Acai Berry & Weight Loss

When I first heard about the health properties available in acai berry I was initially a bit sceptical. I have tried a few organic supplements in the past and had experienced only minimal weight loss results.

However after reading through Pure Acai Berry’s accreditations, trials and other customer success stories, I decided to give it a try.

3 months on I have lost over 2 stone and feel incredible.

Andrea Lewis case study

Working as a temp for an administrative firm, my hours were often unsociable. Getting home at 7.30pm to 8pm every night, I simply wasn’t motivated enough to cook, so most of the time I would simply shove a ready meal into the oven and settle in the front of the TV.

In a year I had put on 3 stone, and felt awful. I was constantly tired, and found myself struggling to concentrate at work. That was when I first started to try weight loss supplements. Yet after wasting over £100 on 3 different dietary pills and losing only 3lbs, I was nearly at breaking point.

Despite doing everything they said: eating more fruit and vegetables, reducing my carbohydrate intake and exercising more, nothing really changed.

Luckily, I heard about Pure Acai Berry from my friend Michelle at work. After taking these supplements for a week she had lost 4lbs, had noticed a significant improvement in her complexion and felt more energetic.

I did a little research and was really impressed with what Pure Acai Berry had to offer, so I gave it a try. The results were incredible. Every week I lost on average 3-5lbs and the difference it made to me as a whole was instant.

I have always had a problem with ache, but after trying Pure Acai Berry for 2 weeks I noticed a significant difference in my appearance. My complexion was smoother, I felt healthier and to be honest I felt completely re-energised. Going to the swimming baths was no longer a problem, if anything I was eager to go.

One of the best elements to acai was its freedom from side effects. It was refreshing to be able to take this supplement and I know that I could safely go to work without having to worry about any embarrassing accidents.

It has been 3 months now and my weight loss is still going strong. In fact, after visiting my GP he told me my cholesterols levels had returned to normal, which was great news for me as in April I was at the point of being put on medication.

I have still got over a stone to go, but with acai berry I am confident that I can reach my target weight loss. It is certainly a supplement I would recommend to friends.

Best 10 Dieting Tips for Summer

You will save yourself a lot of heartache if you plan for summer weight loss. If you make some simple adjustments to your habitual diet and resolve to exercise regularly for at least 5 days a week you will achieve a natural weight loss. The suggestions given here can easily be followed throughout the year and you will be a happy person when you see the change it makes in your health and looks.

Diets alone do not produce a sustainable weight loss. The most efficient way to decrease and maintain long term low body fat is through healthy diet and exercises. Weight loss has two vital components: (1) cut down intake of excess calories which increase fat in the body; (2) exercise the body which will help in burning body fat. The process of energy production in cells in your body is called Metabolism; greater the rate of metabolism is more is the fat you burn helping weight loss. Remember that fat loss takes patience and persistence.

Following suggestions for your diet are not only for summer weight loss.

They are simple to follow and could be followed throughout the year with benefits.

• Water is an essential component of the body and performs vital functions in your system
Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day;
It is a natural suppressant of appetite;
It helps kidneys remove toxins and thus helps liver metabolize more fat;
One gallon of cold water is equivalent to running 3 miles as far as burning calories is concerned.

• Eat four or five times a day – smaller portions -instead of two or three times; this will help burn fat and lose weight;

• Eat fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, peas, lentils, nuts. They are high in fiber. Fiber content helps decrease sugar craving. Cuts down fat absorption and also works as an appetite suppressant.

• Alcohol slows metabolism of the body and helps the body in storing fat.

• Saturated fats and sugar are strictly no-no for weight watchers.

• Consumption of Omega 3 fatty acids increases metabolism, energy levels and thus, is helpful in weight loss. Increase use of Fish ands flaxseed oils;

• Certain spices such as pepper, ginger, mustard increase metabolism; Cinnamon, bay leaf, and clove help decrease sugar cravings.

Two types of exercisers, performed for about 20 to 30 minutes a day, are necessary for a healthy body. Exercises may be performed in the morning or evening.

• Muscular exercises are an efficient way of increasing metabolism. During muscular training the muscles are broken down and more is the need of energy for metabolism to repair the damage. Thus body fat is used up to do perform this repair activity when your body is resting;

• Cardiovascular Aerobic exercises directly burn fat. Exercises performed before a meal help suppress appetite and increase metabolism.

The above suggestions can be implemented by anybody, at any time to lose weight; they are helpful for summer weight loss too.

FDA warns consumers to stop using Hydroxycut dietary supplements

Consumers using Hydroxycut products should immediately stop taking the dietary supplements, the Food and Drug Administration warned today after receiving reports of serious health problems related to the drugs. The dietary supplements -- made by Iovate Health Sciences Inc. of Oakville in Ontario, Canada, and distributed by Iovate Health Sciences USA Inc. of Blasdell, N.Y. -- have been linked to one death and are associated with several serious liver injuries, the FDA said. Iovate has agreed to recall the products from the market. The FDA has received 23 reports of serious health problems including jaundice, elevated liver enzymes and liver damage requiring liver transplant. Other health problems reported included seizures, cardiovascular disorders and rhabdomyolysis, a type of muscle damage that can lead to other serious health problems such as kidney failure. One death due to liver failure has been reported to the agency. Liver injury was reported by patients taking the doses of Hydroxycut recommended on the bottle. Symptoms of liver injury include jaundice and brown urine, the FDA said. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, light-colored stools, excessive fatigue, weakness, stomach or abdominal pain, itching and loss of appetite. “The FDA urges consumers to discontinue use of Hydroxycut products in order to avoid any undue risk," said Linda Katz, interim chief medical officer of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. "Adverse events are rare, but exist. Consumers should consult a physician or other healthcare professional if they are experiencing symptoms possibly associated with these products." Hydroxycut products are dietary supplements that are marketed for weight loss as fat burners, energy enhancers, low-carb diet aids and water loss. The list of products being recalled by Iovate includes: Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix) Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets Hydroxycut Liquid Shots Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink) Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed Hydroxycut 24 Hydroxycut Carb Control Hydroxycut Natural Although the FDA hasn't received reports of serious liver-related adverse reactions for all Hydroxycut products, Iovate has agreed to recall all the products listed above. Hydroxycut Cleanse and hoodia products are not affected by the recall. (Some hoodia sellers on Monday were sued by the Federal Trade Commission on charges of deceptive advertising for claiming that their produce would help people lose weight.) Consumers who have any of the products involved in the recall are advised to stop using them and to return them to the place of purchase. The products contain a variety of ingredients and herbal extracts. Healthcare professionals and consumers are encouraged to report serious side effects or product quality problems to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program: -- Online: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm -- Regular mail: Use FDA postage-paid Form 3500 found at www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm and mail to MedWatch, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787 -- Fax:( 800) FDA-0178 -- Phone: (800) FDA-1088 -- Andrea Chang Photo: The FDA has linked the use of Hydroxycut products to serious health

FDA says these products can put the DIE in ‘Diet’

It’s getting to be that time of the year, when weight-loss companies start making us worry about what we might look like in a bathing suit this summer. If you decide that you need to slim down, however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has this word of advice - be careful about taking pills, powders or potions that might contain prescription drugs and/or undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients.

The FDA recently issued a second round of warnings about weight-loss products. This time the list has grown to 72 products - including Herbal Xenicol, Slimbionic, and Xsvelten - and is warning consumers about products containing fenproporex, fluoxetine, furosemide and cetilistat.

For the current list of products on the FDA’s list, click here

“These tainted weight loss products pose a great risk to public health, because they contain undeclared ingredients and, in some cases, contain prescription drugs in amounts that greatly exceed maximum recommended dosages,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

“Consumers have no way of knowing that these products contain dangerous drugs that could cause serious consequences to their health,” Woodcock said.

The products on the FDA’s list - some of which are marketed as dietary supplements - are promoted and sold on various Web sites, and in some retail stores and beauty salons.

Some of the products claim to be “natural,” or to contain only “herbal” ingredients, but actually contain potentially harmful ingredients not listed on the products’ labels or in promotional advertisements.

Antidepressants, anti-seizure medication, experimental drugs

These products have not been approved by the FDA, are illegal, and include the following undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients:

• sibutramine (an appetite suppressant available by prescription only and a controlled substance)

• fenproporex - a controlled substance not approved for marketing in the United States;

• fluoxetine - an antidepressant available by prescription only;

• bumetanide - a potent diuretic available by prescription only;

• furosemide - a potent diuretic available by prescription only;

• rimonabant - a drug not approved for marketing in the United States;

• cetilistat - an experimental obesity drug not approved for marketing in the United States;

• phenytoin - an anti-seizure medication available by prescription only; and

• phenolphthalein - a solution used in chemical experiments and a suspected cancer-causing agent that is not approved for marketing in the United States.

The FDA has inspected several companies associated with the sale of these products and is working on product recalls.

And if the companies are uncooperative, the FDA “may take additional enforcement steps, such as issuing warning letters or initiating seizures, injunctions, or criminal charges.”

The FDA advises consumers who have used any products containing these ingredients to stop taking them and consult their health care professional immediately. (And perhaps check with your doctor in future, before taking any weight loss product.)

Seizures and sudden death

“The health risks posed by these products can be very serious and include high blood pressure, seizures, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), palpitations, heart attack, and stroke,” the FDA states in its warning.

“Sibutramine, a controlled substance, was found in many of these products at levels much higher than the maximum daily dosage for Meridia, the only FDA-approved drug product containing sibutramine. These higher levels of sibutramine can increase the incidence and severity of these health risks. Fenproporex, another controlled substance, can cause arrhythmia and possible sudden death.”

If you experience a serious reaction to any of these products, the FDA asks that you or your doctor report this to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program, either online, by regular mail, FAX or phone.

If you mail your information, you can download the postage-paid FDA form 3500, available at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/medwatch-online.htm and mail it to: MedWatch, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787. Or FAX it to 1-800- FDA-0178.

Or you can call in your report at 1-800- FDA-1088.

For more information provided by the FDA on weight-loss products, click here

Wynonna Judd uses Alli

Wynonna Judd has been struggling with her weight both in and out of the public eye. In 2003, she opened up to Oprah about how her cholesterol levels were putting her at risk for a heart attack, and three years later, she checked into a treatment center for food addiction. Wynonna will be turning 45 in May, and she recently opened up to People magazine about the changes she's making to become more healthy.

Wynonna is planning ahead for meals, cooking more at home, and taking walks with her children. She is also taking Alli over-the-counter diet pills to lose weight, and is even a spokesperson for the diet aid. These pills act as a fat blocker, preventing your body from absorbing a quarter of the fat you consume.

About Hoodia: Truth behind the debate – has much changed since the New York Times article in 2005?

Their report may have been written over 4 years ago, but the New York Times article on the validity of clinical testing in Hoodia Gordonii supplements is as pivotal as it was then, as it is today.

The reason? Go on most Hoodia product websites, and whilst you will read the phrase ‘clinically tested’ within their content; when you then go on to scan their website for proof – can you find it? No. More often than not you cannot.

If anything they are vague.

Take the two Hoodia Products that the New York Times put forward themselves: Pure Hoodia and Hoodaba. Now whilst these products may claim to ‘kill your appetite’ and offer you ‘waves of energy’ with no human studies to back it, physicians were unable to back them.

In truth, back in 2005, the majority of physicians had a hard time supporting Hoodia products. They questioned their safety as appetite suppressants.

But the New York Times did not stop there in their breakdown.

They also questioned Hoodia Gordonii’s active ingredient P57. Known for being processed and broken down by the liver, physicians questioned whether Hoodia supplements contained enough P57 to effectively suppress consumer’s appetites.

Of 10 Hoodia products tested by Unilever (in the UK), 2 contained no P57, 4 contained small amounts of it and the other 4 contained significant amounts. Proof that of all the many supplements currently available on the market, a substantial amount of them in truth do not contain enough.

The present

Looking over their article, the New York Times brought up many valid points over the quality of Hoodia products.

Now whilst arguably – 4 years later – there are even more fake Hoodia products on the market, there now trials, documentation and testing methods to prove which products are the real, and which can offer consumers real weight loss results.

Take Hoodia Company UniqueHoodia. On their website you can find
a CITES Certificate, a certificate of Analysis and an Organics Annex Certificate – all of which can prove that you are receiving pure unaltered Hoodia Gordonii.

But there is more…

4 years on, Hoodia Gordonii has finished undergoing clinical trials and has proven itself to be a real appetite suppressant.

So whilst there are still Hoodia Products on the market that are questionable in their validity, there are such companies such as UniqueHoodia that can prove this article by The New York Times wrong.

Hoodia Gordonii CAN help consumers to effectively lose weight and cut their calorie intake by over 1,000 calories a day. UniqueHoodia being one of them.

FDA Adds More Diet Pills to Its "Unsafe" List

The FDA adds 41 more products to an alert about unsafe diet pills it issued last month, bringing the total to 69.

The pills are advertised as "natural" fat busters and some suggest they are innovative "herbal" remedies from Asia.

But, the FDA says many contain Sibutramine, a powerful appetite suppressant that can cause heart attacks and strokes.

Reported by: Robin Thibault, KARK 4 NEWS

http://arkansasmatters.com/content/fulltext/news/?cid=173631