Once you understand what diet pills are, an in depth look at how they work is important in order to better complete your knowledge on these pills. To do this you have to look at what they are made of. Every diet pill has one or several key ingredients that allow it to produce the desired weight loss effect. These can either be herbal or man made chemicals but for the most part they’re naturally occurring substances.

Here’s a list of some of the more common safe ingredients used in diet pills, where you can get them and what their effect on the body is. And yes I said “safe” ingredients. There are some chemicals used by some manufacturers that have adverse effects on our health. The Food and Drug Administration have flagged some of them but there are still a lot out in the market that might have some health risks. There just hasn’t been enough research done on each and every ingredient so no final conclusion as to their effects can be made.

Hoodia Gordonii

The Hoodia Gordnii is a plant found in South Africa. It’s a leafless plant and has flowers that smell like old meat. The plant is used locally to treat infections and indigestion. It became popular as an appetite suppressant ingredient because of its local use as such. The hunters from the area have been using the plant for hundreds of years to lessen their appetite when they go on long hunts.

Opuntia Ficus Indica

The Opuntia Ficus Indica is a specie of the cactus that can be commonly found in Mexico. It’s grows in both arid and semi arid areas of the world. It’s commonly referred to in the English speaking countries as the prickly pear or barbary fig. It’s mainly harvested for it’s fruit but it is also used as an ingredient in diet pills. The Opuntia Fica Indica can lower blood lipid levels and decrease oxidative stress. This characteristic makes it an ideal fat binder ingredient especially since it’s a naturally occurring substance.

White Kidney Bean Powder

White kidney bean is a common food that you can find almost anywhere today. It has been a staple food in South America for a long time and has even been used as herbal cures for ailments such as bronchitis and coughing. As a diet pill ingredient it helps enhance weight loss by reducing the digestion of starch. This slows down our body’s uptake of calories.

Capsicum Extract

This extract is made from crushed chili peppers, vinegar and oil. They’re said to help our body’s digestive process and they also help us burn more calories. These are good for the heart and provide us with some essential nutrients like Vitamins A, Vitamin C, potassium and zinc.

L-Caritine

Carnitine is a compound that comes from the biosynthesis of certain amino acids. The compound is said to be an effective weight loss supplement and is very popular in the industry.  Studies have shown that oral intake of the compound can help increase metabolism and muscle mass.

Always look up the ingredients in your pills

There are many other ingredients not listed here and many more that are constantly being discovered. It’s important for consumers to become educated about them and their effects. Not all pills are safe and many of them in fact have dangerous side effects. Don’t be taken by marketing schemes and promises of quick weight loss. Decide wisely and always opt for long-term health rather than quick weight loss.