The pharmaceutical companies who manufacture weight loss pills are enjoying a boom time at the moment feeding off the desperation of a populus that is increasing in weight year after year.

Sales of prescribed weight loss pills and over the counter variants are going through the roof since the health scares surrounding types of this product caused it to be removed from circulation during the late 1990s. Links to heart valve disease were something of a death nail to the weight loss pill market.

Nowadays, the weight loss pill is experiencing a renaissance. According to the pharmaceutical companies these weight loss pills are made completely of natural ingredients and are no longer of risk but yet they are still dogged by health issues.

Weight loss pills can be either prescribed or bought over the counter and the difference between the two are briefly highlighted here:

Prescription Weight Loss Pills:

Weight loss pills that are prescribed are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration agency. These pills have been monitored and scrutinized by the administration prior to use by the general public and as such are deemed the safer option.

The most popular of these is Xenical which works by reducing the amount of fat consumed by the body by 30 %. Unfortunately, Xenical is still dogged by side effects that include passing gas, abdominal cramping, increased number of bowel movements, leakage of oily stool and a loss of total control over bowel movements.

Over-the-Counter Weight Loss Pills:

The temptation to use over-the-counter weight-loss pills is often irresistible and the fact that many are not regulated warrants the question, are these products safe?

There are many pharmaceutical companies cashing in on the revived weight loss pill market and this is mirrored by the myriad of products available. Here is a shortlist of products, their claims and what you need to know:

1 Hoodia:

Possibly one of the better known products, claims to decrease appetite substantially.

Verdict: No conclusive evidence to support any of their claims.

2. Alli:

Reduces fat absorption by the intestines. A lesser strength variant of Xenical.

Verdict: As one of the few FDA approved over the counter weight loss pills it has the benefit of backing to substantiate its weight loss claims.

3. Guar gum:

Stops absorption of fat and suppresses appetite.

Verdict: Unlikely to cause weight loss, can cause gastrointestinal problems.

4.Green tea extract: Much revered in certain circles as it is claimed to increase metabolism

Verdict: Limited supportive evidence.

There are literally hundreds more all with relatively the same verdict. There is one resounding factor that all of these weight loss pills have in common. They all state that they are more effective when used in conjunction with a diet and a exercise routine.

If you decide to use a weight loss pill and follow its instruction to use a diet and an exercise program isn’t that hiding whether or not the tablet is effective or not?

Personally, I would forget the weight loss pill and look for an effective weight loss plan that will:

1. NOT tell me to go on a low calorie diet yet still provide me with fast but sustained weight loss

2. NOT put my health at risk

3. NOT cost a fortune

4. NOT be difficult to keep up

Never take diet drugs if pregnancy is suspected or if you are allergic to sulfites and tartrazine. Individuals under 18 or over 60 should consult their doctor prior to taking weight loss pills

Where as topical anti aging treatments may only show small improvements, people must realize today that it is actually our insides that we need to look after and cherish as much as the outside of our bodies.

Most of us would far prefer to find a natural anti aging remedy rather that to submit to the knife and many other risky procedures in our quest for looking young

As we grow older doctors often recommend the taking of vitamin supplements to replace some of the elements we lose and to relieve some of the symptoms of age decay such as high cholesterol, osteoporosis, hypertension, memory loss, cardiac and circulatory diseases. There are also additional common anti aging remedies within our reach to attack the aging process from the inside that we may also like to consider:

- One of the most obvious…drink lots of water…at least six glasses a day.

- Keep out of the sun and apply strong sunscreen if you can’t avoid it.

- Take up an excercise class.

- Cut down on alcohol intake and if you smoke…GIVE UP!

- Get at least eight hours of sleep a night.

- Flavonoids…a close ally of green tea. Flavonoids are a class of phytonutrients, also with great anti oxidant properties. Anti aging best known treatments include flavonoids as an essential ingredient of the fight against detrimental age aspects

- Replace coffee with green tea. Green tea known to be high in antioxidants and is said to contain some of the best anti aging substances we can find today. The popularity of green tea is on the increase and along with the high levels of polyphenols (antioxidants), green tea is said to help towards preventing breast and liver cancer, heart disease and help towards weight loss. For those who don?t like the acquired taste of green tea there are many supplements on the market today and many large pharmaceutical companies are including green tea in their dietary supplements. Green tea extract is also added to topical treatments for anti aging and wrinkle treatment.

- Ellagic acid found in raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, blackberries, and blueberries. Ellagic acid helps the body to eliminate toxins and many of the chemicals that have potential carcinogenic effects on the body. However mention should be made that some of these berries, for instance blueberries, may cause constipation.

- Try and include plenty of fresh food and vegetables, including berries, green leafy vegetables, garlic, onions and leaks, barley, buckwheat, chilli peppers, beans and lentils, nuts and seeds, yoghurt and wheat and barley grasses and of course green tea. These foods are rich in anti oxidants which help to protect the skins elastic tissue from damage by oxidants or free radicals. Give up processed carbohydrate laden foods.

- Oils. Essential oils for example fish oils, flax seed or primrose oil should be included as a regular supplement to our diets. These oils help towards preventing many diseases associated with old age such as loss of memory, heart disease and a deficient immune system. The presence of these best anti aging oils increase your metabolism without adding to free radicals helping to also lower your cholesterol, lower blood pressure and add to your energy levels.