From Proyar Laboratory we want to share with you the 1st part of an exclusive article for our clients, written by Dr. Jorge Alonso. Physician, MN 67.640, Director of the Phytomedicine postgraduate program at U.B.A. and President of the Latin American Society of Phytomedicine.
Plants for Obesity
The arrival of hot days usually serves as a wake-up call regarding the need to change clothing, especially when the clothes stored during winter begin to feel tighter on our bodies. Faced with this situation, we always have two options: either buy looser clothing (which entails spending money that was intended for other purposes) or try something healthier and less costly, which is precisely losing weight.
If the latter option is chosen, it is important to consider that the first step is to plan a diet tailored to the new needs. There is no miracle treatment that can reduce weight without an accompanying diet. Adding physical activity only enhances the results. It is also worth noting that individuals who have gained 5 kilograms or more in the last six months should undergo blood and urine tests to assess potential metabolic alterations (for example, checking thyroid function, insulin resistance, cholesterol, triglycerides, etc.). If any metabolic imbalances are detected, the diet and medication should, of course, be reprogrammed with the guidance of specialists.
Now, if any metabolic alteration has been ruled out, the path to weight loss becomes simpler. Beyond opting for a low-calorie diet focused on healthy foods, it will be necessary to choose a product (naturally, a natural one) to accompany us during this planned weight loss phase. If we pay attention to the advertising we receive through newspapers, magazines, audiovisual media, and social networks, we will see that the range of products is vast, and almost all promise “miracles” in the short term.
To be able to select an effective product, it is necessary to consider its mechanism of action, since working with appetite suppressants, laxatives, diuretics, anxiolytics, or fat burners is very different. In general, advertisements (with some honorable exceptions) do not include explanations about how these products work. Their strategy relies on visual impact (before-and-after photos, testimonials, weight loss figures that are far from reality, etc.). That is why it is important for consumers to know how to guide their choice of a slimming product based on their needs and the scientific evidence supporting it.
It should be noted that the products available on the market are natural products registered as “dietary supplements” with the regulatory authority. Their components mainly include medicinal plants, amino acids, trace elements, and fibers. They are presented in the form of capsules, tablets, powders to mix with water, liquid solutions, and topical slimming creams. In many cases, the formulation includes more than one element, aiming to create synergies that enhance the weight-reducing effect. With this necessary introduction, in the next installment, the time will come for you, the reader, to learn how the different products work in order to make a correct selection when choosing one of them.
