Take a walk through any health food store and you might find your head spinning with the huge amount of choices one could have in the weight loss supplement department. People who need to lose weight are looking for safe effective help and more and more they are looking to weight loss supplements to help along with diet and exercise. There is no magic pill that will solve your weight loss problems quickly and easily. The truth is that losing weight is difficult and you must include proper nutritious diet, moderate exercise and lots of self control.

Now there is a broad category of weight loss supplements to choose from in the current market. There are pills, formulas, powders, shakes, teas, and the list goes on and on. There is creatine, amino acids, protein mixes and fat burners. It is enough to make you dizzy trying to choose. Losing weight, even with weight loss supplements, takes time and effort. However, using the supplements can give you an edge over those who do not use them.

The dietary supplement industry is huge and, unfortunately, there are many products that cannot help people lose weight and, in fact, using them could be dangerous or even fatal. If you are considering using a dietary supplement to assist you in losing weight; remember, they do not take the place of a diet of nutritious food.

You should also be advised to do your research; check out the company and only purchase products from reliable sources. There are many out there, but don’t just assume that all of the companies are producing clean, safe effective products - look for reliable companies that have a good reputation and have been in business for some time. This is especially important for pregnant women, nursing mothers, the elderly, and people with cancer or other serious medical problems. Read the labels and avoid products that give vague or confusing information on the labels. Be aware that some products may be contaminated with heavy metals or questionable fillers.

If you find the advertisements for a particular product is too good to be true, beware. Just like everything in life - too good to be true is almost always too good to be true! If the product promises to help you lose 20 pounds of fat in two days or it will add 30 pounds of muscle in one month, you can be sure that product cannot possibly deliver the goods.

Last, but not least, have a discussion with your primary health care provider about what you are trying to accomplish. Discuss the supplements you are considering and find out if there is any reason that you should not be using a dietary supplement and how it might affect any medications that you are currently taking. Talk with your pharmacist as well; they often have the current information on dietary supplements and their interaction with medications.