Weight Loss and Herbal Remedies

Weight Loss and Herbal Remedies: Are They Safe!

These days, there is a great strees for overweight people to lose those excess pounds. Being healthy would not only lead them to have a healthier lifestyle but it will also literally lighten their load, and improve their overall well-being.

There is a long list of dieting options available. There are exercise programs, exercise machines, dietary supplements, dietary food and drinks, diet pills - there are even soaps which claim to help you lose pounds while you bathe.

One other available option to shed off those unwanted pounds is to go herbal.

Herbal weight loss products have been in great demand for people who want to lose weight the natural way. However, when you take herbal supplements to lose weight, you would have to wait for a longer time for the results because of the more subtle effects of medicines which came from plants and natural herbs.

Here are some herbal weight loss options that you might want to consider:

1. Herbal weight loss products

There are a lot of herbal weight loss products available in the market now. You can check out the Internet and you will find a lot of herbal weight loss pills and products.

Be careful, however, as there are some products which claim to be safe and natural because they are herbal, but some actually have side effects because of non-extensive research on the effects of these products.

Here are some ingredients and chemicals which make up some herbal weight loss products that you should watch out for, as they might have harmful effects to your health:

> Senna. This is an herbal laxative. Senna is a main ingredient in weight loss teas, and it works by stimulation the colon. The downside effect of this herb is dehydration. It can also lead to colon problems and can become addictive. Some people, when addicted, are unable to perform bowel movements without it, so watch out.

> Chromium picolinate. This is a synthetic compound found in herbal weight loss products. Chromium is a nutrient which helps regulate blood-sugar level. However, this ingredient, when taken in high doses, may cause damage in the chromosomes. It can also lead to dehydration.

The reality for all products is that you should use herbal remedies in the same way that you would any prescription medicine, that is, after direction and advice.

Simple or homely sounding compounds and plants can be lethal.

An example would be Bella Donna, a beautiful name with a dangerous secret it's called 'deadly nightshade' to you and me, it was used in ancient times to brighten the eyes. It is highly toxic. It will kill you!

Why use an extreme example?

The problem is that plants can and do contain drugs. Use them sensibly in dieting.

Use all 'herbal remedies' after talking to your MD or pharmacist first.

It really is a case of don't suffer for lack of knowledge of what you take.