Weight Loss

A ketone is a molecule your liver makes from fat when you don’t eat for more than 72 hours, or if you follow a strict ketogenic diet. During these times, ketones are the main source of energy for your body.

Is your goal to lose weight, get “cut,” meet body-composition standards, or just be healthier? Weight-loss supplements (sometimes marketed as “thermogenics,” “fat burners,” or “appetite suppressants”) might be a tempting solution, especially when you’re faced with obstacles—such as stress, injury, or lack of time—that make it hard to maintain your optimal weight. But before you take a supplement marketed for weight loss or fat loss, here are 3 things you should know.

DNP stands for “2,4-dinitrophenol,” an industrial chemical used in diet pills in the early 20^th century that is now resurfacing. Over the past several years, deaths associated with DNP in weight-loss products have been reported.

A century ago DNP was recognized as dangerous and often deadly. In fact, the first Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in 1938 made it illegal in oral products, describing it as “extremely dangerous and not fit for human consumption.” However, it is still made for pesticides and other industrial uses.

Diatomaceous earth is a powder composed of fossilized algae called “diatoms,” single-celled organisms found in bodies of water. Diatomaceous earth is used for various reasons such as an insecticide, an anti-caking agent in animal feed, a filtration aid, and an additive in construction materials, and it has also been studied for its potential biomedical uses. However, some people add food-grade diatomaceous earth to their food and beverages because it is a rich source of silicon dioxide.

Stimulants are included as ingredients in many dietary supplement products, including ones marketed for weight loss, energy enhancement, and pre-workout. If you’re considering taking a supplement that might contain one or more stimulants, it’s important to understand what they are, why they’re of concern, and how to identify them on product labels.

Aegeline, also known as N-[2-hydroxy-2(4-methoxyphenyl) ethyl]-3-phenyl-2-propenamide, is an ingredient that has been added to some dietary supplements, especially ones marketed for weight loss and muscle building. Naturally found in the Aegle marmelos (bael) tree, which is used in Ayurvedic medicine, aegeline also can be synthesized (created in a laboratory).