What Are the Dangers of Herbalife?

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Herbalife was founded by Mark Hughes in 1980. Hughes proclaimed that the company's mission was to improve the health of people all around the world. Many dieters rave about the weightloss success they achieve following the Herbalife plan; others are not as enthusiastic about the product and claim harm from its use.

1. Caffeine Overload
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Herbalife contains caffeine. Many people who who take Herbalife supplements have claimed to feel restless and nervous, along with experiencing the jitters and anxiety.

Lead
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Herbalife products, when analyzed, were found to contain high levels of lead. The amounts found in Herbalife products were above what the laws allows and were deemed toxic.

Hypertension
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Herbalife products have been liked to hypertension, which can lead to heart failure.

Unsubstantiated Claims
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Herbalife's checkered past includes warnings from the FDA for false claims about their products.These artificial claims included helping to treat many diseases, getting rid of tumors, increasing circulation, improving alertness and improving overall health.

Side Effects
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Many users of Herbalife have filed lawsuits and complaints about side effects they experienced when using the products. Headaches, constipation, diarrhea, lightheadedness, nausea, and stomach upset are some reported side effects.

Questionable Ingredients
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Ephedra, a main ingredient in Herbalife, has been known to cause psychosis, tremors, kidney stones, high blood pressure, sweats, rapid heartbeat, and damage to the heart and other organs. It has been linked to strokes, seizures and death.

Read more: What Are the Dangers of Herbalife? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_4963945_what-dangers-herbalife.html#ixzz1RCaS8pEv Herbalife is promoted for weight loss. Its product line involves a complex herbal formula that's also purported to cleanse your body and improve vitality. The diet has a myriad of fans who attribute success in overcoming ev erything from obesity to serious medical conditions to the company's concoctions. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not back any such claims and even forced the company to recall a training manual that claimed medicinal values, reports "Cincinnati Magazine." If you'd like to give Herbalife a go, check with your doctor first. Also know that Herbalife can have side effects.
Cascara Sagrada Effects

Herbalife contains Cascara sagrada, advises Mary McCarty of "Cincinnati Magazine." This is a laxative that can cause diarrhea. Cascara sagrada can have side other effects such as cramps and abdominal discomfort, notes George T. Grossberg and Barry Fox in "The Essential Herb -Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide." It also can raise risk of irregular heartbe at if taken with certain medicines such as acebutolol or insulin. Cascara sagrada increases risk for low levels of potassium in your blood, a condition called hypokalemia, when taken with me dicines like cortisone and chlorothiaxide. If you have a gastrointestinal disease, it also can worsen your condition.
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The senna leaves in Herbalife can cause vomiting, nausea, flatulence, irregular heartbeat and kidney damage along with cramping and diarrhe a. This herb can lead to hypokalemia as well, especially when combined with Cascara sagrada and/or medicines that have diuretic effects, note Grossberg and Fox. Ingesting senna with drugs such as estradiol can decrease your blood levels of estrogen. Senna can trigger or worsen electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, gastrointestinal problems and heart ailments, note Grossberg and Fox.
Uva Ursi Liver Concerns

Some Herbalife formulations have unknown amounts of uva ursi, says Deborah R. Mitchell, lead author for "The Diet Pill Guide." One chemical in this herb, called hydroquinone, can be toxic to your liver, advises the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. Thus, you should take products with this herb only for five days at a time, no more than five times a year, advise the experts at UMMC. It also can lead to insomnia, irritability, vomiting and nausea. You should not take products with uva ursi in them if you have high blood pressure, are pregnant, have a kidney or liver ailment, suffer an ulcer or have digestive problems, according to UMMC.

Mania

At least one case of acute mania may be attributed to Herbalife, according to "Meyler's Side Effects of Herbal Medicines," by J.K. Aronson. A 39 -year-old man who had no history of mental disturbance developed the symptoms between four and 72 hours of taking Herbalife. He took it for several more days and became paranoid, psychotic and out of control, Aronson reports. His episode culminated with a high-speed car chase by police. He was treated for bipolar disorder and quit taking Herbalife. He remained symptom free three years later, Aronson reports.
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References
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"Meyler's Side Effects of Herbal Medicines;" J.K. Aronson; 2008 Cincinnati Magazine: Diets---The Good, The Fad and The Quirky; Mary McCarty; 1986

"The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide;" George T. Grossberg and Barry Fox; 2007
"The Diet Pill Guide;" Deborah R. Mitchell et al.; 2002

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/182962 -are-there-any-bad-side-effects-tousing-herbalife/#ixzz1RCam30iP

Herbalife Side Effects

Certain ingredients in some of the Herbalife products may cause Herbalife side effects for various people. Fortunately the USDA requires that any such warnings be included on the Herbalife product labels. Herbalife aside, you should always inspect the product label for any over the counter weight loss supplement. Here are three ingredients that could possibly cause side effects:
1. Caffeine Some Herbalife products contain caffeine as a metabolism booster. Caffeine can cause nervousness, headaches and higher blood pressure. A typical cup of coffee has about 85mg of caffeine per cup. Per serving, Herbalife teas, tablets, and effervescent products have between 65-75 mg of caffeine per serving. If you are allergic to caffeine you should

avoid the products that include caffeine. Some of these are: N-R-G Tablets and Liftoff energy drink. Check the product labels on other products for the ingredients. 2. Protein and/or Soy Some people are allergic to concentrated protein. Although the body has protein in our cells, the problem occurs when too much protein upsets the balance in the body s ability to process protein. Again, check the product labels for each Herbalife product you are considering. 3. Shellfish According to Herbalife certain products contain shellfish, so if you are allergic to shellfish, you may want to avoid these products: Herbalifeline, Tri-Shield, Joint Support.

Risks of Herbalife
Therese Pope is a copywriter and marketing consultant for her own business, Zenful Communications. Her public health nonprofit background, coupled with her writing background, led her to write about the health and wellness industry. Pope was a blogger for Prevention.com and currently writes a variety of SEO Web content. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from California State University, Chico. By
Therese Pope, eHow Contributor

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Herbalife is a natural diet pill supplement. Herbalife sells supplements and shakes that increase energy and raises metabolism. It has been associated with controversy over the years because it used to contain the drug ephedra. Ephedra was taken off the market by the FDA because it was associated with causing heart problems. The following health risks are associated with Herbalife products.

1. Anxiety and Restlessness

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Herbalife supplements contain caffeine. Caffeine helps increase metabolism (which helps with weight loss), but caffeine can also cause anxiety and restlessness.

Increased Blood Pressure

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Because Herbalife contains caffeine, it can increase blood pressure. When blood pressure (hypertension) increases over an extended period of time, cardiovascular problems such as heart disease and stroke can occur.

Counteraction with Prescription Medication

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Because Herbalife contains a wide variety of herbs, it can counteract with prescription medication. People with medical issues who take prescribed medication should consult with their doctor before taking Herbalife.

Headaches
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Herbalife's herbal formula helps boost metabolism to lose weight. However, the caffeine (yerba mate extract) can cause headaches.

Warning
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Herbalife is not a herbal supplement approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Herbalife has also been accused of using too much lead in their products, and has recently been involved in a court case because their supplements exceed the normal lead limit. More information about the risks of Herbalife are available at the Resources below.

Read more: Risks of Herbalife | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_4966019_risks -of-herbalife.html#ixzz1RCbb9qLR

Criticism of the Herbalife Diet Program

By Dr. Kendra Pearsall, N.M.D. with Dr. Chris Traxler, M.D.

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History and Background Information:

Herbalife is a health supplement MLM (multi-level marketing) company with a weight loss emphasis. It was founded in 1980 by 24 -year-old Mark Hughes. Net sales in 2006 were over $1.9 Billion dollars with over a million distributors worldwide. It was createdby a ninth grade dropout and juvenile delinquent who decided to create his own MLM after being a distributor for two other weight loss MLM companies that went out of business. According to a 1985 issue of the Herbalife Journal, Hughes started Herbalife because his own mother was 30 pounds overweight and died (when he was only 19 years old) by overdosing on diet pills and unwise dieting practices. Her death left him with a fervent desire to find a product that would enhance and build health while allowing an individual to take weight off sensibly and safely In actuality, the autopsy report shows that Hughes mother died of an overdose of Darvon, a narcotic. Although 5 -foot-6-inches tall, she was a mere 105 pounds at deathhardly 30 pounds overweight. There are reports that Hughes traveled to China to study herbal medicine although he had no formal medical or nutrition training. According to the Herbalife literature: During [Hughes] search, he had met Richard Marconi, PhD, with whom he shared his dream . After a lot of research and testing, Herbalife Slim and Trim was born. Actually the truth is only after he met Richard Marconi and formed the company did Marconi sign up for a mail order PhD program to add more credibility to the company. The many statements Herbalife representatives have made about extensive testing and research have been shown to be false in later court trials. Hughes started the company by selling Herbalife products out of the trunk of

his car because he couldnt afford a storefront. According to one former Herbalife employee, Hughes was able to make the company immensely successful because of his incredible charisma; he was loved and admired by his distributors. He led hundreds of sales rallies -- resembling religious evangelical gatherings -- drawing people both to the products and the prospect of getting rich selling them. His pitches are still broadcast on Herbalife's Web site.

Troubled Past For Herbalife

In 1982, the FDA sent Herbalife a Notice of Adverse Findings, which reb uked Herbalife for labeling claims that their products were effective for treating many diseases, dissolving and removing tumors, rejuvenating, increasing circulation, and producing mental alertness.

Safety Concerns
A 1984, FDA Talk Paper notes that the FDA had received many complaints about side effects that had occurred during the use of Herbalife products and had stopped when use of the products was stopped. Company literature given to Herbalife distributors at the time stated that up to 25% of product users will have adverse effects but claims that this is evidence of the body's improving itself. Several suits were filed by people who alleged that the products had harmed them. Some of these suits were settled out of court with substantial payment, but the amounts have not been disclosed, and the case records are sealed. The hearing also brought to light a study done by Herbalife of 428 users of its products. About 40% had experienced headache, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, lighthea dedness, palpitations, and/or other transient symptoms that might be attributable to Herbalife products. The occurrence of side effects came as no surprise, because several ingredients in Herbalife products were potent laxatives and one product (N.R.G.) contained guarana, which is high in caffeine.

Research and Testing

By 1985, Senate hearings grilled Hughes about the "research and testing" done prior to marketing Herbalife's products. Hughes said, "We have a lot of scientific data on the herbs," but it w as ascertained that no actual testing of Herbalife products had taken place. Marconi told a CNN interviewer, "We employed hundreds even thousands of PhDs in the research program for our products." But when asked who they were, he replied, "Why, the research papers that are published and printed that we have access to on our computer." In March 1985, the California Attorney General had charged Herbalife with: 1) Violating California's consumer protection laws. 2) Making illegal claims in the company handbook that various herbal ingredients were effective against more than 70 diseases and conditions. 3) The suit also charged that Herbalife had been operating an illegal pyramid scheme. The case was settled in 1986 when Hughes and the company agreed to pay $850,000 and to abide by a long list of court -ordered restrictions on claims and marketing practices.

Questionable Ingredients
Concern about the side effects of Herbalife weight loss products has grown, however, after the FDA attributed a 1998 cardiac ar rest suffered by a 28- yearold woman to a Herbalife ephedrine product, Original Green. Ephedrine, a chemical cousin of amphetamines that increases blood pressure and heart rate, has been linked by the FDA to hundreds of adverse reactions and dozens of deaths. Ephedrine, (also known as Ephedra, Ma Huang) was a key ingredient that made the Herbalife products so successful for weight loss. Ephedrine is essentially speed and will shut off your appetite completely allowing you to subsist on one meal a day. But it shuts down your appetite at a price:

Possible Side Effects of Ephedra

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nausea headache; dizziness irritation of the stomach; diarrhea anxiety; psychosis kidney stones tremors dry mouth irregular or rapid heart rhythms; heart damage high blood pressure restlessness; nervousness; sleeping problems decreased appetite flushing; sweating increased urination