effective?

* Does this supplement interact with any drug or food I am consuming?

The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) review of the safety and adequacy of these products is significantly less than for drugs and foods. Be cautious about using any supplement that claims to treat, prevent or cure a serious disease.

Some, and certainly not all, dietary supplements can be harmful under some conditions. For example, many herbal products and other “natural” supplements can have real and powerful effects on a person that can cause harmful reactions. It doesn’t necessarily mean that supplements marketed as “natural” are safe and without side effects.

For example, relative recently, the safety of ephedra-containing dietary supplements has been questioned by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the medical community as a result of a high rate of serious side effects and ephedra-related deaths. As of June 2007, the sale of ephedra-containing dietary supplements is illegal in the United States due to their health risks.

If you have any doubts about the supplement you are taking or thinking of taking, it is vital that you consult your physician.

But the name of the preparation is not enough. In most cases the other ingredients in the supplement must also be evaluated to determine if the product is safe for you. Provide your physician with a list of the entire ingredients on the label To make things easy, just bring along the supplement package or bottle to your meeting with the physician.

Go into any health food store or drug store, and you will be bombarded with dietary supplements that promise health benefits. The truth is that the government has had very little control over what is put onto the food supplement market since the U.S. Congress passed new legislation in 1994.

This legislation places supplements in a special category somewhere between food additives and drugs that, by law, require rigorous testing for efficacy, safety and potency. The result is that supplements are not subject to these requirements.

In the end, therefore, the consumer should consult with his doctor before taking any weight loss dietary supplement. In this situation, it would be wise to remember the old adage “caveat emptor”, that is, let the buyer beware.