Bitter orange weight loss supplements

By Weight Loss Consultant • Related • Filed Under

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The numbers of obese people continue to rise in the United States. More than 60% of adults and children are overweight in this country. Out of that number more than 30% are considered to be obese. Due to these facts it is no wonder that the demand and market for any type of weight loss supplement is so marketable now. Herbal weight loss products are extremely desirable now as they can be purchased without a prescription and are available to consumers at affordable prices. Bitter orange is one of these types of supplements.

The Food and Drug Administration banned the use of Ephedra in dietary supplements in 2004 citing safety reasons. Therefore other herbal or natural substances were searched out that could give the same results as ephedrine without the serious side effects that ephedrine caused. Bitter orange is one of those substances. It has been used in herbal weight loss supplements that want to accomplish the same goals as before but can tout they are “ephedra free.”

Bitter orange or Citrus uranium as it is known botanically contains two ingredients synephrine and octopamine. These two chemicals work in a very similar manner to ephedrine. They constrict the blood vessels of the body and increase the heart rate and blood pressure. Weight loss supplements containing this substance work by increasing the heart rate and metabolism in order to promote weight loss. They also help decrease a person’s appetite.

Bitter orange has been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat various physical ailments such as chest congestion and to stimulate certain digestive functions such as nausea, indigestion and constipation.

Bitter orange is used today in many herbal weight loss supplements. There has been no research that shows the success of using this substance on its own, however there are some indications that show that it may be more effective when combined with caffeine and St. Johns Wort.

Some research has been done in the homeopathic and naturopathic communities concerning using bitter orange as a weight loss supplement. A study was done in 1999 on 23 overweight people using a combination of bitter orange, caffeine, and St. Johns Wort. The results showed that this group significantly lost more weight over a six week period of time than the control group did.

Bitter orange is not without risk however as it does have some side effects and contraindications that need to be mentioned. Since it is a natural ephedrine type chemical it should not be taken by individuals who have hypertension, circulatory problems, heart disease, previous heart attack, diabetes, glaucoma, or history of any of these diseases.

There is evidence that bitter orange can cause photosensitivity or sensitivity to light in some people. This is a rare occurrence in people who take the supplement orally. It was seen more in people who used the oil directly on their skin but it can happen in rare cases so it needs to be mentioned.

Bitter orange should not be used by women who are pregnant or are trying to get pregnant. It should not be used by women who are breast feeding or nursing their children. Bitter orange has been known to cause increased blood levels of cyclosporine in lab animals. Therefore it should not be taken by anyone who is taking cyclosporine.

There is also reference to bitter orange interfering with certain metabolism of certain drugs by the liver. It can also affect the way that the liver gets rid of the toxins for the body. It is recommended that bitter orange not be taken by anyone who is taking prescription medications unless they are under the care of a licensed physician.

As with any herbal supplement, if you have any type of chronic disease or take medications, it is always prudent to consult with your physician prior to taking any supplement or starting any type of weight loss program.

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