Are you trying to lose weight? If so, let me ask you a question: What would make your weight loss goals easier to achieve? Aside from having those pounds magically melt off, appetite control would probably help you the most, right? Unfortunately for most people, appetite control is easier said than done. We'd all like to look at a chocolate bar, a piece of cake or ice cream and experience no desire for it whatsoever, but many of us have psychological dependencies on these so-called "comfort foods." You may have tried fad diets or dangerous pills to try to lose those pounds and inches. But in the long term, they've all failed. So now what? Now is the time to really take control of your diet and body by finally controlling your appetite the right way.

Here's a general rule: Knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing what to do. Similarly, before you learn how to really control your appetite and weight, you need to learn what doesn't work so that you can avoid it. If you wanted to, you could decide to become a methamphetamine addict and yes, you would lose weight. But you would also lose many other things, like your teeth, your money and your dignity. But still, weight loss would definitely occur.

Of course, the above was an extreme example, but not all misguided methods of weight loss are as obvious. After the FDA banned amphetamines as appetite suppressants, diet pill manufacturers started producing pills containing caffeine, ephedrine and phenyl-propanolamine in one huge triple dose. When combined together, these three substances "produce effects and dangers very similar to those of amphetamines," according to Stephen Cherniske in Caffeine Blues. In other words, the manufacturers found a way to give consumers amphetamine-like diet pills while circumventing the FDA's prohibition. In 1982, the FDA realized what was happening and banned the triple combination of these substances as well.

More recent appetite suppressant fads include the combination of fenfluramine and phentermine (Fen Phen) and ephedrine (Ephedra). In 1997, the Mayo Clinic reported that Fen Phen caused heart valve disease in 24 people, sparking lawsuits and widespread media coverage. To many people, "Fen Phen" has now become synonymous with "dangerous." However, Ephedra is still a hot topic in the media and legal system. The FDA has been steadfast in its ban of Ephedra in spite of a federal judge's decision to strike down the ban.

The FDA's decision probably has more to do with its mission to discredit herbal drugs in favor of more dangerous – yet profitable – prescription medicines than with any earnest desire to keep the public safe, according Mike Adams. You can read about the FDA's real war against Ephedra in both a brief article by the Health Ranger and the Health Ranger's discussion of the FDA's policies on Ephedra versus Sudafed.

So is Ephedra safe? It has been linked to 155 deaths in the United States. But remember also that prescription drugs are linked to 100,000 deaths and 2.2 million injuries per year. Ephedrine, meanwhile, has been safely used around the world for thousands of years. Ephedra certainly seems a lot safer than legal prescription drugs.

Alternative medicine guides list many natural compounds that may serve as appetite suppressants. Among these compounds are guar gum, St John's wort (also an antidepressant), garcinia, Jerusalem Artichokes and Dahlia roots. The most powerful appetite suppressant, however, is a healthy diet. A healthy diet should include vegetable-based proteins. Proteins lower insulin levels, according to Everything You Need to Know about Fat Loss. Lower insulin levels mean more appetite control (spiking insulin initiates hunger pangs).

A healthy diet also should contain carbohydrates with a low glycemic index, according to Dr. Thomas Wolever in The Glucose Revolution. These carbs "fill you up" and make you less likely to overeat. In fact, Dr. Wolever writes, "Consider them natural appetite suppressants!"

If you want to know exactly which foods naturally suppress your appetite, all the information you need is right here on NewsTarget. Be sure to read the Health Ranger's article Five appetite control foods that suppress cravings without adding calories. Just like these natural appetite suppressants, your weight loss goals and desired body image are more accessible than you might think.