BITTER ORANGE
Commonly viewed as a replacement for Ephedra, which was banned by the FDA because of it’s health risks, Bitter Orange to date has not proven effective for weight loss. In one study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, the 10 participants actually gained weight over a period of 8 weeks (Dietary Herbal Supplements with Phenylephrine for Weight Loss, Journal of Medicinal Food, 9(4): 572-578).
Not only that, but Bitter Orange also has similar health risks to Ephedra, including spikes in blood pressure. In a study done at the University of California, 10 volunteers that took the supplement Xenadrine EFX, which contains bitter orange and caffeine, experienced an increase in blood pressure of between 7% and 12%.
Tomorrow: Weight Loss Supplements Part 7 - Hoodia