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With the New Year underway, many of us have resolved to improve our health. For alot of people, that means losing weight. It's so tempting to either drink something or swallow a pill that will melt the fat away. However, we need to be aware of several products that may pose some health risks.
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Acai 
The acai berry is grown in the Amazon River basin of Brazil. It is rich in antioxidants and also contains iron, calcium, vitamin A and fiber. Food and beverages are made from the skin, which is only 5 percent of the berry, making acai products expensive. But when it comes to weight loss, the hype is ahead of the science, because the research evidence for such a connection is lacking. In addition, many acai drinks contain lots of added sugars and calories; some as much as 24 calories per ounce. Click here for more information. |
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Herbal Teas 
Beware some teas promoted for dieting can contain laxatives. Excessive use may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fainting and dehydration. Causing diarrhea to reduce calorie absorption is not very effective. Most of the calorie absorption occurs in the small intestine, but laxatives tend to work on the colon. A temporary weight loss due to water loss will be reversed once the person drinks something. Bulk-producing agents are supposed to give a sense of fullness, but there is no evidence that they reduce appetite. Click here for more information. |
Pills  and other products
The FDA now lists more than 70 weight loss products that may be harmful and contain undeclared, active pharmaceutical ingredients that include fenproporex, fluoxetine, furosemide, cetilistat, sibutramine, bumetanide, phenytoin and phenolphthalein. Some of these ingredients are not approved for marketing in the U.S. Some are prescription drugs that exceed the maximum recommended dosages. Seizures, heart attacks and strokes are possible. Beware of claims and have realistic expectations. For a full list of potentially dangerous products, click here.
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Synthetic Dangers
Across the country and around the world, synthetic drugs are tearing holes in families. These "designer drugs" such as spice, K2 and bath salts are easy to get and difficult to regulate. Many are made in laboratories overseas and shipped to the United States with labels noting that they are "not for human consumption." CNN reports: People need to understand that using synthetic drugs is like playing Russian roulette and the consequences could be deadly. Brand new chemicals are constantly being synthesized and entering the market. These chemicals have never been seen on Earth before. So, basically our young people are acting as lab rats, and the experiment isn't going well, at all. For more info, click here. |
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The call is free...peace of mind is priceless. |
Here are three fast, easy New Year's resolutions if you have young children. 1) Get down on the floor at your children's eye level. Find things that can hurt them: dropped pills, batteries, and toy parts; household products in low cabinets ... and get those things up, out of the way. 2) Program our number into your phones. 3) Post the poison center phone number by every phone in your home. Need phone stickers or magnets? Call us at 1-800-222-1222 or go to www.poisoncontrol.org.
If you have any questions about your medications, herbals or dietary supplements, please call your local poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Don't guess, be sure! A medical professional will answer your call right away and give you the help you need. | |
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