FDA Warns Consumers about Weight Loss Products

Today’s Re-Powering Information – I know that some of you are following Weight watchers or Jenny Craig or some other supervised diet program. Those have some merit and can be effective, although I am not thrilled with the quality of food and I would never put a frozen dinner to my lips (read the label and see why), however that’s not what I am going to address today. Today I want to cover something that I hope does not apply to any of you, but you may be able to understand to enlighten those you care about. Diet pills do not work. Not only don’t they work, they are harmful, have side effects and can kill you. Read a recent article from the Chicago Tribune and then the comments by Dr. Mercola regarding his take on Diet Pills.







FDA Warns Consumers about Weight Loss Products



diet pill, weight loss productsThe FDA has issued a new alert about weight loss products tainted by potentially dangerous ingredients. Many of the products claim to be "natural" or "herbal" but include drugs, sometimes in very high doses.

Drugs found in weight loss products include:

• Sibutramine (a controlled substance)
• Phenytoin (an anti-seizure medication)
• Phenolphthalein (a solution used in chemical experiments and a suspected cancer-causing agent)
• Bumetanide (a diuretic)


Altogether, the FDA has found 72 tainted weight loss products since it first brought the issue to public attention last December.


Sources:


Chicago Tribune March 20, 2009





Dr. Mercola''s Comments


Dr. Mercola's Comments:



It’s a tempting proposition for many. Take a diet pill, then sit back and relax as the pounds melt away. For the 15 percent of American adults who say they’ve used weight-loss supplements, many probably thought “why not”? What could they lose other than the money to buy them and possibly some extra pounds?

As it turns out, you could lose quite a bit, including your health, if you take many of these weight-loss supplements.

So far the FDA has identified 72 diet pills -- most of them imported from China -- that are tainted with hidden and potentially dangerous drugs and chemicals.

You can view a full list of the contaminated products on the FDA’s Web site. Many of them claim to be “natural” or “herbal” yet contain chemicals and drugs such as:

• Cetilistat: an experimental obesity drug that can cause serious health risks in certain populations.

• Fenproporex: a stimulant not approved for marketing in the United States, which can cause increased blood pressure, uncontrollable movements or shaking, palpitations, arrhythmia and possibly sudden death.

• Fluoxetine: the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Prozac, a prescription antidepressant, which can increase the risk of suicidal thinking and suicide in children, adolescents, and young adults.

• Furosemide: the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Lasix, a potent diuretic that can cause profound dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, leading to dehydration, seizures, GI problems, kidney damage, lethargy, collapse and coma.

• Rimonabant: the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Zimulti, which has not been approved in the United States because of increased risk of neurological and psychiatric side effects -- seizures, depression, anxiety, insomnia, aggressiveness, and suicidal thoughts among patients.


All of the tainted weight loss supplements on the list are available over-the-counter without a prescription and are not FDA-approved, but please don’t misconstrue this information. While this new finding underscores the importance of knowing where your supplements (whether for weight loss or any other purpose) come from, diet pills that are FDA-approved or available by prescription have also been linked to serious side effects.


The Risks of “Approved” Diet Pills

Two of the most well-known diet drugs in the United States are Xenical, a prescription-only drug, and its non-prescription version Alli. Unpublished studies on Xenical have revealed concerning data, including:

• Xenical increases the precursor markers to colon cancer by 60 percent in rats.
• When eating a high- fat diet and taking Xenical, the cancer risk increased 2.4 fold.
• Fat-soluble vitamin E depletion, due to Xenical's fat-blocking action, raises the risk of colon cancer even further.
• Recorded adverse reactions to Xenical include: 39 cases of increased abnormal blood thinning, several cases of bleeding episodes, 10 hospitalizations (four with life-threatening reactions), and one death.
• Dangerous thinning of the blood can occur in people taking drugs like Warfarin (an anti-coagulant), or who suffer from vitamin K deficiency.


Alli, meanwhile, which blocks the absorption of about 25 percent of consumed fat, can also result in loose stools, hard-to-control bowel movements, and gas with an oily discharge. The manufacturer calls these “treatment effects.”

These are some serious, not to mention embarrassing, risks all for a very small benefit. Though these drugs may help you lose weight, it will likely be only a few pounds more than you would lose with diet and exercise alone.

In fact, the Mayo Clinic reported the average weight loss for prescription-strength Xenical is only about 6 pounds greater than diet and exercise alone after one year. Since Alli is half the strength of Xenical, they reasoned Alli could conceivably result in an average of just 3 extra pounds lost in a year.


The REAL Way to Lose Weight

How to lose weight safely and effectively is an urgent and relevant issue given that two-thirds of the U.S. population is already overweight, and a recent study found it’s possible that nearly every American adult could be overweight by 2048.

Of course, maintaining a healthy body weight is about so much more than looking good in a bikini -- it’s about having more energy, fighting disease, protecting your heart and, above all else, choosing a lifestyle that will support your entire body and your health.

A drug simply will not provide these benefits, and neither will a crash diet.

Dieting is actually a consistent predictor of future weight gain. On any given diet, people initially lose 5 percent to 10 percent of their weight, but then they gain it back, often with some additional pounds as well.

This is because they’re not addressing two key aspects to weight loss: emotions and your nutritional type.

As anyone who’s ever tried to lose weight knows, making up your mind to do it is half the battle (in fact, it’s probably 99 percent of the battle for many).

Nip emotional eating in the bud by dealing with your feelings and creating a new relationship with food. Release self-sabotaging behaviors like avoiding exercise.

That is one step in the weight-loss equation. From there, it’s just a matter of changing your lifestyle in the following ways:

1. Tailor your diet to your nutritional type. These are the foods that are right for your biochemistry, and these are the foods that will push your body toward its ideal weight. (By the way, these foods may be high in fat, high in carbs, heavy on protein or heavy on veggies, it all depends on YOU).

Eating right for your nutritional type is not a “diet.” In fact, if you still feel hungry after eating you are definitely not eating according to your nutritional type. There is no food deprivation, no counting calories and definitely no starving yourself -- just eating plenty of healthy foods that are right for you.

2. View exercise as a drug. When you’re trying to lose weight, a casual walk here and there is not going to cut it. Many studies find that exercising for one hour, five days a week is actually needed, and I tend to agree with that. Sometimes you may even need up to 90 minutes of aerobic activity every day.



There is also strong compelling evidence that strength training and high-intensity anaerobic interval training may be especially effective for weight loss.


So there you have it: eat right, exercise, and address your emotions -- and that is typically all it takes.

What are gluten intolerance symptoms?

One of the things that a few people have found out is that they are gluten intolerant. I don’t think I have covered that topic, so today’s RE-Powering information (following a Gluten Free Recipe) will be about gluten intolerance. The only way to know if you are intolerant to gluten is to get tested, or eliminate it from your diet and notice how you feel.





1 Low Fat Quinoa Chili

½ cup quinoa 1 cup water

1 16 oz can of black beans

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp cinnamon

2 diced scallions

¼ cup diced tomatoes

¼ tsp. stevia ( to taste)

1. Bring quinoa and water to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes until germ separates.

2. In a separate pot simmer black beans together with seasonings for 10 minutes. Allow beans to cool and thicken for 5 minutes.

3. 3Combine quinoa and bean mixture together. Top with tomatoes and scallions and serve.

Cals: 394

Fat 4 gr.

Carb 70 gr.

Fiber 19 gr.

Protein 22 gr.

Sugar 0



What are gluten intolerance symptoms? Are people with gluten intolerance just fussy eaters with a new excuse for their picky food habits?
Research shows that gluten sensitivity in some form, including celiac disease and mild gluten intolerance, affects approximately 15% of the US population. These statistics are likely to be similar in Western countries with similar health issues and dietary patterns. Are you one of these people? How do you recognize gluten intolerance symptoms?

First of all let’s identify the difference between celiac disease and gluten intolerance. Celiac disease is an immune reaction, a severe sudden onset allergic reaction, to the protein called gluten. This is commonly found in grains such as wheat, rye, barley and oats. While celiac disease is initially an auto-immune disorder, it is also a disease of malabsorbtion, because essential nutrients are not absorbed. Therefore one of the most devastating symptoms of long-term undiagnosed celiac disease is malnutrition.

Gluten intolerance often has a slower onset than celiac disease, and may be hard to diagnose due to the broad range of symptoms and causes.

If you imagine a continuum of gluten intolerance symptoms, celiac disease is usually at the most extreme end with immediate autoimmune reactions. Some people with celiac disease may not have symptoms, but internally malabsorbtion and malnutrition can erode health over many years. Both celiac disease and gluten intolerance can be exacerbated by emotional stress, infection, surgery, pregnancy and childbirth. Every individual with some level of gluten intolerance or allergy may experience different shades of symptoms, hence the challenge for medical practitioners to diagnose.

So what are the specific symptoms of gluten intolerance and
celiac disease?

* Weight loss or weight gain
* Nutritional deficiencies due to malabsorbtion e.g. low iron levels
* Gastro-intestinal problems (bloating, pain, gas, constipation, diarrhea)
* Fat in the stools (due to poor digestion)
* Aching joints
* Depression
* Eczema
* Head aches
* Exhaustion
* Irritability and behavioral changes
* Infertility, irregular menstrual cycle and miscarriage
* Cramps, tingling and numbness
* Slow infant and child growth
* Decline in dental health

Undiagnosed for long periods of time, food intolerances have been found to contribute to diabetes, bowel cancer, anemia and osteoporosis.

Why are gluten intolerance symptoms so varied?

It is still a bit of a mystery; gluten intolerance and allergies affect adults and children in a variety of ways, but we do know that the less stress the better.
Anecdotal evidence suggests emotional trauma and stress play a large role in worsening of symptoms. Some studies have shown that there is a lower chance of developing celiac disease, the longer a baby is breastfed; the later they started eating gluten containing foods and the less gluten containing foods they ate. However completely avoiding gluten through pregnancy and in a child’s younger years may also increase allergic reaction, as the developing digestive system does not recognize the substance at all. Perhaps a moderate approach is best when preventing celiac disease, especially if there is a genetic predisposition. Mother might reduce but not eliminate gluten foods when pregnant, breastfeed for a longer than average period, and introduce low gluten grains as first foods for baby.

How to diagnose celiac disease and gluten intolerance?

Until recently it was challenging to diagnose celiac disease because the symptoms are varied and similar to other diseases. For example, crones disease, chronic fatigue, iron deficiency, irritable bowel syndrome and intestinal infections can all have similar symptoms. In fact there may be a cross over between gluten intolerance and some of these illnesses; an individual may have a combination of issues worsened by unsuitable food choices.
Now doctors test for raised levels of certain auto-antibodies in their blood. These antibodies are produced when the body senses a dangerous intruder allergen, like gluten. If the results indicate an allergy to gluten the doctor may perform a small intestine biopsy. This will reveal the damage to the villi in the small intestine. It is important to eat an ordinary diet including gluten, before being tested.

Author: Anna Wilde

Breakfast Foods & Eat Your Food Uncooked? Here’s the Really Raw Truth

While we are on recipes, here are some new twists on breakfast. I find people tend to eat the same one or two breakfasts. Here are some simple, tasty and delicious options from the usual. These are from the integrative school of nutrition in NYC. My friend just graduated from there.



You’ve all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but why? Breakfast, literally means “breaking the fast”. During the 6-8 hours that we are sleeping our bodies are fasting. This means when we wake up we are starving for fuel to survive the day. If you don’t eat breakfast in the morning you may feel fine for a few hours but come 3pm or dinner time you are most likely going to be ravenous. Because you end up eating so much at dinner you can’t possibly think of eating breakfast in the morning and so the cycle starts all over again. Eating breakfast first thing in the morning has been shown to boost your metabolism, increase energy and concentration and keep food cravings to a minimum.

So if your excuse for not having breakfast is that you don’t have enough time, try these 7 quick, healthy delicious breakfast solutions.

1. Almond Butter + Banana + Raw Honey + Sprouted Grain Sandwich

peanutbutterbanana



2. Super Smoothie: Fruit (kiwi, banana, mango) + Leafy Greens (kale, swiss chard) + Nut Milk + Hemp Protein + Flax Seed

green



3. Muesli + berries + Nut Milk

muesli



4. On The Go Egg Cups - Make these on a Sunday and have for the week!

dsc00913



5. Steel Cut Oatmeal + Blueberries + Almonds + Flax + Agave
Put this on the stove the night before and will be ready to go in the am

oatmeal



6. Natural Waffles + Apple + Raw Honey

waffle



7. Open Faced Goat Cheese + Vegetable (tomato, avocado, pepper, anything!) + Sprouted Grain Sandwich

gaotcheese





Today’s Re-Powering information – While we are on the subject of healthy foods, I wanted to share with you taking healthy eating to a new level. Eating raw. I read some information on Paleolithic eating and vegetarian eating over the break. Some may consider it strict, but the health benefits are priceless. Here is a video from Dr. Mercola on eating Raw and then some notes to follow.





Eat Your Food Uncooked? Here’s the Really Raw Truth





You already know that you should eat fresh, unprocessed, natural whole foods. But the importance of raw foods often goes unnoticed. Here’s what you should know about raw foods, cooked foods and enzymes.





Dr. Mercola''s Comments


Dr. Mercola's Comments:



One of the most important aspects of a healthy diet that is most frequently overlooked is the issue of eating your food uncooked, in its natural raw state.

Unfortunately, as you may be aware, over 90 percent of the food purchased by Americans are processed foods. And when you’re consuming these kinds of denatured and chemically altered foods, it’s no surprise we have an epidemic of chronic and degenerative diseases.

It is no mystery that you are what you eat.

Ideally you’ll want to eat as many foods as possible in their unprocessed state; typically organic, biodynamic foods that have been grown locally, and are therefore in season.

But the challenge is, even when you chose the best foods available you can destroy most of the nutrition if you cook them.

I believe it’s really wise to strive to get as much raw food in your diet as possible. I personally try to eat about 85 percent of my food raw, including raw eggs and meats. And there are a number of reasons for this.

Raw Food is Alive!

The primary reason for making sure you get plenty of raw food in your diet is due to what’s called ‘biophotons.’ It’s a term you may not have heard of before, but in Europe, Germany in particular, there’s a lot of research in this area. Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt has also discussed it in some detail in one of his expert interviews for my Inner Circle program.

Biophotons are the smallest physical units of light, which are stored in, and used by all biological organisms – including your body. Vital sun energy finds its way into your cells via the food you eat, in the form of these biophotons.

They contain important bio-information, which controls complex vital processes in your body. The biophotons have the power to order and regulate, and, in doing so, to elevate the organism – in this case, your physical body -- to a higher oscillation or order.

This is manifested as a feeling of vitality and well-being.

Every living organism emits biophotons or low-level luminescence (light with a wavelength between 200 and 800 nanometers). It is thought that the higher the level of light energy a cell emits, the greater its vitality and the potential for the transfer of that energy to the individual which consumes it.

The more light a food is able to store, the more nutritious it is. Naturally grown fresh vegetables, for example, and sun-ripened fruits, are rich in light energy. The capacity to store biophotons is therefore a measure of the quality of your food.

Now, the DNA inside each of your body’s cells vibrates at a frequency of several billion hertz (which is unfortunately the same range at which modern cell phone communication systems also work). The vibration is created through the coil-like contraction and extension of your DNA -- which occurs several billion times per second -- and each time it contracts, it squeezes out one single biophoton; a light particle.

All the biophotons emitted from your body communicate with each other in a highly structured light field that surrounds your body. This light field also regulates the activity of your metabolic enzymes. For more in-depth information about how this works, I recommend you view the video clip of my interview with Dr. Klinghardt.

But that brings me to my second point for eating raw.

Cooking Destroys Valuable Enzymes

Enzymes are proteins; catalysts to speed up and facilitate reactions in your body. In fact, some biochemical reactions will not even occur without these enzymes (you have about 1,300 of them).

Cooking your food, especially at high temperatures, destroys these naturally occurring enzymes.

In addition to getting enzymes from fresh, raw food, you can also help stimulate the production of enzymes in your body simply by chewing. When you chew your food, a signal is transmitted from your brain to your stomach that tells your stomach to increase the production of enzymes.

Interestingly, as a side note, that’s why you don’t want to chew gum that much. When you chew gum, you’re actually sending a false signal to your body to create enzymes when you don’t need them. You’re essentially wasting your enzyme production. This is a challenge because as you age -- especially in a culture that focuses on processed foods -- about one-third of your body’s ability to produce enzymes is lost by the age of 40!

This is why many people find they benefit from enzyme supplementation as they get older, and we’ve found this to be true for a large number of patients in my clinic as well.

You May Need an Enzyme Supplement as You Get Older

There are many different options to choose from when selecting an enzyme supplement, so I decided to produce what I believe to be one of the highest quality enzyme products on the market today. My formula contains a number of combinations of enzymes that are just not present in most other products, including:

* Papain and bromelain (from papaya and pineapple) to help digest proteins
* Amylase, to aid in digestion of carbohydrates like starches and sugars
* Alpha galactosidase, to help digest beans and prevent gas
* Ox bile, which is particularly useful for digesting fats. It’s especially helpful if you have problems with your gallbladder, or had your gallbladder removed

The Bottom Line

Ideally, your best bet is to consume raw foods as much as possible. If you aren’t doing that already, you’ll want to gradually increase the amount of raw food in your diet as it will help your body produce more enzymes, and supply you with vital, live nutrients. Then, if still necessary, take a high quality enzyme supplement.

Lastly, make sure you’re chewing your food – take your time; savor it! (But avoid chewing gum.)

These are some very simple strategies that you and your family can adopt to help yourselves take control of your health!



Related Links:


Find Out Which Raw Food Diet is Right for You


Raw Food--One of Your Keys to Outstanding Health

'Natural' weight-loss supplements may be a health hazard

I know none of you take weight loss supplements, but you know how it’s the topic of discussion at the office, neighborhood or with your girl friends. Be a savvy consumer and read the article below so that you are armed with an arsenal of information. When your friends and family tell you they are trying the latest weight loss supplement, even if it claims to be natural, beware. They all have side effects and ultimately are short term band aids that do not produce necessary behavior changes for life long health and vitality.


'Natural' weight-loss supplements may be a health hazard

* Story Highlights

* FDA: At least 69 so-called natural diet pills are tainted with prescription meds

* Buyer beware: FDA doesn't approve or regulate dietary supplements

* FDA has asked for voluntary recalls; so far only three of 69 complied

* So far, no deaths have been linked to the tainted supplements

Health

The names of the weight-loss supplements say it all: 7 Day Herbal Slim, 2 Day Diet, and even 24 Hours Diet. Those are just three of dozens of different brands touted as all-natural ways to shed pounds, and lose them super fast.

The FDA found that at least 69 so-called natural weight loss supplements are tainted with medication.

The FDA found that at least 69 so-called natural weight loss supplements are tainted with medication.

But according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, nothing could be further from the truth. Many of these "herbal" weight-loss remedies -- 69 at last count -- are tainted with prescription drugs or mixtures of drugs, including laxatives, diuretics, and anti-seizure medications. And that list of 69 products will probably grow in the coming weeks, says FDA spokesperson Rita Chappelle.

"Our investigation is ongoing and quite extensive, and more products will be added to the list," she says.

Some supplements contain rimonabant, a prescription drug rejected by the FDA for use in the United States due to safety concerns. And others contain sibutramine, a prescription weight-loss drug sold as Meridia in the United Sates. However, the supplements often contain more than one drug, and in doses three to four times what you would get with a doctor's prescription. The supplements' labels don't mention the medications, much less the amount of the drug found in the pills. Health.com: 3 secrets to walking off belly fat

"The biggest issue generally speaking with herbal over-the-counter supplements is that people don't think they're drugs to begin with," says Matthew Grissinger, director of error reporting programs at the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, in Horsham, Pennsylvania. Undeclared ingredients make it even more likely that a person could have interactions with prescription medications or other health risks, he says.

Someone with high blood pressure or heart failure (not uncommon in the overweight) "may already be on diuretics, so now they are literally taking two, three, four times the amount of diuretic they are supposed to," he says.

More than 150 million people in the U.S. take vitamins and other dietary supplements, according to the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), which represents supplement manufacturers. The group supports the FDA's efforts and encourages "consumers to be savvy when it comes to their supplements," said CRN's president and CEO, Steve Mister, in a statement. "Always buy from reputable companies that you know and trust."

The FDA does not approve or regulate dietary supplements before they come on the market; "let the buyer beware" is typically the rule of thumb. VideoWatch: Elizabeth Cohen reported on this problem in December 2008 »

Many of the tainted weight-loss supplements are manufactured in China and sold on the Internet, says Chappelle. However, that's not true of all of them. One popular weight-loss product, called StarCaps, "was sold in GNC, advertised in People magazine, and promoted by people like Kathie Lee Gifford and others," says Chappelle. "That product contained an active pharmaceutical ingredient that was, again, not declared, called bumetanide -- a diuretic."

The FDA recently asked all the manufacturers of these supplements to recall their products, but only three have done so as of this week, says Chappelle. StarCaps has been recalled, as have two other products, called Venom HyperDrive 3.0 and Zhen de Shou.

So far, no deaths have been linked to the tainted supplements. But people who take the weight-loss products could experience heart palpitations, a drop in blood pressure, or seizures, says Chappelle.

"We're still seeking voluntary recalls, but our main message is to make consumers aware that these products are out there," she says. "If a product seems too good to be true, it typically is." The Internet "has become a huge playground" for fly-by-night companies selling potentially hazardous products, she says.

The FDA recommends that people who want to lose weight discuss their goals with their doctor and take only an FDA-approved weight-loss drug if such treatment is deemed necessary. There are three FDA-approved drugs on the market: sibutramine (Meridia), orlistat (Xenical), and a low-dose version of orlistat that is sold over the counter (Alli).

The FDA also recommends checking its list all of the tainted weight-loss supplements, which will be updated.

Health Library

* MayoClinic.com: Over-the-counter weight-loss pills: Do they work?

* MayoClinic.com: Herbal supplements: What to know before you buy

* MayoClinic.com: Weight-loss drugs -- Can a prescription help you lose weight?

Sidney Wolfe, M.D., director of the Health Research Group at the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, notes that weight-loss products have a dismal history in terms of safety and efficacy. For example, the prescription combination known as Fen-Phen was linked to heart valve problems and removed from the market in 1997, and phenylpropanolamine (PPA) was an ingredient removed from weight-loss products in 2005 due to stroke risk. (Public Citizen has also petitioned the FDA to remove sibutramine and orlistat from the market.)

"There isn't any magic solution to losing weight. The only way you can lose weight in a sustainable way is to cut down on your dietary intake by 200 or 300 calories a day and exercise 100 to 200 calories more," he says. "None of this other stuff works." Health.com: Get your family involved in changing your eating behavior

It's not just weight-loss supplements. In the past, other dietary supplements have been found to be tainted with prescription remedies, including diabetes drugs, Viagra, and other medications.

"The FDA can barely keep up with all the stuff that's going on here," says Wolfe. "It's not exactly easy for them to detect it."

Natural Weight Loss Supplements - Buyer Beware

Today’s Re-Powering information: I know none of you take weight loss supplements, but you know how it’s the topic of discussion at the office, neighborhood or your girl friends. Be a savvy consumer and read the article below so that you are armed with an arsenal of information. When your friends and family tell you they are trying the latest weight loss supplement, even if it claims to be natural, beware.

'Natural' weight-loss supplements may be a health hazard
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
FDA: At least 69 so-called natual diet pills are tainted with prescription meds
Buyer beware: FDA doesn't approve or regulate dietary supplements
FDA has asked for voluntary recalls; so far only three of 69 complied
So far, no deaths have been linked to the tainted supplements


The names of the weight-loss supplements say it all: 7 Day Herbal Slim, 2 Day Diet, and even 24 Hours Diet. Those are just three of dozens of different brands touted as all-natural ways to shed pounds, and lose them super fast.

The FDA found that at least 69 so-called natural weight loss supplements are tainted with medication.

But according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, nothing could be further from the truth. Many of these "herbal" weight-loss remedies -- 69 at last count -- are tainted with prescription drugs or mixtures of drugs, including laxatives, diuretics, and anti-seizure medications. And that list of 69 products will probably grow in the coming weeks, says FDA spokesperson Rita Chappelle.
"Our investigation is ongoing and quite extensive, and more products will be added to the list," she says.
Some supplements contain rimonabant, a prescription drug rejected by the FDA for use in the United States due to safety concerns. And others contain sibutramine, a prescription weight-loss drug sold as Meridia in the United Sates. However, the supplements often contain more than one drug, and in doses three to four times what you would get with a doctor's prescription. The supplements' labels don't mention the medications, much less the amount of the drug found in the pills. Health.com: 3 secrets to walking off belly fat
"The biggest issue generally speaking with herbal over-the-counter supplements is that people don't think they're drugs to begin with," says Matthew Grissinger, director of error reporting programs at the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, in Horsham, Pennsylvania. Undeclared ingredients make it even more likely that a person could have interactions with prescription medications or other health risks, he says.
Someone with high blood pressure or heart failure (not uncommon in the overweight) "may already be on diuretics, so now they are literally taking two, three, four times the amount of diuretic they are supposed to," he says.
More than 150 million people in the U.S. take vitamins and other dietary supplements, according to the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), which represents supplement manufacturers. The group supports the FDA's efforts and encourages "consumers to be savvy when it comes to their supplements," said CRN's president and CEO, Steve Mister, in a statement. "Always buy from reputable companies that you know and trust."
The FDA does not approve or regulate dietary supplements before they come on the market; "let the buyer beware" is typically the rule of thumb. Watch: Elizabeth Cohen reported on this problem in December 2008 »
Many of the tainted weight-loss supplements are manufactured in China and sold on the Internet, says Chappelle. However, that's not true of all of them. One popular weight-loss product, called StarCaps, "was sold in GNC, advertised in People magazine, and promoted by people like Kathie Lee Gifford and others," says Chappelle. "That product contained an active pharmaceutical ingredient that was, again, not declared, called bumetanide -- a diuretic."
The FDA recently asked all the manufacturers of these supplements to recall their products, but only three have done so as of this week, says Chappelle. StarCaps has been recalled, as have two other products, called Venom HyperDrive 3.0 and Zhen de Shou.
So far, no deaths have been linked to the tainted supplements. But people who take the weight-loss products could experience heart palpitations, a drop in blood pressure, or seizures, says Chappelle.
"We're still seeking voluntary recalls, but our main message is to make consumers aware that these products are out there," she says. "If a product seems too good to be true, it typically is." The Internet "has become a huge playground" for fly-by-night companies selling potentially hazardous products, she says.
The FDA recommends that people who want to lose weight discuss their goals with their doctor and take only an FDA-approved weight-loss drug if such treatment is deemed necessary. There are three FDA-approved drugs on the market: sibutramine (Meridia), orlistat (Xenical), and a low-dose version of orlistat that is sold over the counter (Alli).
The FDA also recommends checking its list all of the tainted weight-loss supplements, which will be updated.
Health Library
MayoClinic.com: Over-the-counter weight-loss pills: Do they work?
MayoClinic.com: Herbal supplements: What to know before you buy
MayoClinic.com: Weight-loss drugs -- Can a prescription help you lose weight?
Sidney Wolfe, M.D., director of the Health Research Group at the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, notes that weight-loss products have a dismal history in terms of safety and efficacy. For example, the prescription combination known as Fen-Phen was linked to heart valve problems and removed from the market in 1997, and phenylpropanolamine (PPA) was an ingredient removed from weight-loss products in 2005 due to stroke risk. (Public Citizen has also petitioned the FDA to remove sibutramine and orlistat from the market.)
"There isn't any magic solution to losing weight. The only way you can lose weight in a sustainable way is to cut down on your dietary intake by 200 or 300 calories a day and exercise 100 to 200 calories more," he says. "None of this other stuff works." Health.com: Get your family involved in changing your eating behavior
It's not just weight-loss supplements. In the past, other dietary supplements have been found to be tainted with prescription remedies, including diabetes drugs, Viagra, and other medications.
"The FDA can barely keep up with all the stuff that's going on here," says Wolfe. "It's not exactly easy for them to detect it."