The Dangers of Using a Diet Supplement
When it comes to weight loss supplements or diet pills, it always pays to be skeptical. The truth is that most of the miracle weight loss products you see advertised on television or the internet are probably worthless. You will spend your money and see very little results. Unfortunately there are also some that pose serious health risks. That is what you really have to watch out for.
Dietary Supplements Are Poorly Regulated
It's actually surprisingly easy for a company to get approval to sell a new weight loss product in the United States. Unlike prescription drugs that have to go through vigorous FDA trials, over-the-counter diet pills are often classified as dietary supplements.
Dietary supplements don't require any testing. You read that correctly. It is actually up to the manufacturer to make sure that whatever supplements they are selling are safe. The FDA doesn't get involved until a safety concern becomes evident.
In other words, a company can make and sell diet pills until the FDA realizes that they are dangerous and decides to take action. This pattern is not uncommon either. More and more you read in the news about the FDA warning against dangerous supplements.
Dangerous Diet Pills
A diet product known as Japan Rapid Weight Loss Diet Pills is a great example of the pattern discussed above. They became very popular for individuals looking to lose weight, but eventually it became apparent that the ingredients being used were extremely dangerous.
The product contains phenolphthalein, which is considered to be a cancer causing agent. Subsequently the FDA warned consumers about the dangers. Here is a list of diet supplements that were once readily available but have since been deemed dangerous.
Best Course of Action
Not all weight loss supplements are dangerous. However it is very important to be vigilant in your research if you ever decide to use diet pills or supplements. First you need to find out what ingredients are in the product. If a supplement is not open about its ingredients then that is a clear warning sign to stay away. They are trying to hide something. Never take any supplements unless you know exactly what is in them.
Check the FDA website to see if there are any warnings against a specific product. It is regularly updated so you should be able to get some good information there. You should also search for any negative news stories related to the supplement.
If there have been any reported health risks, you should be able to find out about it online. Finally, you should always consult with your doctor before taking any supplements. Show them the ingredients and let them help you make the right decision.
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