HERBALIFE ENERGY DRINK VS SIDE EFFECT

 HERBALIFE SIDE EFFECTS

The Side Effects of a LiftOFF HERBALIFE Energy Drink
Jun 30, 2011 | By Tomas Linnaeus 

 

Energy drinks have exploded in popularity during the past 10 years. Most of these products include a proprietary blend of ingredients. Some drinks come in a beverage can, whereas others such as Liftoff come in a tablet form. According to the Herbalife website, Liftoff contains substances known to enhance mental performance and boost energy. While often effective, these ingredients can cause allergic reactions in some people. Speak with a licensed physician before consuming a large quantity of energy drinks.
 

Caffeine
Most energy drinks contain caffeine -- a substance known to increase performance and alertness. Ingesting this stimulant provides benefits to athletes in both individual and team sports, according to a December 2010 review in "Sports Medicine." Yet, caffeine can also cause side effects. An article published in the 2011 volume of the "Polish Heart Journal" describes some of these effects. Large doses can elevate blood pressure and cholesterol count. Pregnant women should also avoid the stimulant. It can have adverse effects on the growth and heart of the fetus.
 

Guarana
The Paullinia cupana plant -- better known as guarana -- remains popular despite safety concerns. Guarana has a protective effect on your body as habitual users appear less likely to develop diabetic symptoms, according to a February 2011 report in "Phytotherapy Research." Many over-the-counter supplements adversely affect the kidneys. A case report presented in the March 2007 issue of "Orvosi Hetilap" suggests that long-term use of guarana leads to organ damage. Years of supplementation caused kidney failure in a 30-year-old female patient. This damage disappeared when the women stopped taking guarana.

Ginseng
Ginseng can slow the aging process and improve thinking, according to a December 2009 review in the "Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine." These benefits may come at a price as ginseng can also cause allergic reactions. A clinical trial described in the July 2004 edition of the "Annals of Medicine" discovered a potential drug interaction associated with ginseng use. Participants taking warfarin, a blood-thinning drug, also received ginseng for three weeks. Relative to baseline, ginseng significantly reduced the effectiveness of warfarin. This change could prove fatal in some cases.
 

Taurine
Beverage makers often add the organic acid taurine to their energy drinks. This substance reduces fatigue and enhances performance, according to a February 2004 article in "Amino Acids." Taurine also helps the body process sugar. A study published in the 2011 volume of "Biomedical Research" showed that its antioxidant effects protect the body from diabetic damage. Yet, these beneficial effects can cause problems as well. A February 2002 report in "Platelets" indicates that taurine reduces blood coagulation by about 10 percent. This change could prevent wound healing in susceptible people.
 

Ginkgo
The Ginkgo biloba tree provided traditional societies several medicines. Modern researchers have obtained documentation for some of these alleged effects. Ginkgo improves symptoms of dementia, according to a 2011 paper in "Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment." It might also relieve ear ringing in patients with hearing loss. Effective in the short-term, the long-term safety of ginkgo remains unknown. A review published in the January 2008 issue of the "Journal of Food Science" described several possible side effects of ginkgo. Most reactions are mild, but some can be severe. Doctors, for example, have observed near fatal cases of internal bleeding following extended ginkgo use.

References

• Herbalife; Liftoff: Product Details
• "Sports Medicine"; Dietary Supplements and Team-Sport Performance; David Bishop; December 2010
• "Polish Heart Journal"; Coffee and Caffeine -- Enemies or Alliantes of a Cardiologist?; Wojciech Dworzanski, et al.; 2011
• "Phytotherapy Research"; Habitual Intake of Guarana and Metabolic Morbidities: An Epidemiological Study of an Elderly Amazonian Population; C. Costa Krewer, et al.; February 2011
• "Orvosi Hetilap"; Acute Renal Failure Caused by Plant Extract; Katalin Vagasi, et al.; March 2007
• "Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine"; New Achievements in Ginseng Research and Its Future Prospects; Shi-Feng Chu and Jun-Tian Zhang; December 2009

Article reviewed by Tina Boyle Last updated on: Jun 30, 2011 
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Side Effects of Herbal Life Products

Jul 20, 2010 | By Brian Willett


Herbal Life is a company that produces a wide range of nutrition products, from vitamin supplements and diet pills to protein snacks and digestive health supplements. While these supplements may be beneficial to your health, you should research the ingredients in each supplement to avoid possible side effects. Even if a product has positive reviews, your results may vary. Consult your doctor before using any Herbal Life supplements to discuss their safety and efficacy.

Hypotension: Cell-U-Loss
Cell-U-Loss is a supplement marketed by Herbal Life to help you decrease bodily fluid retention. This product contains a number of ingredients, most of them herbs. One herb in the Cell-U-Loss formula is hydrangea, which may cause hypotension, or low blood pressure, according to the Silberg Center for Dental Science. Hypotension is a condition that may cause fainting, shock and dizziness. The Silberg Center notes that hydrangea may be especially dangerous when used in conjunction with high blood pressure medication.

Cancer Risk: Total Control

Total Control is a weight management supplement that is intended to increase your metabolism, increase your energy levels, and promote healthy weight loss. Total Control is similar to many other weight loss supplements because it contains stimulants such as caffeine and yerba mate. According to Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D., yerba mate may promote weight loss, but it also has a number of side effects--including increased cancer risk. According to Zeratsky, regular intake of yerba mate may increase your risk of cancers such as those of the lungs, mouth and esophagus. Zeratsky does note that the risk is probably small, however.

Difficulty Sleeping: LiftOff

LiftOff is an energy supplement produced by Herbal Life. This product comes in the form of a tablet that dissolves in water. LiftOff contains a number of stimulants to increase energy, but these ingredients may also cause side effects, including difficulty sleeping, or insomnia. Herbal Life LiftOff contains caffeine, a common stimulant that may cause sleeping problems, according to the University of Maryland Medical Clinic. In addition, LiftOff contains guarana, which the website Drugs.com explains may cause anxiety, nervousness and trouble sleeping. Due to these side effects, you should not take LiftOff within several hours of bed time.

References

    The Silberg Center for Dental Science: Herbal Medications
    Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.: Yerba Mate: Is It Safe To Drink?
    University of Maryland Medical Center: Caffeine In The Diet
    Drugs.com: Guarana Side Effects
Article reviewed by GlennK Last updated on: Jul 20, 2010
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 Guarana Tea & Headaches 

Guarana tea is made from the berries of the guarana plant, a bush native to the Amazon river basin. Indigenous peoples of the Amazon rainforest have used guarana as an herbal medicine to treat many ailments, including headache. Like any health supplement, consult your doctor before taking guarana.
Headache
Guarana may be an effective short-term treatment for headaches, according to the University of Colorado Denver College of Pharmacy. However, guarana is not recommended for treatment of chronic headache, and should not be taken for more than seven days in a row, in order to reduce the risk of side effects such as nausea, anxiety, irritability and increased heart rate.
Tea
Guarana tea is often made by dissolving powered guarana berries in hot water. For optimal results, combine a half to 1 tsp. of powdered guarana with 8 oz. of hot water, recommends CrazyForTea.com. Alternatively, purified guarana supplements can be taken, at a dose of 200 to 800 mg, reports A Nurse's Guide to Herbal Remedies.
Active Ingredient 
The likely active ingredient in guarana tea responsible for the effect on headache is caffeine, explains the New York University Langone Medical Center. Although other related stimulants, including theobromine and theophylline, may also play a role. Caffeine is often an effective treatment for headaches for people who do not regularly consume caffeine, according to an article published in the May 2007 issue of the medical journal "Neurological Sciences."
Too Much Caffeine 
While occasional consumption of caffeine, in guarana tea or other forms, may be beneficial for headaches, frequent consumption of guarana tea may actual result in more headaches, warns the article in "Neurological Sciences." Long-term consumption of caffeine can lead to physical dependence, which causes withdrawal in the absence of caffeine. One of the common symptoms of caffeine withdrawal is headache, sometimes chronic headaches.
ReferencesArticle reviewed by Tina Boyle Last updated on: Sep 1, 2011  | By Matthew Busse

References

• A Nurse's Guide to Herbal Remedies: Guarana
• New York University Langone Medical Center: Guarana
• University of Colorado, Denver College of Pharmacy: Guarana; Kelvin Anderson; May 2003
• "Neurological Sciences"; Caffeine and Headaches; R.E. Shapiro; May 2007
• CrazyForTea.com: Guarana Herb - Herbal Tea 
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