Herbal Diet Pills
A string of recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warnings and
recalls on herbal diet pills has left researchers, physicians and
health advocates concerned that consumers are wasting money and
taking unknown health risks with every herbal diet pill taken.
The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), passed in
1994, does not include an FDA requirement that manufacturers of
herbal diet pills prove their products are safe or effective for
weight loss.
Herbal Diet Pills & Ephedra
Few ingredients in herbal diet pills have caused the stir of
ephedra, or ma huang, an herb taken by millions of Americans
annually for weight-loss and body building. A 2001 study published
in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded the herb could
cause high blood pressure, heart problems, stroke, seizures and
death. And the FDA has reports of 100 deaths among ephedra users.
Herbal Diet pills Regulation
Yet manufacturers of herbal diet pills adamantly claim the
reports do not prove their products are risky and ephedra-containing
products remain on the market. Because of the 1994 law, the burden
of proof falls on the FDA to show a herbal diet pill is dangerous
and regulatory action has proved difficult.
Recently, the federal government initiated a new safety review and
the Justice Department have announced they are conducting a
criminal investigation into whether a leading ephedra seller lied
about the safety of one of their herbal diet pills.
Aristolochia fangchi in Herbal Diet Pills
Another example is a herb called Aristolochia fangchi. Doctors
from Belgium and Germany discovered that this herb may cause not
only kidney failure but urinary tract cancer, according to a
report published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
The researchers followed 105 people who were given AF herbal diet
pills at a Belgium weight loss clinic. End-stage renal (or kidney)
failure developed in 43. And nearly half of the 39 who agreed to
preventive removal of the kidneys were found to have urinary tract
cancer.
Metabolife 356 - Herbal Diet Pills
Metabolife 356, one of Metabolife's herbal diet pills is a
best-seller for weight loss, but health experts say the main
ingredients closely resemble drugs that may be harmful.
According to one expert, Metabolife is just like amphetamine like
speed, an herbal version of speed. It is also a natural diuretic
and a laxative and that's what causes weight loss. You get an
increase in metabolism, you go to the bathroom a little more.
Those things combined usually result in weight loss.
According to the Metabolife Web site, the company says the dietary
supplement is a natural herbal formula of 18 different
ingredients. The two main components are guarana, a caffeine
alkaloid, and mahuan, an ephedrine alkaloid. The other ingredients
include bee pollen, ginger, goldenseal, sasparilla and Siberian
ginseng.
But experts say Metabolife is more popular compared to other diet
pills because people feel more comfortable taking something that's
all natural. However, they warn: don't always trust products
because of their "all natural" label.
Herbal diet pills may be thought of as safe but it's not
necessarily true. Herbal diet pills containing stimulants will
speed up pulse rate, increase blood pressure, and increase heart
rate. That's a big health risk. Health experts say the best advice
is to eat right and exercise.
HCA in Herbal Diet Pills
HCA, short for hydroxycitric acid, is an herbal extract found in
at least 14 commercial weight-loss drugs. The chemical, which is
distilled from a family of plants native to India, supposedly
suppresses the appetite and slows down the conversion of
carbohydrates into fat.
While the compound really can help fat rodents slim down, it may
not have the same effect of people. In a study published in the
1998, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association,
researchers from Columbia University gave HCA supplements (1,500
milligrams each day) to 66 overweight patients. Another 69
patients took a daily placebo or dummy pill.
All of the subjects were on a high-fiber, low-calorie diet
throughout the study. Twelve weeks later, patients in both groups
had lost weight, but researchers concluded that HCA failed to
produce significant weight loss.
Herbal Diet & Weight Loss Pills
Diet and weight loss drugs or pills, whether prescription or
over-the-counter weight loss supplements, are only effective when
combined with a healthy diet and exercise plan.
NOTE: Before using any form of diet pills or weight loss
supplements, please consult your doctor.
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