Diet products that could help you lose weight

Diet products you might want to try

Let\'s be realistic, there\'s no magic cure for being overweight. The best way to lose excess pounds is to eat less and exercise more. Having said that, if you want a \'quick fix\' to help speed up your weight loss, move you on when your weight loss has hit a plateau, or lose a few pounds for a special occasion, there are some products that may help.

Essentially, weight loss products work in three different ways: some curb your appetite, some lessen sugar cravings, and some let the body absorb less fat.

Coffee Shape

What is it and how does it work? Coffee Shape is made up of raw green coffee beans and roasted coffee beans. Raw green coffee beans contain chlorogenic acid, which is destroyed by the roastig process. The makers claim that this helps to regulate your metabolism by reducing the effectiveness of the enzyme that helps to turn the liver\'s fat stores into glucose, which is used as energy in the body, as well as inhibiting the absorption of fat in the intestine. Green coffee beans also have antioxidant properties. Each cup contains no more than 60mg of caffeine.

Our tester says: \'It smells surprisingly like Bovril, but tastes like normal instant coffee. I tried it for 10 days, just drinking it at my desk in the morning, and lost 2lb, which I couldn\'t attribute to any other reason. It\'s not cheap but £1.78 a day could be what you spend on a fancy coffee anyway...\'

How much is it? £25 for 14 sachets (two weeks\' supply) from www.coffeeshape.eu

Alli

What is it and how does it work? On sale since April 2009, it\'s a capsule that you take three times a day, while following a low-fat diet. The active ingredient, Orlistat, is found at twice the level in prescription-only weight-loss pill Xenical. The advertising campaign says that for each 2lb you lose through a calorie-controlled diet, you\'ll lose an extra 1lb by taking Alli. You need to have a BMI of at least 28 to take it.

Alli reduces the body\'s ability to absorb fat, by blocking fat-digesting enzymes, meaning that some of the fat you eat is excreted by the body. You\'re advised not to take it with high-fat meals, as this can result in some unpleasant side-effects, such as \'anal leakage\'. You\'re also advised to take a multivitamin supplement daily, as some vitamins are fat-soluble, and will be excreted along with the fat.

How much is it? £32.95 for a 42-pack from Boots

Zotrim

What is it and how does it work? It\'s a combination of plant extracts designed to curb your appetite and to keep you feeling fuller for longer. The active ingredients are yerba mate, guarana and damiana. A recently completed study would indicate that this herbal combination may help reduce overall food intake from meals and snacks and hence assist weight loss. You\'re advised to take two tablets before each meal

How much is it? £15.95 for a one-month supply of 180 tablets from www.zotrim.com

GlucoActive

What is it and how does it work? GlucoActive falls into the category of products that reduce the urge to snack. It contains Cinnulin PF, a patented and clinically tested cinnamon extract, designed to stabilise blood-sugar levels. It also contains chromium picolinate, recognised for its ability to regulate blood-sugar levels and insulin production, and FenuLife, a soluble fibre that helps slow the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream.

How much is it? £17.95 for 60 capsules from Victoria Health

BioSynergy Body Perfect Fat Burner

What is it and how does it work? BodyPerfect Fat Burner is designed to boost your metabolism. You\'re advised to take one or two capsules with a glass of water before breakfast and lunch. The key ingredients which make that happen are green tea, L-tyrosine and citrus aurantium. Green tea contains a compound that may help increase thermogenesis, the rate at which you burn calories from food. L-tyrosine is an amino acid reputed to boost your mood. Citrus aurantium, or bitter orange, is also believed to increase thermogenesis.

How much is it? £16.63 for 60 capsules from www.bio-synergy.co.uk

Dr Stuart\'s SlimPlus tea

What is it and how does it work? Dr Stuart\'s SlimPlus tea is a herbal infusion including fennel and dandelion root, both known as diuretics. It also contains galangal, used in Southeast Asian cookery, which is believed to suppress the appetite. To take, put the bag in a cup, and add boiling water!

How much is it? £1.99 for 20 teabags from www.baldwins.co.uk or www.hollandandbarrett.com

Boots Triple Action Slim Aid

What is it and how does it work? Boots Triple Action Slim Aid, it\'s claimed, \'helps you feel fuller for longer, maintain energy levels and burn fat.\' Among its ingredients are green tea extract which contains a compound that may help increase thermogenesis, the rate at which you burn calories from food. It also contains potato extract, to help you feel fuller for longer. Take one tablet with liquid half an hour before a large meal.

How much is it? £21.99 for 30 tablets from www.boots.com

BioSynergy Skinny Water

What is it and how does it work? Skinny Water is a low-calorie (nine to be precise) drink created to help lose weight and keep it off. It has a hint of pomegranate for taste, and in terms of active ingredients, it contains L-carnitine and chromium picolinate. Both of these have been found effective in clinical trials. It\'s suggested that L-carnitine helps you lose weight without reducing muscles mass, and chromium picolinate helps reduce sugar cravings. As a dietary supplement, drink a bottle of Skinny Water two to four times daily, 30 minutes before a meal to block carbohydrates.

How much is it? £1.49 for 500ml from www.bio-synergy.co.uk or www.hollandandbarrett.com

Dragonfly Organic Pu\'er tea

What is it and how does it work? Pu\'er tea (aka pu\'erh) is made from a large-leaved tea species and is named after its home region in China. It has an earthy, slightly sweet flavour. It\'s believed to assist in the digestion of fatty foods, increase the metabolism and reduce cholesterol levels. You\'re advised to drink three cups a day. Many celebrities, including Victoria Beckham, are fans.

How much is it? £1.89 for 25 teabags from www.dragonfly-teas.com

BioSynergy Hoodia Gordonii

What is it and how does it work? Hoodia gordonii is a southern African shrub, used by locals for centuries to suppress the appetite. It\'s thought to contain a substance that acts on the area of your brain that registers hunger, tricking it into not producing hunger pangs. Take two capsules a day with your main meal.

How much is it? £11.89 for 60 capsules from www.amazon.co.uk

Appesat

What is it and how does it work?Appesat works on the \'feeling fuller\' principle. It contains Bioginate Complex, a patented fibre complex derived from the seaweed Laminaria digitata, harvested in France. Clinical trials have shown that, taken before food, Appesat stimulates hunger \'sensors\' in the stomach wall, sending a \'stomach full\' signal to the brain.

How much is it? £27.89 for 50 capsules from www.amazon.co.uk