Supplements are good or bad?
 

One of my friend planning to take weight loss supplements to burn the weight, DO anyone used any weight supplements? is it good or bad?

99% of the time they are bad. They tend to contain isolated, synthesized versions of vitamins created from coal tar or petroleum, or they contain toxic compounds, or they contain countless additives and texturizers and binders, or they are completely useless, or all of the above. Or, they lie on the label and don't put nearly as much of the compound as the label states. Consumer Reports has done testing on supplements and found that only a few brands actually contain the amount they say they do.

That being said, some high-quality supplements do exist.

firenexx, source please. 99% sounds awfully high for something I'm sure works for me.

As with a lot of things, some are good,some are okay, and some are bad. You just need to do your homework.

Thats very true. Thats why its best to take vitamins which were extracted from natural sources (like plants or foods).

I take a whole bowl of vitamins, minerals and amino acids every day, and I have practically stopped aging.

I even wrote a thread about it on Joe Rogan's board. I'm not gonna copy/pasta it all, but you can have a look at this link:

The Rogan Board

The pyramid I came up with myself, and I'm quite proud of it. A lot of work and research went into it :)

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/9576/pyramidy.png

Thanks for your comments dude! So i recommended my friend to go for some natural supplements and also suggest him to do some homework before taking it.

I've read that a good multi-vitamin is good, but most people need to take additional calicum (at a separate time than you take the multi-vit) with vitamin D... & amino acids.

Yes, thats because in order to get enough milligrams of each vitamin you'd need a pill the size of your fist. And good luck swallowing that

Cigarets would classify as "weight loss"-supplement. Most poisons would classify.
I would stay away from stuff that's marketed as "weight loss"-supplement.
How do you know?

Good question.

I am gonna be 46 in a few months, I still have younger girls checking me out at nightclubs, last summer I picked up this 19-year old (yes I know, it was a bit awkward), she told me I looked about 27. I started taking vitamins when I was around 29, I since then have ZERO wrinkles anywhere on my body. I also have virtually no health problems, and I very rarely get sick.

So to me that quantifies either a severe slowing down of the aging process, or it has stopped altogether. And keep in mind I like to drink a lot of beer too, plus I smoked cigs until I was 30

Yes, calcium is very important for all human beings, especially for women. Most of the doctors recommend calcium tablets for women after the age of 40. Taking multivitamin supplements is becoming common among people, even kids are taking these supplements.

Here you have Tom Cruise who also pops lots of vitamins daily (most scientologists do). Critics would say he just has good genes, but I say it has nothing to do with good genes. Tommy hasnt changed a bit since 1992

http://ll-media.tmz.com/2011/12/16/1...se-genes-1.jpg

I would agree that natural plant-based supplements are far superior to synthetic supplements created from coal-tar.

Did you really think that my figure was scientifically sound? Would it make you feel better if I had said "MOST OF THEM"? Sorry, I'll make sure I use more efficient wording next time, since it really matters a whole lot.

For dieting...I would say read about the HCG Diet...now I am not saying go on it - it is hard and not for everyone...BUT - BUT - the things that a person on the diet is supposed to eat are key...

These are foods, fruits, veggies, meats...that metabolize faster - and also TRIGGER the body to burn up its own fat stores...

This way they are eating healthy...

Supplements...there are good ones...and then there are ones that there is more processing taking place rather then anything else...

Whole Food supplements, superfood powders (shakes), extracts, tinctures tend to be better...because they are processed in such a way that the good stuff is not killed off...the bad stuff (sugars, allergens) are removed...and the nutrients are still as they were naturally...

Compare the list on a common multi-vitamin to the nutrient list of an apple...very different...what occurs naturally is designed for max absorption...

There have been dangerous weight loss supps in the past like that Phen-Phen stuff and it's possible that newer weight loss products will come out that will cause harm.

Right now most are just useless and contain caffiene and vitamins which give energy but do not increase fat metabolism enough to notice. Especially if you don't diet.

The one that worked was the ephedrine/caffine stack but last I heard it was banned by the FDA.
It's not clear if the reported harmful effects were from proper use or overdose?
I've known several people who used those products for years and swore by them. I used them once and had unusually good results while on a cutting phase. But one day while using "Ripped Fuel" I went online and read about reports of strokes/heart attacks and was never able to use it again because I would work myself into a panic attack. That was the beginning and end of my experience with stimulants (except coffee). Never again.

Lots of bro-science here. Has anyone read an article from an a credible source whether supplements work? Or synthetic vs natural supplements?

Natural Vs. Synthetic Vitamins

The Difference Between Synthetic and Natural Vitamins | Natural Health & Organic Living Blog

Natural Vitamins vs. Synthetic

Phen-Phen wasnt a natural supplement, it was a drug.

Most (but not all) natural supplements are perfectly safe. Just be careful when you mix them with prescription drugs. Ask your doctor or herbalist

Whatever happened to fresh vegetables and fruit and grains? Maybe a bit of meat if you eat meat and some regular exercise.

They're all you need. You don't need supplements. It's not a matter of are they good or bad...do you need them?

I suppose I can't really talk though as I do love taking Maca and another superfood blend made by Tinderbox, which contains maca, cacao,chia seeds, alfalfa, spirulina,apple,and other goodies I can't recall right now.

I don't take them to lose weight though, I take them because they really help increase my energy levels and make me feel wonderful inside...like really blissful.

I'm like this and I don't take vitamins. I look the same as when I was 17 and I'm 37 now. Some people really do have great genes...plus he has lots of money and works in a job he loves. Not much stress there. I've never seen him with a cigarette in his mouth and he probably doesn't drink much either. That makes a real difference.

Yes, because you can't get calcium from milk or anything.:rolleyes:

Most women over 40 drink pasteurized milk so the acidity of the milk cancels out any calcium they might have received.
Of course, calcium supplements tend to be inorganic forms (calcium carbonate etc) so only about 10% can be absorbed.

(Basically, most women over 40 are screwed)

This post fails on so many levels its not funny anymore.

You need supplements to compliment a good diet, todays nutrient deficient soil does NOT produce enough amino acids, vitamins and minerals in our diet

Right but when he said "supplement" that's sometimes used as a blanket term for any over the counter product.

The term "natural supplement" cannot be separated from "drugs" as a firm rule.
Herbs are often called natural supplements and you can get pure caffiene as well as ephedrine from herbs. Ma-huang extract contains ephedrine, which is a powerful stimulant and now banned by the FDA.
I took Ma-huang and was cranked up all day in a way far beyond coffee. Even had mild euphoria. At 9pm daily I would get intense headaches in the back of my head and really lethargic. I bought it and even put up with the strange headaches because it was marketed as a natural and safe supp for weight loss. It was speed. A complete and total drug experience.

There are no rulings by the FDA to stop calling herbs "natural supplements".

This is all very true.

But ephedra is really the exception rather then the rule, when it comes to herbs and how strong some of them are. The vats majority of herbs available in store are perfectly safe. Much safer then even some OTC drugs (see acetaminophen and liver damage):

Tylenol and Liver Damage

Natural supplements and a little bit homework will effect his weight and good for his health. And avoid inferior supplements otherwise there are a lot of chance of reactions and it would be more bad then present. So choose wisely.