Diet pills are hugely popular and millions of people, including famous celebrities like Britney Spears, have taken them in an attempt to lose weight the easy way rather than face the pain of physical exercise combined with a reduction in calorie intake.
The theory is simple; pop a herbal diet pill and let the natural ingredients inside work their magic either by suppressing appetite to stop the dieter feeling hungry or by boosting metabolism to help the user burn calories faster; some pills like MetaboSpeed claim to do both.
This article looks at bitter orange and hoodia, two of the most popular ingredients used in herbal weight loss pills and whether they are safe to use.
Herbal Weight Loss Diet Pills
Many herbal diet pills contain extracts of bitter orange peel (Citrus aurantium) which contains a chemical called synephrine. This chemical increases metabolism and burns calories faster due to its thermogenic properties, promotional jargon for fat burning. Bitter orange is widely used in diet pills as an alternative to the herbal supplement ephedra or ephedrine which has been banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to its potentially life threatening side effects.
Hoodia, a plant found in the Kalahari Desert and supposedly used by African natives to quell hunger pangs during long hunting days, is widely used in weight loss supplements that claim to suppress appetite. Brent A. Bauer, M.D. writing for the Mayo Clinic, states that there is “no solid evidence that hoodia is effective.” While there are no known side effects of taking hoodia, as the product has only been used since 2004, the long-term effects of using this appetite suppressant stimulant are also unknown.
Safety of Herbal Metabolism Boosters and Appetite Suppressants
Manufacturers of these diet pills often make misleading claims about the safety of the natural ingredients. Products containing bitter orange or synephrine, for example, are marketed as ephedrine-free but while synephrine may have been proved “safe” through laboratory animal testing, there is little research to support the safety of any fat-burning claims.
Synephrine in the guise of Neo-Synephrine, in fact, has been available since the 1940s as a blocked nose cold remedy with a warning on the label of potential side effects that include increased heart rate, high blood pressure, anxiety and blurred vision. As Phil Kaplan points out in the Fitness Truth section of his website, no diet pill ads mention the 2004 study by Diane Nykamp et al linking bitter orange to the cause of a heart attack in a 55 year old woman with no previous cardiac disturbance history.
Safe Weight Loss Supplements
Ultimately, taking any stimulant, natural or not, to increase metabolism or suppress appetite in pursuit of fast weight loss has its risks and people with existing cardiac health problems may be especially vulnerable. It is important to consult with a doctor before taking any herbal weight loss supplements so that any possible side effects such as increased heart rate and blood pressure can be properly monitored.
Use Weight Loss Pills with Caution
The fat burning claims of herbal weight loss pills may be attractive, especially if endorsed by a famous celebrity, but those looking to lose weight should treat any secret diet pill used by the stars with caution. Popping a pill may be preferable to taking exercise and reducing calorie intake, but be sure to see a doctor before using any weight loss supplements.
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Resources:
Mayoclinic.com: Is hoodia an effective appetite suppressant?
Phil Kaplan.com: Fitness Truth - Synephrine. 2004 study by Diane L Nykamp,, Majed N Fackih, and Anthony L Compton. Possible Association of Acute Lateral-Wall Myocardial Infarction and Bitter Orange Supplement. Ann. Pharmacother., May 2004; 38: 812-816.
Helen Smeaton - Helen Smeaton runs a cycling and hiking business and is also a freelance writer and web designer. Read her profile for more information
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