Let caution be the watchword

Last week we had a look at the traditional substances used in India for weight loss.

Last week we had a look at the traditional substances used in India for weight loss. The next three items on my list are not part of Ayurvedic medicines for weight loss. Still,since these are also natural products,it is indeed useful to take note of them.

amp;149;Guarana Brazilian Cocoa: The seed of this creeping shrub contains a great deal of caffeine which leads to appetite suppression. It has started becoming increasingly popular. However I must caution users since the caffeine content is quite high.

amp;149;Cayenne Pepper: Several Mexican dishes are laden with Cayenne pepper. Anyone who had had the substance will know that it raises body temperature and causes a great deal of sweating. Even a modest amount of Cayenne pepper can induce sweating and so small amounts of this can increase metabolism. There is some evidence that it works. But one must be careful with Cayenne pepper,since it can irritate the stomach.

amp;149;Black Pepper: This is in the same category as Cayenne pepper. It,however,does not irritate the stomach and has the added advantage of facilitating the absorption of vital nutrients present in our food.

There two other naturally occurring substances,which,on basis of scientific evidence,are likely to get popular in the domain of weight control. It will be appropriate to list them with their properties so readers may be on the lookout.

amp;149;Colustrum: This is the thick milk that is produced by mothers for the first few days after giving birth. Colustrum contains a sizeable amount of growth factors. Growth factors are required in order to metabolise fats and as we get older,the human body produces less and less. The rationale for the use of Colustrum is that it could speed up fat metabolism. I have found that Colustrum is available commercially in many western nations.

amp;149;CLA Conjugated Linoleic Acid. CLA is a fatty substance available from sources like milk. This is another dietary supplement that is likely to become popular. Recent studies do indicate that CLA helps in the process of reducing body fat and increasing muscle mass,but it is unlikely to modify body weight. The CLA supplements do have the downside of producing diarrhoea,indigestion and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

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The bottomline is that caution should be exercised even with the so called natural or herbal dietary supplements. When a cocktail of ingredients go into a pill,there is extra cause for caution. The ingredients could react individually and collectively in our bodies in a way that may not be predicted easily. There are no definitive studies on how these substances individually or in combination react with other forms of medication and that also calls for caution for persons who are on other medications. As always,the rule consult your personal physician applies.

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