Herbal
weight loss
supplements
are often
marketed as natural
weight loss products. This insinuates
that they are safe by the fact of being natural. Indeed
some may
wrongly assume that they can take copious amounts and/or mixtures of
herbal preparations, like the case with ephedra weight loss
with little thought to side effects.
And
though herbal weight loss
supplements can add to the success of a weight loss plan,
this kind of
approach is misguided. Diet
supplements act as adjuncts to lose weight. But some like Caralluma
work better than
others.
Just
like weight loss
drugs, herbals diet supplement should be thoroughly
screened and individualized for both effect and safety. Herbal
preparations though often safe in moderation pose a health risk to
particular groups of people like pregnant and lactating mother and to
persons under medication.
Ephedra
also
called Ma Huang, is a Chinese medicine (TCM) for tens of centuries.
It
is scientifically proven to be effective in weight loss even without
the
assistance of diets or weight loss exercises.
But
its abuse in
supplement products has resulted to a protracted battle between a
supplement manufacturing company on one hand and F.D.A the US. health
agency on the other.
Dozens
of death and thousands of health problems
have been linked to this natural weight loss product.
This
of course doesn’t mean that the problem is exactly with the
herb,
rather it is more with the companies formulating the
supplements.
In
search for even more drastic effects these companies went on to combine
ephedra with caffeine resulting to a fatal mixture.
To
keep the general
public on safe side, USA’s F.D.A moved to completely ban
ephedra as an
ingredient in supplements.
And
just to show that there is nothing exactly wrong with ephedra
itself, its use is still legal as a TCM ingredient.
Its
chemical
derivative, ephedrine, is still used as an ingredient in over the
counter drugs.
Similarly,
Ginseng, one of the best selling herbs in the U.S has been
associated with undesirable interactions with blood thinning drugs.
Ginseng is used in both weight loss supplements as well as performance
enhancement products. In weight loss, it is believed to have
thermogenic effects.
A
study has shown that Ginseng does interfere with warfarin. Warfarin
is a popular blood thinner that is used to prevent blood clots
especially in immobilized people. The drug is administered in precise
doses. This precision is critical as too little exposes the patient to
risks of blood clotting. While too much can lead to excessive bleeding.
So an interference with this delicate dosage can result to serious
consequences like stroke.
Some Herbal Weight Loss Supplements Are Safe
On the other hand, there are some
herbs that
seem to quite safe, nearly
as foods. Examples include green tea weight loss
based products and hoodia
weight loss based products. Green tea is another adaptation
from the orient which has shown promising effects in weight
loss.
Green
tea exhibits convincing thermogenic effects that would compliment a
good eating plan, not to mention its antioxidant properties that are
believed to mitigate against cancer. And just like coffee, it is a
stimulant that has shown no major adverse effect on the body. However
its combination with ephedra can be fatal.
Hoodia
Gordini is yet another herbal import, this
time from South Africa’s Kalahari Desert. A study on a small
group of
people has exhibited astounding appetite suppressing abilities. And the
good news is that no side effects have yet been associated with it,
save for a report of native users who have died of dehydration from
using the plant. Hoodia not only switches hunger, but it also switches
of thirst. These native shepherds used the herb and did not drink
water, dropping dead from dehydration.
As
much as we would like to paint a rosy picture of herbal diet
supplements, they are herbs that have not shown any significant weight
loss properties despite their recurrent use in diet products. One such
herb would be Garcinii Cambuogia, a native pumpkin
like fruit of India and South East Asia. The active ingredient is HCA
or Hydroxycitric Acid.
It
is believed that HCA is an appetite
suppressant and a fat inhibitor inspite of any studies to support this
claim. To make matters worse, HCA has been linked to severe liver
damage.
So
are herbal diet supplement safe?
The
answer would be cunning Yes and No. Though not exactly a
satisfactory answer, it is a pointer that you need to get informed of
which supplement you can use safely and with results.
However for a herbal weight loss supplement like Caralluma, you probably have a green light to
try. It is showing no side effects and proving to have more benefits
than just losing weight.
But
if you are looking to lose alot of body fat fast. If you want to lose belly
fat and get a flat stomach or even six pack abs, you will need more than
supplements. You will also need to Go Beyond Calories. And to do this
you will need two things. These two things are...
This
content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new information on weight loss becomes
available. The information is intended for
educational purposes only. Please
consult your healthcare provider before beginning
any kind of weight loss program
