Researchers probe effectivity, safety of herbal weight loss therapies

•As commercial laxatives, heartburn supplements are linked to cancer, kidney damage
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Irvingia gabonensis, West African mango or Wild mango… In Nigeria, it is pekpeara in Nupe; ugiri (tree or fruit) or ogbono (kernel or seed) in Igbo; oro (the tree) or aapon (the kernel) in Yoruba; ogwi (the tree or fruit) in Benin; goron or biri in Hausa; uyo in Efik.

Obesity is on the prowl with its attendant high risk of chronic diseases including diabetes, hypertension, cancers, stroke and kidney damage.

However, studies have shown that regular physical activity and healthy diets can ameliorate the damage.

But the food and lifestyle industries have taken advantage of the situation with the marketing of so many nutritional supplements and laxatives with promise of ensuring healthy weight loss.

Unfortunately, unlike the fresh plant-based versions, long term use of commercial weight loss products are linked to cancer and kidney damage.

Indeed, researchers have validated the effectiveness of herbal weight loss preparations such as wild mango, cabbage soup, Aloe vera, coconut water, beetroot juice, and Senna leaves (Cassia alata) even as they said that long-term use of commercial versions of the nutritional supplements may lead to an increased risk of cancer and kidney disease.
Extract of wild mango seed shows promise in obesity treatment

Can eating Ogbono soup help overweight persons shed some kilos, reduce abdominal fat, lower their cholesterol and chances of developing diabetes, heart diseases, cancer, stroke, kidney failure, high blood pressure?

A study published in Lipids in Health and Disease suggests that an extract derived from the seed (Ogbono) of West African mango may help overweight people shed kilogrammes, lower their cholesterol and chances of developing degenerative diseases.

Researchers in other studies found that the fruit of Irvingia gabonensis could be used to reduce abdominal fat, and stop diarrhoea and ulcer.

Lab research has shown that extracts from the plant’s seed may inhibit body fat production, through effects on certain genes and enzymes that regulate metabolism.

A person is said to be obese when the ratio of the weight in kilogrammes over the height in square metres, that is the Body Mass Index (BMI), is more than 30; overweight when the BMI is between 25 and 30; and healthy weight when the BMI is between 20 and 25.

The seed of Irvingia gabonensis is the basic ingredient of the popular tasty delicacy, Ogbono soup. The fruit looks like mango; but leaves a bitter after taste. The seed, slimy when it touches water, is used in cooking Ogbono soup.

Botanically called Irvingia gabonensis, West African mango or Wild mango is a fruit commonly eaten in Nigeria, and indeed the whole of West Africa. It is also called native mango, bush mango, dika nut tree, and dika bread tree.

In Nigeria, it is pekpeara in Nupe; ugiri (tree or fruit) or ogbono (kernel or seed) in Igbo; oro (the tree) or aapon (the kernel) in Yoruba; ogwi (the tree or fruit) in Benin; goron or biri in Hausa; uyo in Efik.

According to the current study, researchers at the University of Yaounde in Cameroon randomly assigned 102 overweight adults to take either the plant extract or a placebo twice a day for 10 weeks. The study participants did not follow any special diet and were told to maintain their normal exercise levels.

By the end of the study, the extract group had lost a significant amount of weight, an average of roughly 28 pounds, while the placebo group showed almost no change.

At the same time, they showed declines in “bad” Low Density Lipo-protein (LDL) cholesterol and blood sugar levels. High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) is the good cholesterol.

The study, titled “The effect of Irvingia gabonensis seeds on body weight and blood lipids of obese subjects in Cameroon,” was conducted by Judith L Ngondi, Julius E. Oben, and Samuel R Minka of the Nutrition, HIV and Health Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde, Cameroon.

Dr. Julius E. Oben and his colleagues report the findings in the online journal Lipids in Health and Disease. The Fairfield, California-based Gateway Health Alliances, Inc. supplied the Irvingia gabonensis extract and partially funded the research.

The study is the first well-controlled clinical trial of the extract’s effectiveness as a weight-loss aid, the researchers note. But the findings, they write, suggest that Irvingia gabonensis could offer a “useful tool” for battling the growing worldwide problem of obesity and its related ills.

A few patients on the extract reported side effects, including headaches, sleep problems and gas, but the rates were similar in the placebo group.

The findings, Oben’s team concludes, should “provide impetus for much larger clinical studies.”

The researchers wrote: “A recent in vitro study indicates that IGOB131, a seed extract of the traditional West African food plant Irvingia gabonensis, favourably impacts adipogenesis (the formation of fat or fatty tissue) through a variety of critical metabolic pathways.

“This current study was aimed at evaluating the effects of IGOB131 on body weight and associated metabolic parameters in overweight human volunteers. The study participants comprised of 102 healthy, overweight and/or obese volunteers randomly divided into two groups. The groups received on a daily basis, either 150 mg of IGOB131 or matching placebo in a double-blinded fashion, 30-60 minutes before lunch and dinner. At baseline, four, eight and 10 weeks of the study, subjects were evaluated for changes in anthropometrics and metabolic parameters to include fasting lipids, blood glucose, C-reactive protein, adiponectin, and leptin.

“Significant improvements in body weight, body fat, and waist circumference, as well as plasma total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, blood glucose, C-reactive protein, adiponectin and leptin levels were observed in the IGOB131 group compared with the placebo group.

“Irvingia gabonensis administered 150 mg twice daily before meals to overweight and/or obese human volunteers favourably impacts body weight and a variety of parameters characteristic of the metabolic syndrome. This is the first double-blind randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial regarding the anti-obesity and lipid profile modulating effects of an Irvingia gabonensis extract.

Irvingia gabonensis extract may prove to be a useful tool in dealing with the emerging global epidemics of obesity, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, and their co-morbid conditions.”
Senna (Cassia alata) leaves as natural quick weigh loss tea and anti acne lotion

Senna alata belongs to the plant family Leguminosae. It is also known as Craw-Craw plant or Ringworm plant (English), asunwon oyinbo (Yoruba), Nelkhi (Igbo), Filisko or Hantsi (Hausa) is an erect tropical, annual herb, which grows up to 0.15 m high.

Cassia plant extracts are the primary ingredient found in most “dieter’s teas”. The combination of acting as a stimulant which reduces a dieter’s appetite, and the laxative properties that cause food to move through their system before as many calories can be absorbed is a combination that can lead to rapid and even dangerous weight loss.

Sennas act as purgatives and are similar to aloe and rhubarb in having as active ingredients anthraquinone derivatives and their glucosides. The latter are called sennosides or senna glycosides. Senna alexandrina is used in modern medicine as a laxative; acting on the lower bowel, it is especially useful in alleviating constipation. It increases the peristaltic movements of the colon by irritating the colonic mucosa.

The plants are most often prepared as an infusion. Senna glycosides are listed as ATC code A06AB06 on their own and A06AB56 in combined preparations. Resveratrol was first isolated from Senna quinquangulata As regards other chemicals, the anti-inflammatory compound resveratrol was first isolated from S. quinquangulata, and Siamese Senna S. siamea contains barakol used to counteract aconitine poisoning. Chinese Senna (S. obtusifolia) seeds are also used in traditional Japanese medicine where they are called ketsumei-shi or by their Chinese name ju? míng z.[…] Senna is also the primary ingredient found in most “dieter’s teas”.

The combination of acting as a stimulant which reduces a dieter’s appetite, and the laxative properties that cause food to move through their system before as many calories can be absorbed is a combination that can lead to rapid and even dangerous weight loss..”

Aloe vera juice for weight loss?

People looking for quick weight-loss solutions sometimes turn to herbal products, such as those containing aloe vera. Although these products may produce short-term weight loss, they are not likely to result in permanent weight loss and may have a number of side effects, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Most studies on Aloe vera and weight loss have used Aloe vera gel or supplements rather than Aloe vera juice, so it may not have the same effects.

An animal study published in Obesity Research & Practice in December 2008 showed a potential for plant sterols found in Aloe vera to improve body composition. In the study, obese rats given these plant sterols had lower levels of abdominal fat after 35 days than rats not given these sterols. This effect may also occur in people. A small preliminary study published in September 2013 in Nutrition found that obese people with diabetes or pre-diabetes who took an Aloe vera gel complex for eight weeks lost more weight and body fat than those not given this supplement. Larger long-term studies are needed to verify these effects.

Aloe vera may result in weight loss due to its laxative effect. Taking laxatives as a way to lose weight is a form of laxative misuse and can result in electrolyte imbalances that can cause numbness, weak muscles, seizures, irregular heartbeat, heart attacks and paralysis. Long-term laxative use can also interfere with your normal bowel function and cause incontinence or dependence on laxatives to have a bowel movement.

Aloe vera latex is commonly used in the treatment of constipation; the laxative effect of the anthraquinone glycosides found in Aloe vera latex is well established. In a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of 28 healthy adults, aloin was reported to have a laxative effect compared to a placebo that was stronger than the stimulant laxative phenolphthalein. In subjects with chronic constipation, a novel preparation containing Aloe vera, celandine, and psyllium was found to improve a range of constipation indicators (bowel movement frequency, consistency of stools, and laxative dependence) in a 28-day double-blind trial; however, the effect of Aloe vera alone was not investigated in this study.

Aloe vera laxative preparations have been approved by the German Commission E governmental regulatory agency for use in the treatment of constipation as a second-line agent; however, Aloe latex is no longer recognized as an over-the-counter drug by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to a lack of sufficient data to establish its safety for use as a laxative.

Cabbage soup diet for weight loss?

The cabbage soup diet is generally considered a fad diet. As the name suggests, the diet requires that you eat large amounts of cabbage soup for a week. During that time, you can also eat certain fruits and vegetables, beef, chicken and brown rice, according to a set schedule.

Proponents of the cabbage soup diet say it’s a good way to quickly lose a few pounds. You may lose weight on the diet because it drastically limits calories. But it may not be fat that you’re losing. It might be water weight or even lean tissue, since it’s hard to burn that many fat calories in such a short period.

Because the cabbage soup diet is low in complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals, you shouldn’t stay on it for more than a week at a time.

The cabbage soup diet has other disadvantages. Depending on the recipe for cabbage soup, the diet can be high in sodium. The large amounts of cabbage also can make you more prone to flatulence. Because you are not getting proper nutrition, you may feel weak or tired while on the diet. And once you stop the diet, it’s easy to regain any weight that you lost.

Fad diets like this one may be tempting, but keep in mind that long-term weight loss depends on making lasting healthy changes in your eating and exercise habits.

The grapefruit weight loss diet – fad or science?

Eat half a grapefruit before each meal and lose 10 pounds in 10 days! Citrus does have a few powerful antioxidants with known cholesterol and blood pressure lowering effects. But can it help with weight loss? A recent study looked at the age-old claim in an effort to get some answers.

The Grapefruit Diet, also known as the Hollywood Diet, or the Mayo Clinic Diet (although it’s not even remotely associated with the real Mayo Clinic), is based on the premise that grapefruit possesses near-magical powers.

Proponents of the diet claim that eating half a grapefruit before meals high in protein and fat produces a metabolic reaction that transforms even the meekest office worker into a magnificent fat-burning machine. The thermogenic powers supposedly stem from a special fat-burning enzyme in grapefruit that acts as a catalyst to help your body incinerate high fat foods, which in turn results in fast weight loss.

The Grapefruit Diet has been around that long. Eighty years ago puts us somewhere in the 1930s.

The diet made a big resurgence in the 1970s when it was promoted as the “Mayo Clinic Diet.” As you can imagine, the doctors and dietitians at Mayo were not too happy about that.

Have any clinical research studies evaluated grapefruit’s fat-burning enzyme potential? The answer to that is yes and no.

Early studies did suggest that subjects on the grapefruit diet would lose weight, but this was most likely due to calorie restriction rather than any special fat-burning properties of the grapefruit itself.

A recent study evaluating the satiating effects of eating or drinking something low in calories before meals compared grapefruit, grapefruit juice, and water. The subjects lost weight, although not a lot. But it didn’t matter which of the pre-meal snacks they had. All had some small effect.

However, a second study showed the opposite. Subjects who ate grapefruit lost more weight than those who ate a placebo.

Citrus, and in particular, grapefruit, contains two of these superstars, flavonones called naringin and hesperidin. Studies conducted in mice and rats have confirmed that naringin and hesperidin act as antioxidants in the fight against free radicals, and reduce cholesterol and blood pressure.

Scientists have also looked at the effects of concentrated doses of naringin and hesperidin on rats. And at these high doses, we see even more evidence that phytochemicals lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Not only that, but in rats, wait for it… naringin appears to stimulate fat breakdown.

The subjects in the grapefruit group may not have lost much weight, but they did lose dangerous belly fat. They also lowered their systolic blood pressure and their Low Density Lipo-protein (LDL)/ ‘bad’ cholesterol. Because the diet they followed was pretty restricted, it’s reasonable to conclude that the phytochemicals in the grapefruit they ate likely helped.

Another factor that may have played a role was the quantity of vitamin C in their diet. Grapefruit is, of course, rich in vitamin C, and this vitamin is an antioxidant with known beneficial effects on blood pressure. So the improvements noted in these subjects could have arisen from the combined or synergistic effects of the vitamin C and grapefruit’s phytochemicals.

The apparent LDL-reducing effects of grapefruit are particularly interesting. Typically, doctors prescribe statins to people with high LDL. Statins are effective but they come with many nasty side effects. If compounds in grapefruit could reduce the need for these drugs, that would be a good thing. Today’s study seems to suggest that grapefruit could be helpful in this regard.

Does a laxative help you lose weight?

Using laxatives to reduce weight has become an extreme dieting technique followed by many people all over the world. Laxatives help speed up the digestion process, thus, it results in increased bowel movement. Researches reveal that more than 47 percent women in the world – who are looking forward to reduce weight fast – utilize laxative pills.

Laxatives are available in the form of pills that can be used like digestive pills. They are mainly used to speed up the digestion process and also to avoid recurrence of constipation. People suffering with chronic constipation are recommended to intake laxatives to regulate their bowel movement. Regular usage of laxative is considered as a serious threat to health because it excretes all nutrients from your body at a faster rate.

For losing water weight, laxatives are the best remedy. They are used two times in a day to increase the bowel movement. Laxatives are also capable of removing toxins from your body by flushing them fast. They work out in the gastro intestinal tract, thereby releasing gas. However, the doctors all over the world say that this is not at all an effective method to lose water weight. The use of laxatives for an extended period of time may disturb a person’s overall metabolism and digestion process.

Increased water discharge from body due to laxatives also harms the energy level of your body. With increased fluid discharge, sudden death may also transpire. Especially for women who use laxative pills to shed water weight, it may result in multi-organ damage and liver failure too.

Laxatives cause both short and long term side effects depending on their usage. These effects also vary from one person to other based on their lifestyle and nutrition level.

The short-term side effects of laxative pills include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and even increased bloating. These short term effects may vanish as soon as you take alternative medicines or just quit the habit of consuming laxatives.

Stomach cramps in women are also caused by laxatives; hence, their consumption should be immediately stopped to avoid further iteration in the health and also the menstrual cycle.

The most common long-term effect of laxative pills includes improper bowel movement which results in bleeding during the excretion process. Moreover, owing to reduced water level in the body, people may suffer with freckles, pimples, and even permanent shrinks on their skin that makes them appear aged. Nerve impulses are also caused due to laxatives, as they affect the electrolytes that enter your body. Permanent damage to the liver and kidneys are also caused by laxatives.

Other natural alternatives to laxatives for weight loss

If ones wishes to stay slim and get rid of water weight fast, then employ natural laxatives that are easily available. Here are a few among the most useful alternatives for laxatives.

1. Water
To lose water weight fast, drink not more than eight glasses of water every day. Water can keep you hydrated and helps speed up the digestion process.

2. Prunes
Prunes are a rich source of vitamin A and potassium. They also work as a great remedy for constipation, since they regulate the digestion process. Have enough prunes regularly and try to have them on an empty stomach to keep you from constipation and also to reduce weight fast.

3. Tender Coconut Water
Coconut water has a great impact in reducing the cholesterol level of the body. It can also be used to get rid of constipation. Instead of laxative pills, one can have coconut water every day to reduce body weight.

4. Legumes
The fiber-rich legumes can be consumed daily, in breakfast, to reduce weight fast. Since legumes have a lot of fiber, they help in weight loss quickly.

5. Beets and Cabbage
Have salads containing beets and cabbage. They are considered good for regulating the digestion process. You can also have beet juice or cabbage juice every day to reduce weight sooner.

Long-term use commercial weight loss supplements may lead to an increased risk of cancer

Long-term use of nutritional chromium supplements may lead to an increased risk of cancer, scientists reveal.

Chromium is a trace mineral involved the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. The mineral is often found in weight loss and body building supplements.

However, chromium can also take on a carcinogenic form, which can increase the risk of cancer.

Popular acid reflux drugs are linked to kidney disease risk

People who take certain popular medicines for heartburn, indigestion and acid reflux may want to proceed more cautiously, researchers reported Monday.

The drugs, known as proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), appear to significantly elevate the chances of developing chronic kidney disease, according to a study involving more than 250,000 people.

PPIs, which are sold by prescription and over-the-counter under a variety of brand names, including Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid.

“They’re very, very common medications,” says Morgan Grams, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health who led the research, being published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

When PPIs were first approved in the 1980s, the drugs appeared to be very safe. Since then, concerns have been rising about their safety. Evidence has emerged that the drugs may increase the risk for a variety of problems, including bone fractures, infections and possibly even heart problems.

Grams and her colleagues decided to examine whether PPIs might increase the risk for chronic kidney disease. They examined the medical records of two groups of people: 10,482 participants in the Artherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study and 248,751 patients in the Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania, United States.