Herbal Slimming Pills

Herbal slimming pills tend to work on one of two principals. They either claim to boost your metabolic rate and reduce appetite, or else they claim to block the bodys absorption of carbohydrates.

What's In Herbal Tablets?

Common ingredients used in herbal slimming pills include:

• Dandelion Root : boosts metabolic rate and reduces appetite
• Yerba Mate : boosts metabolic rate and reduces appetite
• Bladderwrack : an ocean kelp which helps support the metabolic rate and break down fatty reserves
• Psyllium Husk : a concentrated fibre which fills you up
• Hoodia Gordonii : taken from a cactus that grows in the Kalahari desert in South Africathat curbs your appetite and helps you slim
• Ephedra (ma huang) : The Food and Drug Administration in the USA has banned this stimulant after several deaths among users. It is the key ingredient in the anti-obesity drug known as "fen-phen."
• HCA  (Hydroxycitric acid) : a herbal extract distilled from a family of plants native to India, which suppresses appetite and slows the conversion of carbohydrates into fat.
• Pyruvate : a natural compound which is popular as a muscle builder and weight-loss aid. Some studies suggest that pyruvate can help burn calories. Side effects can include bloating, diarrhoea and stomach cramps.

Are They Safe Then?

The key to using any of these drugs is to be sure they are safe, and if possible, get personal recommendations from others who have used them.

None of them will work miracles if you are eating poorly, but some of them can assist a programme of exercise and reduced calories.