Sometimes, all those diet plans and workouts in the gym are not enough to give us the results that we want for our body. We are always on the look out for easy ways of getting rid of body fat at the least amount of time possible. And that’s where the idea of taking weight loss pills comes in. Before you decide to buy one, let’s have a quick look of the different kinds of weight loss pills in the market today and identify their possible effects on our body.

1. Ephedra. This decreases one’s appetite. However, it also has a number of side effects like increased blood pressure, irregularities in cardiac rhythm, heart attack, strokes, seizures and even death.

2. Bitter Orange. This pill increases the amount of calories that you burn. The side effects of this pill are similar to that of Ephedra but the long term effects are unknown.

3. Country Mallow. Also known as “Heartleaf”, this pill has the combined effects of Ephedra and Bitter Orange, and therefore, have worse side effects.

4. Conjugated Linoleic acid or CLA. This pill reduces fat and appetite and helps you build muscles. The downside is that this pill can also cause indigestion, diarrhea and gastrointestinal problems.

5. Chromium. This reduces fat and builds more muscles. Chromium is also one of the safest weight loss pills but is unlikely to cause weight loss. Its long term effects are unknown.

6. Green tea extract. This supposedly increases metabolism and decreases appetite, but these claims are not backed by enough scientific evidence. It can also cause vomiting, indigestion and bloating. Green tea extracts may sometimes have large amounts of caffeine.

7. Hoodia. This decreases appetite, but like other weight loss pills, it has limited evidence to support its claims.

8. Chitosan. Chitosan blocks the body’s fat absorption, and is relatively safe. However, it may also cause bloating and constipation and other gastrointestinal problems. Its long term effects are also unknown.

9. Guar gum. This has effects similar to the effects of Chitosan and it also makes you feel full most of the time, therefore decreasing the amount of calorie intake. The downside is it may also cause diarrhea, certain gastrointestinal problems and flatulence. If not taken with enough water, it can cause intestinal obstruction.

So now that you know the benefits and possible risks of taking these weight loss pills, are you still interested in taking them? You should be fine just as long as you take it in moderation and are ready to face the side effects. Just remember to consult a doctor first to give you tips on how to take them or possibly offer you other options to lose weight.