Natural weight loss products fill the market, but just because a weight loss aid is "natural", it does not mean that it is completely safe, nor is it a sure thing that it will help your weight loss efforts in the long run. The truth is, some very popular natural weight loss products pose some health risks, and even though they might stimulate quick weight loss at the beginning, in the long run they can actually cause you to gain weight.
The main products that can create problems are those that act as stimulants. Natural stimulants act much the same way that stimulant drugs work, and carry the same potential 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.
I strongly recommend that you avoid using any stimulant, natural or otherwise, to promote weight loss for two very good reasons. First, all of these products carry the risks of elevated heart rate, sleep disorders, high blood pressure, and stroke. The other reason is that even though stimulants can temporarily promote weight loss, in the long run they produce a hormonal imbalance that will actually cause weight gain.
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.
But the problem goes beyond just a fall in adrenaline levels. Stimulants don't just cause the adrenal glands to produce high levels of adrenaline (for as long as they can), they also cause the adrenals to produce another hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is a potent stimulator of fat storage and will promote weight gain. The adrenal glands can produce cortisol in large quantities for a much longer time than they can produce high amounts of adrenaline. In the short-term, the high adrenaline levels will overcome the effects of the elevated cortisol levels, so there usually is fast weight loss at first. But over time, the adrenaline levels will fall, the cortisol levels will stay high, and weight gain will be the result in the long run.
If you were to discontinue using stimulants while high adrenaline levels were still being produced, the effects of cortisol would quickly take over and so fast weight gain is common after suddenly discontinuing stimulants. In any case, when using stimulants to facillitate weight loss, eventually the cortisol effects will predominate and weight gain will occur.
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.
The main products that can create problems are those that act as stimulants. Natural stimulants act much the same way that stimulant drugs work, and carry the same potential 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.
I strongly recommend that you avoid using any stimulant, natural or otherwise, to promote weight loss for two very good reasons. First, all of these products carry the risks of elevated heart rate, sleep disorders, high blood pressure, and stroke. The other reason is that even though stimulants can temporarily promote weight loss, in the long run they produce a hormonal imbalance that will actually cause weight gain.
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.
But the problem goes beyond just a fall in adrenaline levels. Stimulants don't just cause the adrenal glands to produce high levels of adrenaline (for as long as they can), they also cause the adrenals to produce another hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is a potent stimulator of fat storage and will promote weight gain. The adrenal glands can produce cortisol in large quantities for a much longer time than they can produce high amounts of adrenaline. In the short-term, the high adrenaline levels will overcome the effects of the elevated cortisol levels, so there usually is fast weight loss at first. But over time, the adrenaline levels will fall, the cortisol levels will stay high, and weight gain will be the result in the long run.
If you were to discontinue using stimulants while high adrenaline levels were still being produced, the effects of cortisol would quickly take over and so fast weight gain is common after suddenly discontinuing stimulants. In any case, when using stimulants to facillitate weight loss, eventually the cortisol effects will predominate and weight gain will occur.
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.
About the Author:
Dr. George Best is a holistic healthcare provider in San Antonio, Texas. To access additional resources, you can visit his website for advice on a natural weight loss plan.
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