When see endless weight loss products being advertised it's difficult to know which one is the best.  Whether it's a product that can work out your abs, get rid of water weight or a pill that claims easy weight loss, it can be a mine field out there.  You also need to be aware that there are companies that have been in trouble for making false claims about how well their product works.

So if you've been thinking about buying pills, here are two that you should be careful of:-

Ephedra

Until fairly recent years, many people enjoyed the slimming benefits of Ephedra, also referred to as ephedrine.  However a number of people using it developed serious side-effects and criminals were using it to manufacture crystal meth.  Because of this is became banned by the FDA.

That being said, many people today are still upset about the banning because they actually found Ephedra helped their weight loss efforts.

Despite its problems, Ephedra actually is from a natural herb called Ma Huang that's long been used in Chinese medicine for all sorts of different reasons.  The trouble is that it's a stimulant and some people have developed hypertension, nervousness, seizures and heart attacks.

Because of the ban, many people are now desperately searching for the best Ephedra alternative.  Some companies claim that this is Bitter Orange however this isn't altogether safe either.  Plus there's no concrete proof that it's effective.

Alli

You'll no doubt have come across Alli as it's been selling like hotcakes.  It's the only weight loss drug approved  by the FDA that's available over the counter.  However this isn't to say it's without its problems either.

The reason it works is because it prevents your body from digesting fat correctly.  And because you're not digesting fats properly, the fat can come out when you least expect it.  So greasy farts of uncontrollable bowel movements are common.  

A quick search on the internet reveals numerous stories from uses who describe sudden diarrhea whilst at work or out with friends.  Just imagine the embarrassment that must have caused!

However the manufacturers of Alli don't called these problems "side-effect,"  they call them "treatment effects" instead.  You see, you only get these problems if you eat a meal that's got a high fat content.  If you eat a low fat diet there shouldn't be a problem.

So, what's the point in Alli?  You might as well go on the low fat diet and not bother with the expense of these pills.  However some argue that Alli lets them know when they're eating too much fat and then they'll go back onto a low fat diet again.