What Appetite Suppressant Works?

Eating at a caloric deficit can cause the body to stimulate your appetite and cause feelings of hunger. Appetite suppressants can counteract this effect. There are a variety of appetite suppressants on the market, but many are either dangerous or ineffective. There are a few, however, that have shown promise in scientific studies and clinical research.

Hoodia

Hoodia is a cactus-like plant that is native to the Kalahari Desert in Africa. Hoodia gordonii and Hoodia pilifera are the two species of this plant that have shown promise in appetite suppression. Hoodia contains two pregnane glycosides. These glycosides are responsible for hoodia's appetite-suppressing effects. A 2006 study done by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in South Africa found that rats given the pregane glycosides over an eight day period exhibited both decreased appetite and decreased body weight.

Garcinia

Garcinia, known commonly as Brindleberry, is an exotic citrus fruit native to parts of India and Asia. Brindleberry rind contains a large amount of hydroxycitric acid. Hydroxycitric acid has been shown to have appetite-suppressing effects. A 2009 study conducted by Vittal Mallya Scientific Research Foundation in India found that hydroxycitric acid caused significant appetite suppression in rats. An article published in a 1999 issue of "The Medical Journal of Australia" noted that five out of six human studies done on Garcinia reported positive results in terms of weight loss and appetite suppression.

Green Tea

Green tea contains a combination of caffeine and catechins, both of which suppress appetite. Epigallocatechin gallate, especially, seems to cause changes in the hormone leptin. Leptin is responsible for controlling appetite. Although green tea supplements are available, an experiment done in 2000 by Lycoming University found that green tea's appetite-suppressing effects are only significant in brewed tea, as opposed to encapsulated extracts.

Capsaicin

Capsaicin is the ingredient that gives hot chili peppers their spicy taste. Capsaicin is thought to stimulate certain neurons and neuropeptides responsible for appetite suppression. It also warms the abdomen, causing a feeling of fullness. Capsaicin works best when taken naturally by eating capsaicin-rich foods. Supplements don't seem to have the same positive results. Capsaicin can aggravate certain digestive conditions, especially ulcers and gastritis, and should not be ingested by people with these problems.