The most recent estimate of the US Centers for Disease Control is that more than half the adults in the United States are overweight and the percentage is increasing. It is estimated that the cost to the US economy for diseases related to obesity is $238 billion per year.
Definitions of "Overweight" & "Obesity" are based on BMI (Body Mass Index). Overweight is defined as a BMI (kg/m2) of 25.0-29.9, while "Obesity" is defined as a BMI (kg/m2) of 30.0 or greater. Please see my article of "How to control your weight?" at http://www.bayho.com/i17.htm for detailed calculation of BMI.
Some of the most popular natural diet aids are the "thermogenics," which often contain combination of Ephedra or ma huang and guarana, green tea, kola nut, cacao, white willow bark, cayenne, ginger and chromium picolinate. Thermogenics are believed to help weight management by burning calories. They increase our sympathetic nervous system activity; therefore, increase our metabolic rate. Ephedra or ma huang also assists our weight loss by suppressing appetite.
Natural diet supplements usually include Ephedra or ma huang, which appears to be more effective if combined with caffeine containing herb like Guarana or salicylates containing herb like white willow bark.
Guarana has long been considered a "tonic" or general revitalizer. In addition to caffeine, it contains compounds that produce a more sustained energizing effect by slowing the body's assimilation of caffeine.
The American Herbal Product Association recommends a conservative daily limit of 100 mg and a serving limit of 25 mg of total Ephedra (ephedrine alkaloids) but it does not address the intake duration. Some manufacturers are now recommending the use of these supplements for up to 12 weeks.
It appears that combinations of Ephedra and caffeine (found in guarana, green tea, kola nut, mate and cacao) maintain their anti-obesity effect during treatment of up to six months, and may prevent relapse for 6-12 months.
Customer with chest pain, eating disorder, heart disease, thyroid disorder or undiagnosed fainting should not take Ephedra and caffeine combination natural diet aids. They should be aware of the concomitant use of caffeine containing herbs with acetaminophen or aspirin for it may increase the their pain-relieving effects.
I hope this article will educate subscribers about natural diet aids. If you require more help in this issue, please contact me at: http://www.bayho.com
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