The Best Weight Control Supplements

If you’re trying to maintain a recent weight loss or keep from putting on new pounds, the hardest part may be cutting back on or eliminating some of your favorite foods from your diet. How can you say no when you’re tempted by desserts or attending an event with a bountiful buffet?

Help can be found in a variety of popular natural supplements used to help control weight and suppress your appetite. Consider these possibilities.

Hoodia. Also known as Kalahari Xhoba, this supplement is extracted from a flowering cactus native to southern Africa. Bushmen in the African desert have eaten hoodia stems for centuries as a way to reduce their hunger pangs while off on long hunting and foraging trips. Today, hoodia is widely available in powders, capsules, tablets, teas, and liquid extracts.

Green Tea. This herb has been shown in studies to help the body burn more fat by raising the metabolism. Drink green tea the traditional way—brewed and served hot or chilled and poured over ice—but it is also found in extracts, powders, and in capsule form. Research has shown that you may need to drink a lot of green tea (up to five cups a day in some cases) to reap the rewards, so if you’re not a big tea drinker, green tea supplements may be your best bet.

Chromium. A mineral often taken to build fat-burning muscles, chromium helps the body use fat instead of muscle tissue for energy. It has also been shown to reduce cholesterol levels.

Chitosan. This supplement is extracted from crustacean shells and helps to prevent fat absorption. Studies have shown that chitosan is most effective when used in tandem with a low-fat diet that is also low in calories.

St. John’s Wort. A popular antidepressant, St. John’s Wort—which is extracted from a flowering plant—has shown promise as an appetite suppressant as well.

These are some of the best supplements for weight control. You can find more information about each of these supplements on the Insider's Health.