There are numerous weight loss products that are promoted
as being natural, but just because a weight loss product is
natural, it may not be safe, and it may not even be
effective in the long-run. The fact of the matter is,
certain types of natural weight loss aids not only have
some serious potential risks associated with them, but they
often cause hormonal reactions in the body that can result
in weight gain in the long run, even if they stimulate
weight loss at first.
The biggest problems are with the natural weight loss aids
that contain stimulants. Natural weight loss aids that
contain stimulants work very much like stimulant drugs, and
they have the same risks.
The most commonly used stimulants in natural weight loss
products include ephedra (also called ma huang), kola nut,
guarana, yerba mate' and caffeine. All of these are very
strong stimulants, and are similar in effect to drugs like
amphetamines. Most people are aware that taking
amphetamines can be dangerous, but they may be lulled into
thinking the natural stimulants are safe for the sole
reason that they are natural products.
It is strongly suggested that you not use any form of
stimulant as a weight loss aid. This is for two reasons.
First, stimulants, whether natural products or drugs, have
the potential risks of stroke, high blood pressure,
elevation of the heart rate, and sleep disorders. The
second reason is that in spite of the fact that stimulants
can increase metabolism and stimulate weight loss at first,
in the long run they will likely cause you to gain weight.
Early on when taking stimulants, the effect is an increase
in the production of adrenaline. Adrenaline is a hormone
produced by the adrenal glands that essentially speeds up
the body by increasing heart rate and respiration and
elevating blood pressure. An increase in adrenaline will
speed up the metabolism and cause an increase in fat
burning. These effects will only last for a short time
though. In a matter of a few weeks, the body's ability to
produce adrenaline will become burned out, and as
adrenaline levels start to fall off, the metabolic rate and
fat burning will begin to slow down.
The fall in adrenaline levels is not the only problem,
though. Stimulants cause the adrenals to produce another
hormone in large quantities, called cortisol. Cortisol
causes you to gain weight and accumulate fat in the lower
abdomen. Cortisol production in the adrenals can be kept
up for much longer than adrenaline production. A first,
the adrenaline production will overcome the fat-storing
effects of cortisol and fast weight loss occurs. Over time
though, cortisol production will overcome the declining
effects of adrenaline, and weight gain is the inevitable
result.
Discontinuing the use of stimulants suddenly usually has
the result of rapid weight gain, because the effects of
cortisol will outlast the effects of the adrenaline.
Whether or not stimulants are discontinued though, the
eventual effect will be that adrenaline production will be
exhausted long before cortisol production begins to fade,
and sooner or later the effects of cortisol will win out
and weight gain will result.
Even though the idea of fast weight loss through using
natural weight loss aids that contain stimulants may be
appealing, these products can only complicate your weight
issues in the long term and may cause potentially serious
damage to your overall health. Natural or not, weight loss
aids that contain stimulants should be avoided.
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Dr. George Best has been in private practice as a holistic
healthcare provider in San Antonio, Texas since 1992. For
more information, to obtain a free natural weight loss
guide, and/or to access his E-Book, "Training Your Brain
For Weight Loss", please visit
http://www.TrainYourBrain4WeightLoss.com .
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