Diet & Nutrition, A-Z of pills/shakes

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A-Z of pills/shakes

A plethora of supplements claim to help burn fat, suppress appetite and control cravings - all good outcomes to an eager dieter. So what's the harm in grabbing a bottle?

Quite a lot, actually. We explore the false claims and the dangerous ingredients that lurk in some of the products.

Leptin - the answer to obesity?

Can one use leptin to lose weight? What are the pros and cons? And what do the researchers say? DietDoc takes a closer look at this hot topic.

What's in that slimming pill?

Is it possible to lose a significant amount of weight by simply taking so-called "supplements" or weight loss pills or drops? And what aren't the manufacturers telling us?

Slimming not so 'simple'

The "new" sibutramine-free Simply Slim diet pill has left many desperate slimmers dismayed at the lack of results. DietDoc comments.

Diet pill ban welcomed

For once, DietDoc is pleased with our Health Minister's actions: her banning of over-the-counter sales of diet pills is a step in the right direction.

L-carnitine and your thyroid

L-carnitine, a popular ingredient in slimming aids, can interfere with thyroid function and cause weight gain instead of weight loss in some people.

The lowdown on carnitine

Studies show that carnitine may prevent nerve degeneration in diabetics, assist with male infertility, possibly help to improve sports performance, and more. What should you know?

Chromium conundrum

Are we onto something big here, or are we simply mineral fashion victims? Catherine Bothwell from Shape Magazine weighs up chromium supplementation.

Simply Slim in firing line

Popular diet product Simply Slim has been in the firing line of the press and online forums over reports that the product causes serious side-effects. DietDoc comments.

An obesity vaccine in the making

An article on the development of an "obesity vaccine" made headline news this week. Join DietDoc as she takes a look at the science behind the breakthrough.

Lose 19kg in 3 weeks!

If you've seen those weight loss adverts on TV or in magazines promising dramatic weight loss in only days, you've probably wondered whether these diets really work.

The diet pill saga continues

Since the MCC banned sales of the Simply Slim diet pill in SA, DietDoc has been inundated with queries about other over-the-counter slimming pills. Read her comments here.

Hoodia diet craze analysed

The latest craze in diet pills is undoubtedly Hoodia gordonii. But is it safe to jump on this bandwagon? Not yet, cautions Health24's DietDoc.

African mango - diet wonder fruit?

One of the hottest new products on the slimming pill market is the African mango, a wild fruit which is claimed to cause significant weight loss and improve blood fat levels.

Farewell to Hoodia?

The use of Hoodia in slimming pills has been dealt a blow when a new study found no evidence of weight loss, and recorded some potentially serious side effects. DietDoc responds.

Diet supplements in the spotlight

Green tea and an essential fatty acid called CLA are often combined in supplements as a powerful one-two punch to combat excess weight. But can the claims be believed?

Slimming herbs dissected

In an effort to find out if herbal slimming products live up to their claims, DietDoc dissects one such product - and finds that we're probably all taken for a ride.

Slimming pills and drops

Slimming is a mega-billion dollar industry throughout the world. A vast choice of slimming aids promise effortless weight loss, but what do these 'magic' potions really contain?

Slimming pills can be fatal

You take that slimming pill because it's "natural", or because your doctor prescribed it. Nothing bad can happen, right? Don't be so sure.

Steer clear of ephedra diet pills

A host of over-the-counter diet pills, particularly herbal products, contain extracts of a plant called "ephedra", which can be just as dangerous as ephedrine pills.

L-carnitine and slimming

L-Carnitine is all the rage at the moment and countless slimming products that contain this compound claim that it will melt your fat away. So what are the facts?

Dietary myths

Have humans in this brave New Millennium of ours progressed very much further when it comes to the often potentially dangerous ideas relating to food, diet, health and disease?

Soup diets are a scam

Soup diets with exotic names such as "The Sacred Heart Diet" should rather be called "The Starvation Soup Diet" as they are unbalanced an potentially dangerous, warns DietDoc.

Can diet foods hurt you?

The weight-loss industry is worth millions. It's hardly surprising that there are hundreds of specially formulated diet foods on the market. But are they slimming? Are they safe?

Shakes are a bit shaky

Many people use shakes as a meal replacement. But is this really a risk-free way of losing weight and getting your tummy full? A dietician answers.

Diet pills can be deadly

Many people suffering from obesity have taken diet pills obtained over the counter and/or had diet pills prescribed by their doctor.

The dodgy ingredients in diet pills

Just because a slimming product contains "natural", plant-based components, it doesn't mean it's safe. DietDoc takes a look at the good, the bad and the ugly in one such product.

Do weight-loss supplements work?

A plethora of supplements claim to help burn fat, suppress appetite and control cravings - all good outcomes to an eager dieter. So what's the harm in grabbing a bottle?

Slender Wonder makes you wonder

Every month DietDoc receives countless queries about the latest miracle diet pills and aids on the market. Slender Wonder is the latest slimming regimen that DietDoc investigates.