“Natural” weight loss pills
July 14, 2010 in Diet & Weight, Vitamins & Herbals
If you get nothing out of this blog post, please get this single point: natural or herbal does not mean a product is safe. It does not surprise me that another dietary supplement gets issued the red flag.
If you have purchased Que She dietary supplement, stop taking it and consult with a health professional.
Makers of Que She advertise it as a “slimming factor capsule” and as an “all-nature blend of Chinese herbs.” Sounds harmless, right? Well, not quite as the Food and Drug Administration recently discovered that this product contained quite the opposite — potentially harmful substances that are far from plant-based.
Que She contains fenfluramine (a stimulant withdrawn from the U.S. in 1977 because it caused heart valve damage); propranolol (a drug for blood pressure); sibutramine (same as Reductil weight loss drug that was taken off the European market); ephedrine (banned for weight loss due to risk of death).
Since there are no solid scientific studies to confirm that herbals can shed those unwanted pounds, some questionable weight loss companies slip in ingredients to get their products to work better, thus sell better, thereby putting consumers in potential danger.
The problem is rooted by the fact that herbals, alternative medicines and dietary supplements do not need to pass through a vigorous approval process because they are considered food, not drugs. They do not need to go through the boot camp for drugs which means strenuous testing to see if the drug works or not, a list of every possible side effect imaginable, and many years of research and development. Dietary supplements are not required by law to prove a drug works or not, nor list the side effects of the product before entering the market so this provides even more reason to be BUYER BEWARE when purchasing these products
Hopefully, the tide will turn where the supplement industry is more regulated. One thing is for sure: herbals behave like drugs in our body. They are capable of side effects and interaction with other medicines; they are not inert or benign.
Really guys – do not risk it! Lifestyle eating changes (I hate to use the word diet because it is associated with deprivation) and exercise is the proven way to go. I promise you if a product enters the market that is deemed safe and effective, you will hear it from me.
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Second:
I heard about a lot of Natural diet pill and most of them cheaper than xenical and reach to the half of xenical price, the question is this reflect the quality and effectiveness. and what is the best choice.
third:
what is the suitable time to go to gym in Ramadan, and what you advice us to not gain kg’s in this period. and what if I get one natural diet pill with each ” Eftar ”
wight: 82 Kg
Height: 164 cm
age:31
male
Thanks
Hi Bassam,
Congratulations on your weight loss. I cannot recommend natural diet pills because so many of them, frankly, don’t work or don’t have the ingredients that they claim on the bottle.
Every day, I read recalls and warnings on these”natural” pills, so I am very cautious about them. These pills are not studied the same way as the pharmaceutical drugs on the market.
As far as working out during Ramadan, I think morning time is the best. Eat a healthy breakfast, then you will have enough energy to work out. If you cannot in the morning, try the middle of the day, like the noon-hour. If you do find the time to work out during the day, you will maintain your weight. If you lack energy to do cardio, try weight training cardio where you do more reps and lighter weights. Try not to eat a huge iftar meal full of carbs, sugar and sweets. Cleanse your body with dried fruits, soups and healthy meals. Avoid fatty meats, sugary sweets and junk food. You will get full if you eat the right foods, plus you will maintain your weight. Also, eat slowly over a period of a couple of hours; don’t eat a lot at once. Spread your calories over a period of time, so your blood sugar doesn’t rise and fall abruptly. Good luck Bassam. Happy Ramadan!
Many thanks
Dr Sandy, I asked you about safety drug for weight loss and you recommended me to use xenical.
in that time I used to go to gym 5 hours per week, and eat low calories food, and after I you answer me, I start using xenical when I compelled to eat food with high calories or junk food, and I loss 18 Kg in 5 months. now I stop going to gym and I need to proceed after Ramadan.
first:
I need to know if I follow the right direction.
Second:
I heard about alot of