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Sunday, July 20, 2008 

Hardwired for fat: scientists identify obesity gene (AFP)

An obese man walks through Sydney. British and French scientists have identified several variants of a single gene that boost the risk of obesity, according to a study published Sunday in the British journal Nature.(AFP/File/Greg Wood)AFP - British and French scientists have identified several variants of a single gene that boost the risk of obesity, according to a study published Sunday in the British journal Nature.

Herbal diet supplements can be found in many health food stores and are sold over the counter. Many can be purchased on the internet. Well known supplements include ephedrine, ephedra, guarana, St. John's Wart and Senna. These are fat burners that work by boosting your metabolism. For the short term many of these are helpful for losing weight.

Just like pharmacuetical diet pills, not all herbal supplements are created equal. The problem with herbal weight loss supplements does not lie with their effectiveness. The problem is with their side effects. As with medicine, some herbal supplements produce drastic side effects including increases of blood pressure and heart problems.

For example, as most of us have already heard, ephedra causes some serious side effects. These include high blood pressure, seizures and even strokes.

Conversely, it is also true that some products touted as being effective for weight loss have no real effect at all. Presently, there is a very popular black tea advertised under the name of Wu Yi. While it is true that it is tasty and soothing, Chinese doctors will tell you that it produces no weight loss effects. When reading about this product online, one can surmise why it seems to work at all. The advertising states that this product works very well when combined with a healthy diet and an exercise program. Perhaps the nicest thing to say about Wu Yi is that it causes no harm.

Still, it is important to be diligent when using any type of supplement, whether it is medical or herbal. It is important to do your homework before purchasing or using any of these supplements.

The following are some of the things to look for (especially when buying online).

1/ Check the ingredients. The literature or advertising should tell you what the product contains. Go on the internet and do your research. Find out for yourself whether the ingredients are healthy or harmful.

2/ The company that you purchase your product from should have contact information. The more the better. Your looking for name, address, phone number and an email address.

3/ Make sure that the seller of the product bulk d calcium pantothenate a refund policy, especially one with no questions asked.

4/ Try to talk to someone who has used the product. Since this is not always possible, at least check the testimonials. You want to see if these people have similar experiences to your own.

5/ When you do purchase any product, whether it is medicinal or natural, do not exceed the recommended dosage.

6/ Last but not least, if you have any medical condition whatsoever or are under the care of a physician, consult with your doctor first.

While it is true that some of these products work well enough on their own, it is always best to change your diet and to exercise. Believe it or not, your primary consideration is to become healthy and happy. Weight loss is the by product of changing your habits and improving your lifestyle.

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Kathryn Soloff is the mother of 8 children and a natural foods cook for over 30 years. She is co-publisher of http://www.natural-remedy-dot-com.com/fatburnerreviews/herbal_fat_burners.html where she provides additional advice, tips and hard to find information on Weight Loss