1. Green Tea Extract
Green tea has long been known as a super beneficial beverage, as it's full of compounds that have been shown to help boost people's metabolism, it's packed with antioxidants, and can even reduce people's risk of developing diseases. Green tea extract supplements are often advertised for weight loss due to those reasons, but as it turns out, if they're taken improperly or in excess, things can get risky.
"Green tea extract pills could damage the liver due to concentrated EGCG," notes Dr. Jonathan Spages, functional medicine doctor and content creator.
2. Over-The-Counter 'Diet' Pills
These days, we're flooded with all sorts of advertisements for supplements that act as "diet" pills and are specifically labeled for weight loss. As much as certain influencers or marketers may try to convince you that weight loss and diet supplements are safe and good for shedding excess pounds, health and wellness experts warn against them, as they're often not FDA-approved and can cause some dangerous side effects.
"Dietary supplements marketed for weight loss and muscle building have dangerous side effects, including hepatitis and liver failure," noted researchers at Harvard's School of Public Health.
3. Garcinia Cambogia
If you haven't heard of this plant, it's sold in supplement form and is often marketed as a powerful supplement ingredient for weight loss. This is because it contains hydroxycitric acid, otherwise known as HCA, which some people believe is beneficial for losing fat and suppressing appetite. However, studies have shown that it's not all that effective when it comes to losing weight at a faster pace, and can also have some adverse effects on other bodily functions.
"Garcinia cambogia can also cause liver inflammation and disrupt serotonin pathways," notes Dr. Spages.
Additionally, health experts at Web MD, in an article reviewed by Dr. Zilpah Sheikh, have also stated, "The Food and Drug Administration considers it unsafe. In 2017, the FDA warned everyone to stop using a weight-loss product that contained garcinia cambogia because some people taking it got serious liver problems."