Appetite Suppressants for Weight Loss
An appetite suppressant is a dietary supplement or drug that reduces appetite and food consumption, which generally results in weight loss. Unlike other dietary supplements, appetite suppressants often must be prescribed by a doctor, and thus must first be approved by the FDA under strict regulations. Because of this, they are typically safer for the body than other diet pills that have not undergone FDA testing and approval. Unsurprisingly, they are the most commonly used medications for treating weight loss.
Appetite suppressants generally come in the form of tablets or extended-release capsules, and they work because they both promote and sustain weight loss over a long period of time. They do so by tricking the body into thinking that it is either not hungry, or simply full. It does this by decreasing the levels of serotonin and catecholamine, two chemicals found in the brain which affect a person’s mood and appetite. In turn, this both reduces appetite and increases satiety.
In addition to prescribed drugs or similar over-the-counter varieties of appetite suppressants, the most common of which is Meridia, there are a number of natural foods that also work in a similar manner. Apples, or other foods high in fiber, generally require more chewing time, which allows your body more time to register the fact that you’re no longer hungry. Pine nuts contain not only more protein than any other kind of nut or seed, but also pinolenic acid, a polyunsaturated fat that stimulates two hunger-suppressing hormones. In general, the more fiber you eat, the slower your rise in sugar, which in turn helps with staving off hunger hormones. Flaxseeds, in addition to containing cancer preventative properties and lowering cholesterol, provide 8 grams of fiber per ounce, and thus can be used as an appetite suppressant. Real oatmeal, not the instant variety, and salad, such as spinach, mesculin, and cabbage, also contain a high fiber content and allow for a feeling a fullness for a long time. Soup, in the form of a broth or vegetable soup, has a combination of high water and low calories that will help to satiate hunger without eating too much.
However, it is important to know that while appetite suppressants are generally very successful at what they do, they are not an instant cure for obesity. They should be combined with both physical activity and a healthy diet in order to successfully manage a person’s weight over an extended period of time.