Weight Loss

Raspberry ketone is one of several naturally occurring chemicals in red raspberries that contribute to their aroma. Ketones also occur naturally in other fruits such as cranberries and blackberries, but in smaller amounts. Because the amount of raspberry ketone found naturally is so low, it is also produced in a laboratory (and known synthetically as (4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2 butanone) for use as a flavoring agent in some processed foods such as ice cream. In these small quantities, the U.S.

Green coffee bean extract is a popular ingredient found in dietary supplement products marketed for various health benefits, especially weight loss. Green coffee beans are the raw, unroasted seeds or “beans” of the Coffea plant. Similar to your morning cup of coffee, they contain caffeine, as well as a chemical called chlorogenic acid, a natural antioxidant compound. The roasting process used for coffee actually destroys chlorogenic acid, so the unroasted beans are used for extracts in dietary supplement products.

Ephedra sinica (often referred to as “ephedra” or “ma huang”) is a plant that contains several substances called “ephedrine alkaloids,” which include ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. Ephedra is neither safe nor legal as a dietary supplement. FDA concluded in 2004 that all dietary supplements containing ephedra alkaloids pose a risk of serious adverse health events (heart attack, stroke, and death), and FDA issued a final rule stating that dietary supplement products containing ephedrine alkaloids cannot be legally sold or marketed in the United States.

Garcinia cambogia is a tree native to Southeast Asia and Africa. It produces a small, pumpkin-like fruit that is popular in the cuisines of Thailand and India. The fruit of Garcinia cambogia is believed to offer some health benefits and is used in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine.

There isn’t enough evidence to support the use of Garcinia cambogia for weight loss.

“Yohimbe” is the common name for the tree Pausinystalia yohimbe. Its bark or bark extract is used in dietary supplement products marketed for sex drive, erectile dysfunction, weight loss, and bodybuilding. The bark of the yohimbe tree contains many chemical substances, including yohimbine, which also occurs in a variety of other plants. It also can be produced synthetically—that is, it can be made in a laboratory.

If you’ve ever eaten something spicy and felt a burning sensation on your tongue, then you’ve eaten capsaicinoids. Capsaicinoids (including capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and others) are the substances found in chili peppers that give them their spiciness. Although humans have been eating peppers for thousands of years, capsaicinoids only recently have come into the supplement spotlight. As a dietary supplement ingredient, capsaicinoids are often labeled as “cayenne pepper” or “capsicum,” after the family of peppers that naturally contain capsaicinoids.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a group of fatty acids found naturally in some foods, mainly beef and dairy products. The various forms of CLA serve different functions. The best known forms, and usually the ones found in dietary supplements, are “cis-9, trans-11” and “trans-10, cis-12.” The CLA in dietary supplements is often produced from linoleic acid found in safflower or sunflower oils.

You might have seen one or both of these ingredient names on the label of a dietary supplement product, most likely for pre-workout, weight loss, brain health, or other performance enhancement. What are they? Are they the same thing? Are they safe? This article looks at rauwolscine and Rauwolfia—and how they appear on labels—so you can be aware of what you might be taking.

DMHA (also known as octodrine, dimethylhexylamine, and other names) is a central nervous system stimulant developed in the 1950s for use as an inhalant to treat bronchitis, laryngitis, and other conditions. It was never approved for oral use, but in recent years, it has shown up as an ingredient in dietary supplements.

DMHA is on the DoD Prohibited Dietary Supplement Ingredients list.

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a type of vinegar made from the fermented juice of apples. It can contain a variety of vitamins, minerals, and acids. As a food, it is commonly used in salad dressings, sauces, preservatives, vinaigrettes, and marinades. ACV has also gained popularity as a dietary supplement or as an ingredient in dietary supplement products. Both as a food and a dietary supplement, it is promoted to curb appetite and help weight loss, support healthy blood sugar and cholesterol, aid digestive health, and boost the immune system.