Why not: If you're also taking antidepressants or migraine drugs called triptans, 5-HTP may overstimulate your nervous system and lead to muscle spasms or tremors. Why try it: 5-HTP may increase levels of a hormone that tells your brain when you're full. The usual dosage: 100 milligrams, three times a day. It's shown promise as a natural antidepressant. What it is: Sometimes called Griffonia simplicifolia, 5-hydroxytryptophan is an amino acid that your body eventually converts into serotonin, the brain chemical thought to be lacking in people with depression. Why not: CLA may raise cholesterol and worsen insulin resistance. Losing fat can make weight maintenance easier, because you burn more calories when you have less of it. In another study, men and women lost about 6 percent of their fat after 6 months. Why try it: In one trial, women lost 9 percent of their body fat in a year - and gained muscle, too. The effective dosage used in studies is 3,000 milligrams per day most supplements contain 1,000 to 1,200 milli-grams per pill. What it is: This fatty acid is a natural substance found in meat and dairy products. But case reports have linked chronic use of 600 micrograms or more per day to kidney and muscle damage. Later studies found it to be safe, though, says Adriane Fugh-Berman, M.D., associate professor in the complementary and alternative medicine master's program at Georgetown. Why not: Years ago, there were health concerns about one form: chromium picolinate. But experts say the mineral may be most useful for people with insulin resistance. And in one study, people who didn't have insulin trouble lost about three pounds more in 10 weeks using chromium than those who didn't. Why try it: Chromium seems to slightly limit weight gain in people with diabetes or pre-diabetes. The effective dosage seems to be 200 micrograms per day. Insulin resistance, linked to diabetes, is thought to make you fat. What it is: Your body needs this mineral for the hormone insulin (which lets cells turn sugar into fuel) to work effectively. Why not: EGCG has no risks, but the caffeine in green tea may lead to jitters if you drink coffee or take a caffeine supplement, too. And a few small studies suggest it'll help you burn about 4 percent more calories (about 80) a day and specifically burn fat. Why try it: EGCG appears to work synergistically with the caffeine in green tea to boost metabolism. Vitamins with EGCG typically don't contain enough of the antioxidant to be useful. The effective dosage seems to be 90-plus milligrams per day. ![]() What it is: It's green tea's main antioxidant - the same stuff that may protect against cancer and heart disease - and is available in green tea supplements. Skip it if you have high blood pressure or heart disease, or if you're pregnant or nursing. Unfortunately, most products don't reveal their caffeine quantities in easy-to-understand terms a typical daily dosage of some supplements might have as much caffeine as 30 cans of Coke (1,200-plus milligrams). Why not: More than 400 milligrams per day (equivalent to three to four cups of coffee) won't help you lose more weight and could bring on jitteriness, headaches, and insomnia. ![]() ![]() It may suppress appetite, too, and boost the power of other weight-loss ingredients. Why try it: A stimulant, caffeine speeds up metabolism and can ward off listlessness from dieting. What it is: The wake-you-up chemical in your coffee appears to be the most effective weight-loss ingredient. Want to try one? Check labels to see whether they contain these ingredients, avoid "proprietary blends" that don't reveal their contents, and discuss your weight-loss game plan with your doctor. But the six diet-pill ingredients listed here just might help, according to experts at Georgetown University, the University of Mississippi and the University of California, Los Angeles. Truth is, lifestyle changes are the key to healthy weight loss. But if diet pills could give you Eva Longoria's body, would you bother with the salads and stair-climbing? The sales pitches are irresistible: "Lose 2 Pounds a Day!" "Burn Fat Round the Clock!" "Learn the Amazing Weight-Loss Secret of Hollywood's Sex Symbols!" OK, maybe that's pushing it.
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