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| Sholeh Patrick |
Diet pills declared unsafe
Before you make that New Year's resolution to lose weight, plan cautiously.
A new FDA warning released Monday advises consumers to avoid more than two dozen weight loss pills because they contain unlisted ingredients which could be hazardous to health.
The products are sold in stores and on the Internet. Some claim to be "natural" or contain only herbal ingredients. The FDA warned the hidden ingredients in these products range from anti-seizure meds to carcinogens.
The products in the warning include: Fatloss Slimming, Japan Lingzhi 24 Hours Diet, 7 Day Herbal Slim, 999 Fitness Essence, Imelda Perfect Slim, Perfect Slim, ProSlim Plus, Slim Express 360, Superslim, Venom Hyperdrive 3.0, 2 Day Diet, 5x Imelda Perfect Slimming, 8 Factor Diet, Extrim Plus, Lida DaiDaihua, Perfect Slim 5x, Royal Slimming Formula, Slimtech, TripleSlim, 3x Slimming Power, 3 Day Diet, 7 Diet Day/Night Formula, GMP, Miaozi Slim Capsules, Phyto Shape, Slim 3 in 1, Somotrim, and Zhen de Shou.
The undeclared ingredients in some of these products include sibutramine (a controlled substance causing high blood pressure, seizures and heart palpitations); rimonabant (a drug associated with increased risks of depression and not approved in the U.S.); phenytoin (anti-seizure medication); and phenolphthalein (used in chemical experiments and a suspected carcinogen). In some cases, in addition to including undeclared and potentially risky ingredients, the amounts exceed recommended dosages.
In short, with all the risks of metabolism-boosting drugs -- such as putting the heart in overdrive -- losing weight the old-fashioned way remains the lowest-risk and typically the longest-lasting. According to WebMD, nutritionists, and personal trainers, the best way to lose weight involves a combination of long-term diet changes, water intake, and effective exercise habits. Muscle safely increases fat burn.
Diet changes include not just what is eaten, but how and when. Eating smaller portions more often during the day, and chewing very slowly so food is digested and that "full" feeling can help limit intake are advised. Drastic dieting and routines that can't be sustained just result in a yo-yo effect on the body, with results less likely to last.
The best resolution is based on becoming healthier, not thinner.
Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. E-mail sholehjo@hotmail.com.
