Herbal weight loss

While considering the various options for weight loss, a lot of us tend to prefer herbal weight loss products, thinking that they are safe and have no side effects. But that sadly has proven out to be yet another myth. In reality herbal weight loss products are capable of causing as much harm as prescription diet pills or other unsafe diet supplements. Some of the ingredients of these so called ‘safe’ herbal weight loss products are toxic in nature, many a unsuspecting souls tend to be a bit careless with these ‘natural weight reducers’ and pay the price in form of serious health complications. The following are a few examples of some popular herbal weight loss products and why they are harmful to health:

Senna:
Senna is an herbal laxative. It is an important ingredient in weight loss teas such as Laci Le Beau super Dieter's Tea and Trim Maxx. It works by stimulating the colon. The only weight loss that occurs due to this is water, so the main problem it can cause is severe dehydration. Drinking tea with Senna for several weeks or longer can lead to colon problems or arrhythmia. Also, some people become addicted to the tea and are unable to perform bowel movements without it.

St. John's Wort:
This herbal weight loss supplement works by increasing the production of the brain chemical called serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical messenger in the brain, lower levels of this chemical can lead to overeating or obesity and vice versa. But the flip side of this chemical is that it has been known to cause increased eye and skin sensitivity to sunlight, mild gastrointestinal distress, fatigue dizziness, and itching.

Chromium picolinate:
Chromium is a nutrient that helps regulate blood-sugar levels. It is found in water as well as mushrooms, broccoli, and potatoes. Chromium picolinate is a synthetic compound that's found in Chroma Slim Plus, Metabolife, Citrex, and Super Fat Burners. Makers of herbal weight loss products claim, this element helps increase metabolism and reduces body fat. In animal tests, studies revealed that high doses may cause chromosomal damage.

Also some of the weight loss patches containing exotic herbal products also seem to work by making the body lose its water content, which is not actual loss of body fat and can cause dehydration.

These are just a few disturbing facts about herbal weight loss products, since most of them are not a result of extensive research, their harmful side effects come in the light only after claiming some human victims.