Questions about nutritional supplements

I have been reading a little about supplements that may help with weight loss. Honestly, I am behind and don't know much about them.  I don't know what is fad and what may really help.  I learned that protein shakes help me drop down if I have two a day. But what is the hype about leptin, green tea, hoodia, DHEA, and the other stuff that I see out there?  Is there any reliable information on these? I started drinking decaffenated green tea because it is a healthy antioxidant.  Then I discovered an article that mentioned it may help with weight loss. I know that just because it is on the internet or just because someone wrote a book about it, it doesn't make it factual. Has anyone done research on this?  What have you learned?  Do any of you take supplements?

Bunk.  The only thing that will make a person lose weight is diet and exercise.  Supplements can have a "positive" effect that marketing folks spin into contributing to weight loss, but without FDA approval on these products, all claims are just hype. And even FDA approved prescriptions are still some hype in that they can do something, but is it the right something?  LIke with Alli, you'll lose weight from malabsorption of fat.  THose pesky 200-300 calories a day will help with a caloric deficit.  You could do the same by just doing that to your diet and not taking a pill that has a crappy side effect (pun intended). Why go there? Just eat clean (no processed foods), eat your protein and veggies, and get moving.  It's not hard. The hard part is only letting go of the marketing that has entered your head as "this will help."  Stop looking for a magic pill, it doesn't exist..

I haven't been looking for a magic pill (just clarifying that point).  But I can't help but see all of this stuff when I am in the section where they sell the protein powder and the protein bars I purchase.  I hadn't read about it, so I have no idea what the hype is about it. I did buy powdered vitamins to add to my shakes from the Vitamin Shoppe because I am so tired of swallowing pills. It seems like no matter where I go to buy the good antioxidant supplements, I get bombarded by the stuff on the counters that I had never heard about. Like many of you, the high protein with low carbohydrate approach works best for me.  It has always been the only route to success for me. I am so glad they have more tasty options out there that we can consume. Thanks to many of you giving input, I almost never eat protein bars because of the carbohydrate content. Back to my (All The Whey) chocolate mint protein shake...Yummy.

Let me preface by saying our bodies do not absorb quite as much as we may think with supplements.  the BEST way to get vital nutrients is to eat good food, less processed the better with lots of leafy greens and dark colored fruits and veggies. I take a multi vitamin for helping me possible absorb more nutrition while I don't eat a lot of calories. heart health:  fish oil tablets, flax on occasion. I do sometimes use extra chromium as prescribed my bariatric doc.  It does have positive effects on blood sugar control.

I need to get back to swallowing the fish oil pills.  I know they are good for us.  I didn't know about the chromium being good for glucose level control. I did accidentally discover that the protein shakes could lower my glucose levels by 10 points when I was first diagnosed with diabetes and I checked levels before and after I ate. It really takes discernment to know what helps and what is just sensationalism to sell a product. Thank you all for your  help with this.

There are buffered (i think that is the term) fish oil tablets  that will not let your burp up that fishy taste. I figure putting up with a few burps is worth it. I had heard Dr. Pamela Peeke speak in Baltimore about fish oil and she said it is a very important supplement for women to take - more important than multi vitamins!

I take B6 and B12 for energy. It really helped after my Dr. put me on Prozac and Singulair and I changed my eating habits. I was ALWAYS tired. Within a week of taking these, I felt normal again. I also take a multi and Calcium/Vit D because while I know I probably won't absorb everything in these, that when added to my diet hopefully will help me get the daily intake I need. These are all I take other than my medications. I personally have tried many "magiv bullets" always to be disappointed. I say eat properly staying away from processed foods and take only those supplements you truly need and will help your body take care of itself. Best of luck. Beth

Thank you Beth. I just bought some B12 in hopes it will help with energy.  My vitamin D level was deficient, so my doctor prescribed 50,000 iu of vitamin D that I take weekly.  It is also supposed to help with energy levels. I hope the vitamin B12 and B6 will help me with energy, too.  Some of the prescribed medications can make us feel tired.