As a child growing up, I’ve always been a bit chubby, which wasn’t really a problem for me until I reached my early 20’s where I was at my heaviest weight. Not only was my confidence at the lowest peak, but my health was being affected as well.
I had an overall poor quality of life since I was quickly exhausted and had trouble moving. Even though the activities I was performing didn't involve much effort like, getting up from my seat or climbing the stairs, I would frequently find that I needed to stop and catch my breath.
That was when I decided that it was time for me to invest in weight loss supplements. I found some brands that claimed to slim down the waist in a matter of weeks, but some of those resulted in various health risks. Over the past few months, I've experimented with a variety of popular diets and supplements, and I've finally found a solution that works best for me.
Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for both of your health and quality of life. When you’re obese or overweight, you have a higher risk of getting diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing issues, and cancer. Managing your weight can help lower the risk of getting these ailments and can even improve your self-esteem, and provides you more energy to enjoy life.
Dangers of Weight Loss Fads
In more recent years and the rise of social media content, diet fads are becoming a more popular way for quick and easy ways to lose weight whether you go to the gym or not. Most fad diets restrict your food options and may be harmful to your health. False scientific claims are used to mask fad diets which can make them difficult to detect. However, the general public accepts them as there is a pressure to become thin and achieve impossible body standards.
If a diet plan seems too good to be true, then it’s most likely a fad. Some fad diets are described as being low in carbs, extremely low in fat, and/or rich in protein. Some advocate consuming large amounts of certain foods while others will focus on completely avoiding a particular meal. Fad diets are frequently developed by people with little understanding of their long-term impact on health. The goal of fad diets is to provide a short-term, frequently unsubstantiated remedy to a persistent issue.
Additionally, there are supplements that also claim to be a good weight loss supplement when they contain harmful ingredients. Many times, even when a weight loss supplement makes a claim to be natural, it still contains artificial ingredients.
Numerous studies have revealed the presence of prescription drugs and other man-made ingredients in traces in many of these natural weight-loss supplements. On the label of these products, these potentially dangerous ingredients are frequently not disclosed. Moreover, you should be wary of weight loss pills with over exaggerated health claims. Supplements claiming to help you lose 30 pounds in a span of a month seem risky and untrue.
Here are ingredients in weight loss supplements that might have dangerous side effects:
1. Caffeine: A common ingredient found in weight loss supplements, caffeine works to boost your energy levels so you can effectively burn more calories through the breakdown of fat. Additionally, it can aid in appetite suppression and decrease food consumption. Its side effects however, include anxiety, jitteriness, and diarrhea. It can also become addicting and may affect sleep quality.
2. Garcinia Cambogia: This extract is among the most well-known dietary supplements for weight loss. According to nonhuman studies, it is a little, green fruit with a form resembling a pumpkin that may lessen cravings by raising serotonin levels and inhibiting a body enzyme that causes fat to be produced. In contrast, obese individuals in a randomized study using placebo and garcinia cambogia showed no appreciable differences in terms of weight or body fat %.
Despite the fact that this extract is often used and generally safe to consume, new investigations have revealed some potentially harmful side effects such as acute liver failure, episodes of mania, nausea & diarrhea, headache & dizziness and dry mouth.
3. Laxatives: This ingredient may help you lose weight but only temporarily. Laxatives function by drawing water from your body into your intestines, allowing stool to absorb more water for an easier transit. The only weight you'll lose using this technique is the water you pass via your stools. Moreover, you may experience electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, and perhaps even dependency.
4. Glucomannan: When water is absorbed by glucomannan, it becomes gel-like and stays in your stomach to encourage a feeling of fullness, which aids in calorie restriction and appetite suppression. Soft stools, bloating, and flatulence are a few of its side effects.
Remedies I’ve Tried
I started with intermittent fasting. My window for eating is constrained by this diet, which is supposedly an easy approach to cut calories. I’ve tried this for a few months and I lost only a few kilograms, not significant enough for me to continue with this diet. I’ve also noticed that throughout my testing period, my body was put in a lot of stress as there were days where I wasn’t eating enough which led to stress and eventually, a drop in my overall energy.
Next, I tried a combination of a low carb diet and a supplement with a green tea extract. My meal plan consisted of proteins as it helps reduce hunger, speed up metabolism, and preserve muscle mass. I noticed that I’ve developed digestive issues and jitteriness when I tried this diet. Upon further research, green tea extract may cause caffeine-like symptoms as it contains caffeine. Additionally, studies show that having a low carb diet may increase bad cholesterol as there is a high fat intake.
Seeing as some diets and supplements don't seem to be working for me and how it may come with some health risks, I went on a deep dive on the internet on what could be a safer option when it comes to losing weight.
What Worked for Me
Blood oranges are a fruit high in antioxidants and nutrients, as well as vitamins and minerals like folate, magnesium, potassium, and the B vitamins C and B. This fruit has an orange-like exterior, but it is maroon or blood crimson on the inside. Anthocyanin is a naturally occurring, water-soluble pigment that provides this distinctive color. Anthocyanin possesses qualities that fight cancer, inflammation, microbes, cardiovascular problems, and contain weight loss properties in addition to preventing them. Additionally, anthocyanin can protect against a number of chronic, non-infectious disorders, as well as improve brain and retinal health.
So it's obvious that blood oranges could be my key to a healthy weight loss program. Anthocyanin, which is found in blood oranges, can aid with weight loss.
I made the decision to purchase my first batch of weight loss supplements after reading reviews and conducting extensive research. Since no supplement is a miracle cure-all, there were no noticeable changes over the first few weeks.
But after using it for 2 months, I could finally see the results. I didn’t have to follow any strict diets and instead, became more consistent with my workouts and supplement intake. I’ve also noticed how my digestion and gut health improved overall. I didn’t experience any harmful side effects like I did with the diets and supplements I tried before.
Not only have I lost a few pounds, but it would seem like my waist size also improved! The only downside to this is that my once fit clothes have not become baggy and now I have to shop for new ones!
What Are Supplements?
Supplements can be any kind of vitamin, minerals, herbs, botanicals, and amino acids that you can eat or drink. You can buy supplements that come in various forms like pills, powders, liquids, and capsules to name a few.
Supplementing one's existing nutrition is the main goal of supplements. While supplements like vitamins and pills might be beneficial to health, they shouldn't be used in place of a balanced diet and active lifestyle.
Top 3 Weight Loss Supplements
We here at Superfood Reviews have done the research to find out what the best option for collagen supplements in the market. We have graded each choice through a stringent grading based on the following criteria:
The Sicilian Orange Slimming Elixir from The Purest Co. is, in my opinion, the greatest weight-loss supplement since it contains high-quality, clinically-proven components like 400 mg of blood orange extract, which is the clinically advised amount for weight loss.
If you want to be sure you are obtaining the best supplement for weight loss, it is advised to choose a product that is open about its major ingredients and the amount of each one in each serving. You can always choose a supplement with a money-back guarantee if you're not sure whether weight loss supplements will work for you.
Pros:
400mg blood orange, the recommended clinical dosage
Contains forslean coleus forskohlii extract that help with fat reduction
No unnecessary ingredients or additives
30-day, 100% satisfaction guaranteed or money back
Rigorously tested for purity and ingredient quality
Made in Taiwan
Manufactured to HACCP and ISO22000 standards
Highly rated for customer service
Free SG delivery on all orders
Cons:
Only available online
Always out of stock due to demand
Bottomline:
With an extremely comprehensive formula and the best customer feedback scores on the list, Sicilian Orange Slimming Elixir by The Purest Co is easily our Number 1 pick.
It contains a significant amount of blood orange (400 mg) along with a variety of additional ingredients that can aid in weight loss overall by lowering calorie and fat intake, such as forslean coleus forskohlii extract, apple and orange concentrate juice, and monk fruit extracts.
Customers loved this drink because it didn't have any additives and preservatives. Additionally, they enjoyed its delicious flavor. The company was highly rated for customer service and offers a 30-day, risk-free, money-back guarantee which shows they are willing to stand behind the quality of their product.
The Purest Co’s Sicilian Orange Slimming Elixirs was superior to other leading competitors in terms of effectiveness, quality, safety, and price, making it our top pick as the best weight loss product available.
Pros:
Contains vitamins Vitamin B6, B12
and Zinc
Help reduce cravings and appetite
Vegan-friendly
Cons:
Very expensive
Contains caffeine
Pill format offers less bioavailability compared to liquids
Could leave a bad aftertaste
Bottomline:
Leanbean contains several ingredients that may help with weight loss and metabolism such as Vitamin B6, B12, and Chromium. It also has complimentary ingredients to help with digestion such as Chloride.
It also offers different package options with up to 4 months supply although it can get quite pricey. One of the downsides of this supplement is that it is in a capsule form which can be hard to consume for some people and may leave a weird aftertaste. Additionally, in their recommendations, you have to take 6 capsules a day. This might not be an ideal form of supplement for some people who struggle with swallowing pills and capsules.
This product would be a good option for those who are not price-sensitive and want a weight loss supplement in pill form.
Pros:
Vegan-friendly, non-GMO, and no preservatives added
Made in the USA
Cons:
Contains caffeine
Could leave a bad aftertaste
Pills could offer less bioavailability compared to liquids
Bottomline:
PhenGold claims to have a formula that is efficient on weight loss as it has undergone clinical testing. It contains ingredients such as Rhodiola Rosea, L-Tyrosine, and B3, B6, and B12 that can help with metabolism and fat burning.
A plus side is that it has no preservatives, artificial colorings, fillers and any preservatives. The fact that this supplement comes in a capsule form, which some individuals find difficult to swallow and which could leave an odd aftertaste, is one of its drawbacks. It also contains Caffeine and Green Coffee which may not be ideal as it can cause side effects for some people.
Overall, our readers liked this product because it was of high quality.
Conclusion
The Purest Co’s Sicilian Orange Slimming Elixir is in my opinion, the best weight loss product available in the market today. Its main ingredient is blood orange and that’s been clinically proven to help reduce fat and promote weight loss, so including them in your diet is an excellent way to help in weight loss.
It also has clinically suggested amounts of blood orange extract along with ingredients that complement it, like forslean coleus forskohlii and monk fruit extract, without the use of additives or preservatives. It is one of the healthiest selections and has the nicest flavors. Making sure the supplement you're about to take offers the right nutrients for weight loss is essential.
