Avoiding Diet Patch Scams
A diet patch is patch containing various herbal ingredients found in many pill form diet supplements that are absorbed through the skin to promote weight loss and speed up a persons metabolism. The theory being the diet patch is that by absorbing ingredients through transdermal means as opposed to ingestion the body will absorb more of the active ingredients resulting in greater weight loss in shorter periods of times. Most diet patches contain several similar active ingredients including but not limited to guarana, brown seaweed or sea kelp, hydroxycitric acid (HCA),and flax seed oil. Many so called diet patches also contain hoodia, a desert cactus similar to the aloe vera plant.
Guarana is a fruiting plant that contains a natural caffeine that is twice as potent to the levels found in coffee. It is widely used in weight loss supplements and energy drinks. Guarana is a natural stimulant that has been show to have some effect on increasing metabolism though there is not sufficient studies to predict it’s long term effectiveness in promoting weight loss. Though regular use may help a person feel as if they are more alert and provide a small increase in energy.
Brown seaweed and sea kelp are good sources of iodine. Iodine is said to promote healthy thyroid function. Unhealthy thyroid levels can cause increased weight. Iodine is also used to kill bacteria and you can find it in many first aid kits and also in pill form for water treatment. If you are need of treatment for a thyroid condition you should consult your physician. Iodine can be harmful in large doses and high iodine levels can pose serious health risks.
Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA) is an enzyme that is said to block carbohydrates from being converted to fat. It is wide used in many dietary supplements and weight loss pills. It has been shown to have some effect in aiding the efficiency of weight loss.
Flaxseed oil is an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids are found in various grains and fish and help the body to break down fat. Flaxseed oil and Omega 3 acids should be a regular part a balanced diet and have been known to aid the promotion of weight loss.
Hoodia, the most raved about of the active ingredients is a cactus plant that comes from South Africa. Being native only to Africa, Hoodia is not very abundant. It’s popularity in weight loss products as an appetite suppressant has further reduced it’s availability. Mass cultivation has caused the plant has become endangered. Many weight loss products claiming to contain hoodia contain very little of the ingredient if any at all. There is no conclusive testing to suggest that hoodia is in any way shape of form beneficial to losing weight.
While any or a combination of these ingredients may provide some assistance to increased metabolism and weight loss there is no miracle weight loss substance among them. There is no inclusive evidence that absorption of these ingredients through the skin is any more effective than ingestion or to suggest a quantity needed to see clear fat burning results. Diet patches aren’t any more effective that pill supplements and certainly aren’t a miracle invention. Effective healthy weight loss can only be found through healthy eating and regular moderate exercise, and not through so called miracle diet patches.