Healthy Living
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Are you taking dangerous diet pills?
user
A few days ago, the FDA
expanded their list of weight-loss supplements that consumers
should avoid because they may contain undeclared, potentially
harmful ingredients. Translation: You could be swallowing more than
you bargained for. The list of substances found in some of these
supplements include prescription ingredients that can cause serious
medical side effects or drugs or herbs that can dangerously
interact with meds you're already taking.
The list of dubious ingredients--
click here
for the names of the pills--even includes an anti-seizure
medication and an antidepressant (!!!). The bottom line: Don't
EVER take a weight loss supplement unless it's been prescribed
or OK'd by your doctor. If it sounds too good to be true, it
probably is.
Is the economy making you fat? What you need to know to put a stop
to recession-stress weight gain!If you or someone you
know has experienced any negative health side effects from a
supplement, first call your doctor. Then, be sure to report it to
the FDA at www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm.
I'll blog about something more upbeat next week (like you need
to read more bad news during these trying times!), but I want women
to be aware--the Madoffs of the world aren't just lurking in
the finance sector. Safe dieting everyone!
Related:
You can net big body changes with one tiny tweak in your eating
habits. Meet several women who made the switch and
succeeded.
MORE FROM SELF:
Related: wellness, health, fda, diet pills
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Posted by Nini Poo Fri Apr 3, 2009 6:47pm PDT
Um, the FDA DOES NOT always know what is best for us. Not saying diet pills are good, but neither is saccharin, which apparently is ok in the eye of the FDA.
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Posted by CarolB Sun Apr 5, 2009 2:14pm PDT
well the consumer should not leave it up to the FDA that is for sure. Also unfortunately you cant trust manufacturers with thier deceptive marketing ploys and chemicals. Always read the label and research what kind of chemicals you are putting into your body.
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Posted by simonutts Mon Apr 6, 2009 11:05am PDT
Just workout America!
walking and running places is FREE and its GOOD for you!
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Posted by Sonia Mon Apr 6, 2009 11:31am PDT
THE FDA PUTS OUT A LIST OF HERBS THAT ARE USED IN DIET PILLS, YET THEN THEY GO MAKE A "DRUG" THAT USES THOSE HERBS, GIVE IT A FANCY SCIENTIFIC NAME AND CHARGE YOU 120 BUCKS FOR ONE MONTHS WORTH.
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Posted by Sonia Mon Apr 6, 2009 11:33am PDT
Also, the FDA tried to make Stevia, a sweat herb, seem dangerous. Saying it can cause heart problems b/c it has a stimulant effect. YET its ok to consume Aspertaime (Sweat n Low, Spledna, Equeal) etc.
Thus makes me laugh. I guess some of them FDA guys got stock in Aspertame or another artificial sweetener
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Posted by Sonia Mon Apr 6, 2009 11:33am PDT
Also, the FDA tried to make Stevia, a sweat herb, seem dangerous. Saying it can cause heart problems b/c it has a stimulant effect. YET its ok to consume Aspertaime (Sweat n Low, Spledna, Equeal) etc.
Thus makes me laugh. I guess some of them FDA guys got stock in Aspertame or another artificial sweetener
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Posted by Nini Poo Mon Apr 6, 2009 1:21pm PDT
SoniaS, you need to read up on how Aspertaime was approved to begin with. It will blow your mind! It was denied 8 times before finally passing. To my knowledge, before it finally passed, there were no changes even made in the formula... it was only passed because key folks in the FDA were PAID!
and yes, simonutts... I agree!! Get out there and work out those buns! You won't need diet pills if you're doing it right and are totally committed to a routine!!
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Posted by A F Mon Apr 6, 2009 6:53pm PDT
I am saddened, but not surprised, by some of the posts here that imply that the FDA is somehow this corrupt organization out to get the supplement industry. The truth is, the companies that have been putting out products that do not work at best and endanger people's health at worst hide their incompetence behind exactly this kind of mindless FDA-bashing.
A few facts: first of all, the FDA does not make drugs, so the idea that "THEY GO MAKE A "DRUG" THAT USES THOSE HERBS, GIVE IT A FANCY SCIENTIFIC NAME AND CHARGE YOU 120 BUCKS FOR ONE MONTHS WORTH" is absurd. Neither saccharin nor aspertame have been traced to deaths--unlike the supplements ephedrine and phen-fen (both now banned.) And the delay in approving aspertame was to examine the alleged (but not proven) link between its use and brain cancer: I'd like to see the evidence that the delay was due to the FDA waiting to be paid off.
Is the FDA perfect? No, no regulatory agency is at the moment, after years of Republicans' assualt on the ability of government agencies to act. But I will take the FDA's word over that of the supplement industry (where the link between their expressed viewpoints and their wallet is much clearer BTW.)
If anyone wants to find a reliable source of information on supplements, or health issues in general, check out www.quackwatch.com: this site is run by a doctor who explains clearly and convincingly why the supplement industry should not be trusted. And if anyone just wants to drop a few points, follow the good advice of some of the other posters here and spend your money on a gym and healthy food.
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Posted by __A_YAHOO_USER__ Tue Apr 7, 2009 6:52pm PDT
It's like this. My doctor told me flat out that I am NEVER to touch ANY DIET PILLS PERIOD. They kill, plain and simple. Does anybody really know how many women and girls have died because they lived on these pills to be "thin" and "pretty"? Never will I take these pills. They are very dangerous and contain a very high dose of a caffeine-like substance that can bring your heartrate to very dangerous levels. Stay away from them and just eat less and exercise more. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated. DEATH TO THE DIET PILLS!!!
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