Hello again, beloved viewers.
We know the stress of losing weight can be overbearing.
Even though you’re trying your best, you don’t seem to be making much progress.
We’re not going to tell you what to do, but if you’re thinking of taking diet pills,
there’s some things you should know first.
This is why today’s video will focus on the negative side effects of diet pills.
Can you experience kidney problems?
How about loss of sleep?
Do they increase your blood pressure at a dangerous level?
We’re answering all that AND more.
Kidney Problems
There are many different medications that can do damage to your kidneys.
Various weight loss pills are among them.
If you are taking diet pills to lose weight, make sure you have spoken to your doctor about
the effects these supplements have on your organs.
It’s estimated that 1 in 7 adults in the United States suffer from kidney disease.
That’s nearly 37 million people.
While there are a multitude of reasons for this, among the most alarming are the possibly
harmful substances you’ve been taking.
When the kidneys are attacked by a foreign supplement, they may not know how to react.
This applies to Hydroxycut, a popular dietary supplement.
Hydroxycut has been flagged by the Food and Drug Administration for contributing to a
number of issues including kidney failure.
Insomnia
Taking weight loss supplements can hold you back from sleeping.
This is yet another reason you might want to stay away from them.
Have you ever heard of anorexiants?
Anorexiants are drugs that fool around with your brain to make think you’re not hungry.
They are often taken to treat weight loss.
But there are other elements at play with anorexiants.
For many medications, caffeine is added in order to increase metabolism.
It can also stimulate your nervous system and increase your body’s fat oxidation.
Since many diet supplements contain this caffeine, a person trying to get in shape may fall into
bouts of anxiety and insomnia.
The scary part is that many weight loss supplements don’t specify just how much caffeine they
contain.
So, if you happen to be taking other caffeine-heavy substances like coffee, you could be in for
one heck of a sleepless night…
Or several.
Headaches
As if insomnia wasn’t enough of a headache.
Now literal headaches?
These diet pills are sounding worse by the minute.
The truth is that weight loss supplements, particularly contrave and lorcaserin, play
around with the neurotransmitters in the brain to curb your hunger and food cravings.
One of the side effects of both supplements is a hard and painful headache.
Before taking either substance, it is best to first consult a doctor.
If you are taking these supplements and you feel you are getting headaches more frequently,
it may be best to drink lots of water.
Along with diet pills, dehydration is a very common cause of weight loss headaches.
While it is unknown for sure, experts claim this has to do with the decreasing level of
blood vessels in your brain.
This can directly interfere with the functioning of your diet supplements.
So pour yourself a cup of H2O and up that electrolyte count.
If your headaches continue, talk to a medical professional.
Agitation
Another factor one must consider when taking diet pills is the amount of agitation they
might feel.
While it’s been suggested that Hydroxycut can help some lose as much as 21 lbs over
the span of 3 months, it can also cause you to feel increasingly more irritated.
This again can be due to its powerful concentration of caffeine.
If you are taking this substance, you may find yourself becoming slightly more jittery
than you normally are.
If you are able to, cut the diet supplements as quickly as possible.
Insomnia is also just around the corner.
Before we continue, do you suffer from anxiety or other mental health issues?
Perhaps you should check out our video on 7 Daily Activities That Can Cause Depression.
Have you been trying to lose weight?
In that case, it’s also good to watch at our clip on 8 Weight Loss Myths You Need to
Know.
Now back to our video on 8 Negative Side Effects of Diet Pills.
Increased Heart Rate
This is something that will certainly not be improved by your agitation.
Among the more alarming side effects of diet pills is an increased heart rate.
Weight loss drugs can change the rhythm of your heart beat, with an amphetamine-like
function that needs to be tended to as soon as possible.
The altering of your heartbeat is known as Tachycardia.
In the case of diet pills.
Tachycardia can occur when your heart has been stimulated by a substance, leading to
a faster heart rate.
Supplements containing bitter orange have been shown to increase your heart rate.
A 2006 study done on 15 healthy young adults revealed that just a single dose of bitter
orange could increase your heart rate for up to 5 hours.
High Blood Pressure
Ingredients like bitter orange are also shown to increase your blood pressure level.
It’s not just bitter orange.
Ephedra, a herbal stimulant which used to be found in weight loss products, can also
increase blood pressure.
Due to this result along with several others, it was banned by the Food and Drug Administration.
Bitter orange is now the substitute for Ephedra.
Diarrhea
While it may seem like there’s some humour in this next entry, I assure you there is
not.
Diarrhea is a highly common side effect of weight loss pills.
One that can’t be taken lightly.
Not only does diarrhea lack in humour, it can also be dangerous to your health in the
long run.
If you suffer from diarrhea for an extensive period, your body could end up losing too
much water.
This will leave you dehydrated and in serious need of an electrolytes boost.
A prescription drug known as orlistat has a reputation of affecting your bowel habits.
This includes a difficulty controlling their bowel movements.
Liver Damage
One of the most frightening of diet pill side effects is the damage they can inflict on
your liver.
Weight loss supplements can take a toll on your organ.
This includes acute liver failure.
Remember our old pal Hydroxycut?
Over the past few years, there have been several reports of patients suffering from liver damage
due to hydroxycut.
Some of these patients have required liver transplants.
Many of these people stated they even took the proper precautions, reading the instructions
and consuming the recommended amount.
These diet pills really seem like they do more harm than good, don’t they?
Before you lose hope, there are plenty of other great ways to get in shape, without
the aid of weight loss supplements?
Here are a few you can consider if you don’t have the time to hit the gym regularly.
Drink More Water
This is among the most straightforward methods of weight loss out there.
Water not only serves as the ultimate thirst quencher, it also flushes salts and toxins
out of your body while speeding up your metabolism.
You’ve got to admit, there is sometimes nothing more relieving than an ice cold glass
of water.
We mentioned earlier how your body can become dehydrated through the effects of weight loss
pills.
To avoid dehydration under any circumstances, make sure you are drinking the proper amount
of water each day.
There are plenty of benefits to regular water consumption.
Were you aware that drinking one glass a half hour before every meal could reduce the number
of calories you eat?
Experts recommend the water is cold when you drink it.
This way the body will burn even more calories by heating the water to body temperature.
See?
You already have a great alternative to diet pills.
Eat Lots of Fibre
Fibre-rich foods are key in the weight loss process, as they help clean our system while
making us feel full for a longer period of time.
Dietary fibre will keep our hunger at bay and stop us from consuming those unnecessary
calories.
It does this by soaking up water in the intestine and slowing down nutrient absorption.
Fibre also gives energy to your gut bacteria, those tiny little particles that keep your
microbiome clean.
It helps the good bacteria in your gut grow as well as properly function.
Some of the best high-fibre foods to eat include oatmeal, beans, broccoli, avocado, raspberries
and chia seeds.
All easy-to-find items on your shopping list.
Get More Sleep
Believe it or not, sleeping a healthy number of hours has weight loss benefits.
When we are sleeping properly, our hormones that regulate appetite begin to elevate.
When these hormones are disrupted, our level of hunger goes through the roof.
Since the body is searching for alternative ways to become energized, we eat.
This causes our calorie intake to increase over the recommended amount.
This ranges from 1600 to 2400 for grown women and 2000 to 3000 for grown men.
If this habit lasts an extended period of time, it can lead to diseases such as diabetes
and obesity.
Whether you choose just one of these options, or all of them, I can assure you they are
healthier and more beneficial than diet pills.
Are you thinking of taking diet pills?
If you have already, are these side effects accurate?
Let us know in the comments below!
We would love to hear from you...