• Supplements"rosy glasses,crimson pills" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: psyberartist under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
  
  

The Claims

• The makers of weight loss plant supplements claim that they decrease the appetite, block the absorption of dietary fat, increase calorie and fat metabolism, reduce body fat and build muscle.
  
  

Types

• Weight loss plant supplements usually contain a variety of ingredients. Popular plant ingredients include bitter orange, country mallow (heartleaf), guar gum, hoodia, and green tea extract.
  
  

Effectiveness

• According to the Mayo Clinic, there is little evidence to support the weight loss claims or the ability of supplements to build muscle.
  
  

Side Effects

• The Mayo Clinic reports that green tea extract and guar gum may cause intestinal problems. Bitter orange is touted as a substitute for ephedra, and may cause the same health problems such as heart rate irregularities, seizures and stroke.
  
  

Warning

• According to the Mayo Clinic, country mallow contains ephedrine, which is likely to be unsafe and should be avoided. Further, supplements are marketed with limited proof of their safety and effectiveness.