<http://schema.org/articleBody>
" TrimSpa  What it is: A diet pill that packs in 34-plus ingredients, including ma huang extract, lecithin, guarana seed extract (which contains 60 mg of caffeine) and other vitamins, minerals and herbs.* The claim: &amp;quot;It has a unique ability to burn fat, retain lean muscle and curb your appetite,&amp;quot; says one radio ad. Reality check: Don&amp;#039;t risk your health -- ma huang is also known as ephedra, a potent stimulant linked to numerous health problems and even death. Ephedra is even more dangerous when it&amp;#039;s combined with caffeine. *TrimSpa EF, an ephedra-free version, is now available. One-A-Day WeightSmart What it is: A new multivitamin with 27 mg EGCG (from green tea extract).  The claim: EGCG will enhance your metabolism. Extra chromium and vitamin B help convert food to fuel. Reality check: It&amp;#039;s safe -- but don&amp;#039;t expect to drop a dress size. Studies suggest that EGCG may have modest calorie-burning benefits, but the amount proven effective is much higher than the amount in WeightSmart. Extra B vitamins and chromium won&amp;#039;t boost weight loss. Carb Cutter, Carb Zapper and Carb Block What it is: These &amp;quot;carb blockers&amp;quot; contain phaseolin, a kidney bean extract that may block the enzyme necessary to digest complex carbohydrates. And undigested food can&amp;#039;t add pounds. The claim: &amp;quot;Cheat on your low-carb diet without all the guilt,&amp;quot; says Doctor&amp;#039;s CarbRite Diet Carb Block brand. The other two make similar promises. Reality check: Anything that stops food from being absorbed is likely to cause gas and bloating. Preliminary studies suggest that the carb blockers may be more effective than the bogus &amp;quot;starch blockers&amp;quot; that were popular in the 1970s. But more research is needed. Swiss Diet Calorie Minus What it is: A new tablet containing plant fibers that supposedly bind to fat before it&amp;#039;s digested. The claim: &amp;quot;Proven to block up to 28 percent of fat ...&amp;quot;  Reality check: It blocked only 2.7 grams of fat (about 24 calories), but not in a human -- rather, on a model of a digestive system. Beware the potential for gas and bloating. GNC Total Lean What it is: A new supplement that contains guarana seed extract (a source of caffeine) and black tea leaves extract.  The claim: &amp;quot;Boosts energy and metabolism.&amp;quot; (But the ad says it burns more calories only if used with the 1,500-calories-a-day meal plan and exercise program.)  Reality check: A cup of strong coffee will leave you feeling as energetic. Some studies suggest that caffeine combined with components in tea may spur metabolism a bit -- but there&amp;#039;s no evidence that the combo leads to major weight loss. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health-products/a17247/weight-loss-wonders-0703/>