Chromium Picolinate - The popular nutritional supplement, which has been invented to treat chromium deficiency, is also a popular weight loss and muscle growth product. Due to the chromium role it plays in sugar and lipid metabolism in humans, it has been deemed helpful as a supplement, in particular with the body building communities. The argument is that chromium picolinate improves the uptake of glucose by enhancing the effect insulin has in the body, providing better blood circulation. Bad dietary habits, in particular in the United States, have lead to the population verging on the brim of chromium deficiency. Body Building aficionados really require a wholly balanced diet, which in turn requires adequate amounts of chromium be present in the metabolism, even more so if the individual is practicing a serious exercise program.

Citrus Aurantium is the Latin name for a citrus tree which grows bitter oranges. Traditionally being used by Chinese medicine and herbologists, the extract of the orange and the peel was used as a dietary supplement in concoctions with other herbs to suppress appetite. While other active ingredients of the citrus aurantium may contribute and even promote the effect, the main ingredient used in all weight loss products is synephrine, an alkaloid similar to ephedrine. It is a phenethylamine; it influences the alpha1 adrenergic receptor, constricting blood vessels, additionally increasing the heart rate and the blood pressure. In most cases the use of synephrine is paired with a diet and body building plan, where weight loss and muscle building is essential.

Cocoa Seed Extract is the extract of the seeds of Theobroma cacao. It is cultivated for its seeds which are present in its pod shaped fruits. The extracts from its seeds have a number of health benefits. They are also used to make chocolate. Studies show that Cocoa extracts contain a high level of flavonoids, specifically epicatechin, which may have beneficial cardiovascular effects on health. The ingestion of flavonol-rich cocoa is associated with acute elevation of circulating nitric oxide, enhanced flow-mediated vasodilatation, and augmented microcirculation. Researchers also found that consumption of Cocoa can reduce risk of cancer and can reduce elevated blood pressure.

Glucomannan, a water soluble dietary fiber that comes from the konjac root (Amorphophallus konjac). Glucomannan is a laxative used to create larger, bulkier stool.

Glucosamine is derived from chitin found in shells of crabs, shrimp, and oysters. There is sufficient scientific evidence to prove that glucosamine sulfate is both safe and effective for treating mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee. Research also indicates analgesic and disease-modifying effects of glucosamine sulfate. However, this does not imply that side effects of glucosamine sulfate do not exist. Short term use of glucosamine sulfate may lead to minor side effects such as insomnia, headache, drowsiness, heartburn, constipation, vomiting, and diarrhea and in rare cases, increase in blood pressure and heart rate and palpitations. People with bleeding disorders should not take glucosamine supplements without consulting their physician. These supplements should also be avoided by those allergic to shellfish, which happens to be the primary source of glucosamine.

Green Tea Extract is currently being promoted by the health conscious community as a weight loss product, which does not do this incredible concoction of helpful ingredients justice. Many green tea extracts nowadays exclude caffeine, to avoid the associated side effects and lower the ingestion of this legal addictive stimulant. The main characteristic of the green tea extract should be the antioxidative effect, which surpasses Vitamin C twentyfold. But the other traits are not to be forgotten, it is anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogen and anti-radiation. The unique combination of green tea catechins, derivatives of apicatechin, and flavonoids, which belong to the same family, are proven scavengers of free radicals and an unavoidable addition to any dietary supplement combination, body building or weight loss as the target objective.

Hoodia Gordonii, which although popular, has no published randomized controlled trials in humans to show hoodia is safe or effective in pill form. One study published in the September 2004 issue of Brain Research found that injections of p57 (The Active ingredient in Raw, Fresh Cut Hoodia, not dried) into the appetite center of rat brains resulted in altered levels of ATP, an energy molecule that may affect hunger. The animals receiving the P57 injections also ate less than rats that received placebo injections. However, this was an animal study and INJECTIONS IN THE BRAIN are very different from oral consumption, so it cannot be used to show that oral hoodia can suppress appetite in humans. Hoodia Gordonii is a succulent (a cactus of the aloe family) found in the Kalahari desert of South Africa. Most Hoodia Gordonii products contain very little, if any of the active ingredient needed to suppress hunger. Real Hoodia is very rare and is even an endangered plant. Most importantly, Hoodia has only demonstrated any effect in fresh, raw pieces of the plant. The effectiveness of powdered Hoodia has yet to be shown and may actually increase hunger. It's main use is as a cheap alternative to the more expensive weight loss herbs, which are the only alternative left after the banning of ephedra. Most supplement manufacturers can not use the more expensive weight loss herbs because it will result in a product that would be too expensive to compete with other more popular inexpensive diet supplements.

Vanadium is a chemical element that not much is known about but is being used as a dietary supplement and increasing insulin sensitivity.