Cholesterol

It is frightfully expensive and takes a week or two before results are seen.Green tea extract, said to speed metabolism and suppress appetite, is supported by limited evidence of effectiveness and can cause vomiting, bloating, indigestion and diarrhea, as well as jitteriness and palpitations from its caffeine.In addition to possible risks associated with single-drug supplements, many products combine several ingredients that could interact to add hazards.

Some ingredients in weight-loss supplements can interact with prescription and over-the-counter remedies, possibly resulting in toxic effects.Hoodia, a supplement derived from a South African cactus, may indeed suppress appetite.

But the real thing is very hard to obtain, and most of the products sold in stores and on the Web contain little or none of the effective extract.The list could go on and on, but you get the point.

There is no quick fix for weight loss using over-the-counter diet pills.Several prescription drugs have received FDA approval.

Orlistat, sold as Xenical, reduces the absorption of fat from foods.

It can cause gastrointestinal distres...

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