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Herbal remedies, along with vitamins and various other types
of dietary supplements, have long been popular with the customers
of health food stores. But now they are part of a boom in alternative
remedies and are widely available in supermarkets and pharmacies.
In recent months, there has been an incredible surge in the sheer
volume of scientific studies that have discussed the effectiveness
of such herbal products. Medical scientists consider such findings
promising but preliminary; additional research must definitely
be explored. However, herbal supplement manufacturers are using
such studies to boost the credibility of traditional herbal remedies.
There are currently no government regulations to specify the purity,
dosage or effectiveness of these products. Many consumers are
opting to try them, assuming that the "natural" products
with a long history of use will undoubtedly be safe.
As herbal remedies continue to gain in popularity, reports by
consumers of serious complications are also increasing. In one
statistical report it was stated that 500 incidents were reported
to the Food and Drug Administration last year alone. Leading the
list of dangerous and ineffective ingredients are ephedra (or
Ma Huang) and Chromium. Ephedra alone has accounted for more than
half of the complaints in the past three years and has been associated
with more than three dozen deaths. Thus the validity and the efficacy
of these claims will need to be addressed.
What are the claims of "Natural" Healing?
It is obvious that our bodies are remarkable machines. However,
the claim is that natural remedies aid the body's immune system
toward total body wellness. They supplement the body with natural
substances that have been thought to be time proven over years.
One company claims that natural healing "starts with healthful
living practices, good nutrition, exercise, and use of nature's
herbs and plants to aid the body's immune system toward wellness."
Other such companies such as SlimUSA, claim that specific blends
of ALL NATURAL herbs promotes rapid weight loss. They substantiate
their claim by examples such as the fact that the Chinese have
used these herbs for hundreds of years. They state that this new
program of weight loss will control cravings, stop snacking, and
increase energy. However no explanations are given as to how these
claims can be validated other than personal testimonies of which
there are plenty.
Another company, Imagine Herbal Weight Loss Formula, is in the
market for an organic, product that contains a blend of 20 herbs
that can be taken in capsule form or as a tea. The general trend
among these products are fast effective weight loss, that has
yet to be accomplished by other weight loss programs. This formula
claims to increase the body's fat burning metabolism, thereby,
burning the fat and keeping the muscle. They also include a list
of all the ingredients. However, it is interesting to note the
disclaimer attached to many of these product's descriptions stating
that this information has not been approved by the FDA, and one
should proceed with risk.
What are some of the ingredients that have lead to the herbal
controversy and what are their associated risks?
Ma-Huang (Ephedra sinensis) is one such ingredient. This is the
main ingredient in the "herbal fen-phen" product that
will be discussed later in greater length. It is a plant containing
ephedrine and pseudoephedrine which are used in many over the
counter medications of asthma and nasal decongestant. It is also
included in some diet pills functioning as an appetite suppressant.
Many of the claims about Ephedra are also associated with caffeine.
However, for Ephedra the cardiovascular activity is greater, producing
such adverse effects as high blood pressure, heart rate irregularities,
insomnia, nervousness, tremors, seizures, heart attacks, strokes
and death. The FDA has proposed to prohibit the marketing of dietary
supplements containing 8 mg or more of ephedrine alkaloids per
serving.
Another ingredient is Chromium. It is not manufactured in the
body, yet the need for it is great. It plays an important role
in the utilization of carbohydrates and as a weight loss aid.
The American public generally do not have enough Chromium available
on a day to day basis. When this mineral gets into the body in
the proper form and in the suggested amounts, cravings for sweets
are greatly diminished, body fat can be reduced without losing
lean body tissue, blood sugar and cholesterol can be decreased,
and metabolism is more efficient. However, studies have shown
that Chromium (III) can accumulate in human tissues to reach the
levels at which DNA damage has been observed in animals and in
vitro. Therefore, the long term effects of chromium supplements
should be reevaluated and better understood.
Are these Herbal Remedies safe?
The safety of these products is also another area of debate.
It has been seen that integral ingredients in Herbal Phen-fen
have been removed from the market completely. Also the USDA and
FDA do not in any way support or endorse chromium picolinate for
use in human nutrition or weight loss.
However, on the other side distributors claim that no adverse
effects have been noted. Studies continue to test the effectiveness
of these herbal remedies. However until one is sure about the
safety, it is good to check with a physician before beginning
any new regimen
It is of no doubt that herbal concoctions have been used for
hundreds of years in cultures around the world. However, today
we know a lot more about the effects of drugs on the body, and
we must therefore use that knowledge to our advantage and be cautious
about potential side effects
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Herbal and Non-Prescription Weight Loss Preparations
Be aware of the following information about herbal preparations
and nutritional supplements little known to the consumer:
- Unlike prescription medications, neither the Food and Drug
Administration nor any other governing body oversees the manufacturing
of these products. The supplement manufacturers currently have
the advantage - their products don't have to be tested for their
safety, quality, effectiveness, or appropriate dosage. The public
tends to believe that over-the-counter herbal products and nutrition
supplements have been researched, tested, and inspected.
- Many times, what the manufacturer claims is in the product
is not actually present in the quantities labeled.
- Manufacturers do not have to fund studies to prove the effectiveness,
side effects, or appropriate dosage of these products as manufacturers
of medications do. Since studies can cost millions of dollars,
and studies on “nutritional supplements” are not
legally required, most manufacturers, for financial reasons,
choose not to do studies. Those that do choose to conduct research,
generally do "in-house" studies, which are not reliable.
Independent organizations, not product manufacturers with a
vested interest in the product, should conduct research on a
product, in order for research to be valid. Many manufacturers
rely on anecdotes from users who claim the product works. Anecdotes
are not valid research. The manufacturers fail to tell you about
any negative customer testimonials associated with the product
or any potential side effects. They also fail to research the
reason behind how the product works if it does appear to work
or makes you feel better – many times the product “working”
is due to significant pharmacological and physiological actions
in the body which produce terrible long-term side effects. Many
times, what makes us feel better (or in this case, lose weight)
can take a terrible toll on the body in other ways (consider
the "all natural" marijuana, and cocaine). Natural
does not necessarily equal safe and harmless.
- You can't tell if one brand is superior to another unless
studies are done to compare each product's effectiveness. Expensive
brands do not guarantee quality, but they do fatten pocketbooks.
- Manufacturers can make numerous claims for what these products
can do, even if research has never been done to substantiate
the claim. Because various claims are legal to make, many manufacturers
do make outrageous claims.
- The salespeople who promote these products generally have
little to no medical or nutritional background, and cannot and
do not offer sound advice about how the product works or its
potential side effects.
- Due to strong public interest in natural remedies and herbs,
we see more and more research done on these products, which
is a very good thing. Many products show quite promising effects.
On the other hand, many appear to be simply expensive, useless,
and overly hyped. Of course, without the proper research done,
you can't know the difference.
The following list describes some of the most common ingredients
in many of today's marketed weight loss supplements:
- Ephedra (Ma Huang). The active ingredient in ephedra (also
known as ma huang) is ephedrine, which is structurally similar
to amphetamines. Ephedra has been linked to hundreds of incidents,
including high blood pressure, abnormalities in heart rhythms,
seizures, heart attacks, and even death. Some states have laws
that ban the sale of ephedra because of its demonstrated serious
side effects. Ephedra is in products such as metabolife and
"herbal phen-fen."
- St. John's Wort. Here's an example of an herbal preparation
that actually has been researched extensively overseas in independent
studies and shows promise. Studies show that St. John's Wort
can raise serotonin levels and treat mild depression. But, if
you don't suffer from depression-related weight gain, significant
food cravings, or an alteration in serotonin levels, St. John's
Wort might not help in your weight loss quest. Thus far, there
have been few reports of weight loss associated with St. John’s
Wort. St. John’s Wort has shown some side effects such
as light sensitivity. St. John's Wort is the accompaniment to
ephedra in "herbal phen-fen" preparations. Due to
the side effects of ephedra, however, don't take this combination.
- Chromium Picolinate. Despite the hype and claims, chromium
picolinate is not a miracle pill that helps you lose weight,
burn fat, and build muscle. It is a prime example of a supplement
manufacturer extrapolating false theories from poorly done research
and turning it into a weight loss panacea. Some flawed studies
done in the 1990's suggested that chromium might help build
muscle mass. From this research, the manufacturers extended
the list of claims for what this supplement could do from metabolic
rate increases to weight loss and beyond. This old research
has since been shown to be inaccurate by better, more extensive
studies. In order to put an end to the false claims touted by
chromium picolinate manufacturers, the Federal Trade Commission
(FTC) stepped in. The FTC ruled that companies that distribute
chromium picolinate do not have sufficient scientific evidence
to substantiate that chromium picolinate could increase metabolic
rate, promote weight loss, or reduce body fat.
- Pyruvate. The claims made about pyruvate run just as far
and just as false as the claims for chromium picolinate. Again,
it's a case of manufacturers' extrapolating from flawed research
studies, inconclusive studies, or no studies at all to make
a profit. No established connection exists between pyruvate
and weight loss.
- Guarana. Despite being touted as a metabolism booster and
fat burner, Guarana's active ingredient is caffeine, which can
cause a temporary increase in metabolic rate. Save your money
and have some coffee instead.
- Phenylpropanolamine (PPA). Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) is the
active ingredient found in over-the-counter weight loss pills
like Dexatrim and Acutrim. PPA has been shown in studies to
help increase weight loss but not significantly. In studies,
PPA, along with diet and exercise increased weight loss by only
an average of three pounds, compared to diet and exercise alone.
Taking more than the recommended dosage has been linked to elevated
blood pressure, stroke and heart palpitations. The FDA has now
banned the use of PPA in over the counter remedies due to many
potential documented serious side effects.
- Herbal Weight Loss Teas/Senna. Herbal teas, many of which
contain senna, aloe, buckthorn, and other plant-derived laxatives,
can cause diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach cramps, chronic
constipation, fainting, and even death if you take excessive
amounts. These products that you can buy in health food stores
and through mail-order catalogs, are used for weight loss based
on some consumers' belief that increased bowel movements prevent
absorption of calories, thus preventing weight gain. However,
a special committee of the FDA concluded in 1995 that studies
show that laxative-induced diarrhea does not significantly reduce
absorption of calories. Laxatives do not work on the small intestine,
where calories are absorbed, but rather on the colon, the lower
end of the bowel.
- Chitosan/Chitin. Chitosan is a fiber that comes from the
skeletons of crabs and other crustaceans. Lately, there have
been a slew of claims that chitosan "traps fat" and
can help you lose weight. Some research on mice shows that chitosan
can be helpful in reducing blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
But, it does not show that it reduced the weight of obese mice.
The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition printed an article
that told of a well-controlled study of 34 overweight people.
It showed no correlation between chitosan intake and weight
loss. Thus, weight loss claims associated with this product
appear to be unsubstantiated.
If a miracle pill existed, obesity rates would decline or at
least remain the same. Keep this is mind next time you're tempted
when you hear claims of easy, magic, quick weight loss. Be especially
wary of the following claims for products:
Fat burner/Burn fat/Fat trapper/Fat Blocker
- Quick and easy weight loss
- Secret formula or ancient formula
- Weight loss breakthrough or scientific breakthrough
- Weight Loss without dieting or exercise
- New revolutionary method
- "Secret," "magical," or "synergistic"
ingredients
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