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After many years of promoting herbal weight loss products, they have finally started to become popular but there is an ever increasing range to choose from. Probably the most well known of these products are pretty much household names like Guarana, Hoodia, dandelion, extract of green tea and the slightly lesser know cascara. By fooling the brain into believing the body does not need food it is able to control how much the user consumes and has been used by local populations for many centuries.

People who use Guarana find that the caffeine it contains helps to speed up their metabolism in an effort to burn off calories but it is a diuretic as well. Guarana has a few side effects which might not suit it as an herbal weight loss supplement like increasing the blood pressure with some users feeling dizzy or nauseous after using it.

Dandelion is another diuretic (it makes you urinate more frequently) and while side effects are relatively harmless, allergic reactions have been reported. The immediate result is water weight loss which is temporary at best leaving this herbal supplement ineffective for long-term weight loss.

In an effort to maintain a healthy system many natural weight loss products use cascara, an herbal laxative which helps expel unwanted and unhealthy toxins from the body. This is not a supplement that should be taken for a long period as the loss of necessary fluids and other nutrients form the system can be harmful.

Although an ancient herbal weight loss product, green tea provides many benefits which are only just being explored in the West with many items now containing them including skin care products. Some studies have shown positive results for increased weight loss with the use of green tea extract so long as healthy eating and exercise habits are also being followed.

While hundreds often thousands of dollars are spent annually by Americans on herbal and natural products to help control their weight, much more long term research needs to be carried out to assess just how effective these supplements really are. Some people believe that the popularity is just a way to take more money from people as products that contain Hoodia for example can cost up to 50 dollars or more for a months supply. The real truth is that herbal weight loss supplements do have their place but they should not be relied upon to control weight on their own but should be part of a regime which promotes healthy eating and exercise.

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