Natural Appetite Suppressants - Are They Safe? By Cary Gardner At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Many herbal appetite suppressants have a long history of use and of claimed health benefits. An herb, or botanical, is a plant or part of a plant that is used for its scent, flavor, and/or therapeutic properties. Although they are so-called ‘natural’, herbal products are not necessarily safe or without harmful effects. They may come from plants, but many plants are considered harmful and poisonous.

Unlike prescription appetite suppressants, the majority herbal products are not tested to certify their safety before their marketing. Their effectiveness, however, is established with their use for centuries. Active ingredients in many herbal medicines and supplements are still unknown or without clear knowledge how they work.

Some herbal supplements have been found contaminated with metals, unlabeled prescription drugs, microorganisms or other substances. Here is where your common sense come in use - order herbal supplements only from renowned and well established manufacturers. They use sophisticated methods for extraction of the active ingredients along with laboratory testing for pureness and effectiveness of their products. This ensures you in the quality of the product.

Since most of the herbal products are not clinically tested, they may cause certain health problems. It may not be wise to take herbal products if you have any of these medical problems/conditions:

• High blood pressure
• Thyroid problems
• Parkinson’s disease
• Blood-clotting problems
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Epilepsy
• Depression or psychiatric problems
• Liver problems
• Enlarged prostrate gland
• Glaucoma
• History of stroke or organ transplant

Women who are pregnant or nursing should be especially cautious about using herbal products, as well as with people who are about to have surgery. Always check with your health care provider.

It is likewise important to consult with your doctor before using herbal products if you are taking any medications (whether prescription or over-the-counter). Some herbal products are known to interact with medications in ways that may pose risks to your health.

The health risks associated with natural appetite suppressants are because most of them contain stimulant as an active ingredient. Ephedra has been very popular herbal supplement until it was banned by FDA, because of the potentially serious side effects. Another large group of herbal pills contain caffeine or caffeine-like substances (taurin and guarana). The main problem with them is that they lack effectiveness - did you heard of someone that lost weight by drinking large quantities of coffee?

All this is true for most of the natural appetite suppressants, but still there are some products that proved their safety and efficacy in clinical testing.Another well established natural product, that has undergone detailed clinical testing Proactol. It acts mainly as a fat blocker, but also possess appetite suppressing properties.

It is obvious that herbal appetite suppressants can be dangerous, if taken without making your research carefully. Yet, these supplements can be of great help when trying to lose weight and compared to prescription appetite suppressants they can save you a lot of money, not to mention that they are far more safer.

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