Herbal Weight Loss Pills

As the desire for losing weight continues to affect many people, several herbal weight loss pills are developed and distributed throughout the world.  Today, whether you surf on the internet or walk into a certain health food store, herbal weight loss pills are definitely there. 

There are basically different components in herbal weight loss pills.  There are those herbal weight loss pills that contain ephedra, and there are also some herbal weight loss pills that contain HCA or hydroxycitric acid, PPA or phenylpropanolamine, and pyruvate.  Each type component in such herbal weight loss pills has different functions and of course they have different effects.

For instance, the ephedra in herbal weight loss pills is considered by the Food and Drug administration as potentially hazardous.  In fact, ephedra is the main ingredient in the so called “natural” herbal alternatives to “fen-phen”, which is a now banned prescription anti-obesity drug.  These types of herbal weight loss pills are largely considered by the FDA as unapproved diet pills that have not been tested for its safety and efficacy. 

Besides, ephedra is the natural source of the amphetamine-like stimulant known as ephedrine.  Although it is a potent decongestant, and it suppress appetite as well as burns fat quickly, the risks of taking ephedra in herbal weight loss pills far overshadow its benefits.  It has been found out that ephedra in herbal weight loss pills results to serious reactions such as soaring blood pressure, irregular heart beat, insomnia, tremors, seizures, heart attacks, and stroke. 

In terms of the HCA in herbal weight loss pills, it is noted that this herbal extract which is also present in at least 14 commercial weight loss pills, slows down the conversion of carbohydrates into fat, thus this component of the herbal weight loss pills does aid weight loss.

Herbal weight loss pills also contain pyruvate, which is a natural compound that is derived from all plants and animals.  This has gained popularity as a weight loss aid, but one should be aware that taking large amounts of herbal weight loss pills that contain this compound can lead to intestinal distress, bloating, and diarrhea.  So, one should be wary in taking pyruvate herbal weight loss pills.

Lastly, the PPA contained in herbal weight loss pills was considered as the most renowned weight loss drug in many parts of the world.  However, it does not win that position with excellent effects.  Many experts have concluded that PPA was too risky to be available in prescription drugs and so they called for manufacturers to stop selling drugs containing this compound.  Just like the ephedra, this also causes extreme spikes in blood pressure, headaches, strokes, and even death.