5 Weight-Loss Strategies That Don ’t Work—And What To Do Instead
Every year, losing weight ranks among the top New Year’s resolutions. And every year, we keep trying many of the same methods—and not surprisingly, keep getting the same disappointing results. The unfortunate truth is that most weight-loss strategies don’t work long term, and some can even make matters worse or cause other harms.
But that doesn’t mean trying to shed pounds is futile. Studies show that some approaches are, in fact, effective.
Here are five popular methods that often fail—and alternatives that are more likely to lead to long-term success.
1. Counting Calories
Tracking calories m...
Source: TIME: Health - January 20, 2023 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Robert J. Davis Tags: Uncategorized freelance health Source Type: news
Afghanistan is being overrun by crystal meth as US begins withdrawal
Ephedra sinica, which contains the key ingredient for making crystal meth, grows wild in Afghanistan's mountains. (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - May 7, 2021 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
MusclMasster LLC Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Al-Er-G Capsules Because it Contains the Banned Substance Ephedra
MusclMasster, LLC of Wheat Ridge, CO is recalling all bottles of Al-Er-G Capsules because they contain the presence of Ephedra Herb, an FDA banned ingredient. Dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids pose a risk of serious adverse events, including heart attack, stroke, and death, and that these risks are unreasonable in light of any benefits that may result from the use of these products under their labeled conditions of use. (Source: FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research - What's New)
Source: FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research - What's New - June 5, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: FDA Source Type: news
Isolation and characterization of key enzyme for ephedrine production
(Epimeron Inc.) Epimeron, Inc., a world-class provider of gene discovery and biosynthetic pathway optimization, today announced the isolation and characterization of an enzyme from Ephedra sinica catalyzing an essential step in the formation of the important drugs ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. Deploying the gene encoding the newly discovered enzyme in microbes allows the production of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine by fermentation instead of using chemical processes. This breakthrough also enables the bioproduction of other pharmaceutically important related compounds. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - July 10, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Al-Er-G Capsules by MusclMasster: Recall - Contains Banned Substance Ephedra
MusclMasster, LLC recalls Al-Er-G Capsules because the product contained Ephedra Herb, an FDA banned ingredient. (Source: NCCAM Featured Content)
Source: NCCAM Featured Content - June 1, 2017 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: NCCIH Source Type: news
MusclMasster LLC Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Al-Er-G Capsules Because it Contains the Banned Substance Ephedra
MusclMasster, LLC of Wheat Ridge, CO is recalling all bottles of Al-Er-G Capsules because they contain the presence of Ephedra Herb, an FDA banned ingredient. Dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids pose a risk of serious adverse events, including heart attack, stroke, and death, and that these risks are unreasonable in light of any benefits that may result from the use of these products under their labeled conditions of use. (Source: Food and Drug Administration)
Source: Food and Drug Administration - May 24, 2017 Category: Food Science Source Type: news
Kingsway Trading Inc. Recalls “Xanthium & Siler Combo (Bi Yan Pian) Dietary Supplement ” because it Contains Banned Ephedra Alkaloids
Kingsway Trading Inc. of Brooklyn, NY is recalling its 1.06 oz (30g) bottles of “Well Balance Xanthium& Siler Combo (Bi Yan Pian) ” Batch No. 130401& Batch No. 150201 because they contain the presence of undeclared Ephedra Herba (ma huang), an FDA banned item. Dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids pose a risk of serious adverse events, including heart attack, stroke, and death, and that these risks are unreasonable in light of any benefits that may result from the use of these products under their labeled conditions of use, or under ordinary conditions of use if the labeling is silent. (Source: Food and Drug Administration)
Source: Food and Drug Administration - February 8, 2017 Category: Food Science Source Type: news
Weight Loss Pills And Products Don't Work And Aren't Safe
Our ancestors lived in a feast or famine world. When you don't know where your next meal is coming from, or when it will arrive, the smart play is to pig out every time food is available. Our genes are programmed to extract as much energy as possible from what we eat and to store any extra energy in fat reservoirs, available in reserve for future famines.
These deeply ingrained genetic tendencies worked great in the austere world of our ancestors, but are a disaster in our current world of refrigerators, ubiquitous fast food joints and milk shakes.
Only one third of Americans are now able to maintain a normal weight; one ...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - September 5, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
Are Supplements About to Get Safer?
Most people who take dietary supplements assume the products are safe.
After all, if the vitamins, minerals, and herbs sold in health stores weren't safe, it would be illegal to sell them -- right?
What many people don't realize is that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates supplements, has limited power and resources to police the products that make it to store shelves.
The power the FDA does have comes from the Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act (DSHEA).
The law requires that supplement manufacturers file a New Dietary Ingredient Notification (NDIN) with the FDA at least 75 days before...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - September 2, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Banned and discouraged-use ingredients found in weight loss supplements - Eichner S, Maguire M, Shea LA, Fete MG.
OBJECTIVES: To identify banned and discouraged-use ingredients, such as ephedra, 1,3-dimethylamylamine, and beta-methyl-phenylethylamine, in readily available weight loss dietary supplements within a 10-mile radius of Regis University. METHODS: A l... (Source: SafetyLit)
Source: SafetyLit - August 3, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Tags: Alcohol and Other Drugs Source Type: news
Heart failure patients warned off over-the-counter medications
New guidance for the 500,000 Britons who suffer heart failure says painkillers and herbal remedies could be dangerousThe 500,000 Britons who suffer from heart failure have been warned to avoid taking over-the-counter medications such as painkillers and cold remedies in case they endanger their health.The warning, contained in new guidance produced by the American Heart Association (AHA), also identifies herbal products such as ephedra, St John’s wort and ginseng as potentially risky for those who already have heart failure. Continue reading... (Source: Guardian Unlimited Science)
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - July 11, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Denis Campbell Health policy editor Tags: Health Drugs Heart attack Science Society UK news Source Type: news
Reduction in ephedra poisonings after FDA ban - Zell-Kanter M, Quigley MA, Leikin JB.
[Abstract unavailable]
Language: en... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))
Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) - May 30, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Tags: Alcohol and Other Drugs Source Type: news
Plant releases its pollen in the full moon
Moonlight helps nocturnal insects pollinate Ephedra foeminea (Source: ScienceNOW)
Source: ScienceNOW - April 1, 2015 Category: Science Source Type: news
Generation jitters: are we addicted to caffeine?
Caffeine is the drug many of us can't live without – but do you have any idea how much is in your daily hit?Propped up on my desk before me, there is a vacuum-sealed bag of white powder. Chemists would recognise this substance as a methylated xanthine, composed of tiny crystalline structures. It is a drug, and I have been under its influence nearly every day for the past 25 years. It is caffeine, and in moderation it makes us feel good. But it is a drug whose strength is consistently underestimated. You'd need to down about 50 cups of coffee at once, or 200 cups of tea, to approach a lethal level of caffeinatio...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - March 7, 2014 Category: Science Tags: The Guardian Coffee Soft drinks Health & wellbeing Food Society Drugs Extracts Features Life and style Science Source Type: news
Study: Workout supplement may contain meth-like ingredient
Craze, linked to failed drug tests in athletes who said they took natural supplements, contains meth-like compound stronger than ephedra (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Source: Health News: CBSNews.com - October 14, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
