Weight loss pills and potions

Weight loss pills and potions
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In our quest to shed kilos we’re often drawn to herbal supplements that promise quick and healthy weight loss. But instead of a healthy jump start we just get jumpy. An irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure and oddly enough – a ravenous appetite are some nasty side effects people can have when taking these unregulated pills and potions. Some ingredients may be omitted from the label; some list ingredients that can be dangerous for people with certain medical conditions. One example: Sibutramine, a prescription diet drug that was so dangerous it was pulled off the U.S. market for causing heart problems, turned up in herbal weight loss pills. Water pills, which promise to get rid of bloat were found to have triamterene, a powerful diuretic that can have serious side-effects and should only be used under the care of your doctor. The FDA also found weight loss supplements to contain fluoxetine, the active ingredient in Prozac. What you don’t know can be dangerous.

Read more about when medicines do more harm than good.

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Sunscreen

Sunscreen
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With all the information we have about the sun’s harmful rays and skin cancer, who wouldn’t use sunscreen? Well, babies shouldn’t actually. According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, the safest approach is to keep infants 6 months and younger out of the sun. Infants haven’t developed our tougher skin yet – specifically, the acid mantle. This film on the skin’s surface protects us from bacteria, viruses and transepidermal water loss. Babies’ immature skin system can leave them vulnerable to the chemicals in sunscreen. Keep the tiny tots in the shade, under an umbrella or canopy, and dress them in hats and lightweight clothing.

Teething gels

Teething gels
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We get it: You’re facing another long night with junior teething. His chompers need pain relief and you need sleep. Teething gel to the rescue! Hang on: If your tot is under two years old, the FDA recommends avoiding any teething gels with benzocaine. The problem is something called methemoglobinemia, a condition that dramatically reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood, and it can lead to trouble breathing and seizures. It can even be fatal, and the symptoms like light-headedness or fatigue may not be evident to parents.

Anti-ageing and skin-lightening products

Anti-ageing and skin-lightening products
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You just watched an amazing video of a woman’s skin transformed from saggy and wrinkly to firm and wrinkle free. It really works! But what’s in it? Many of these products are made overseas but sold illegally through apps and social media. The real problem is the mercury these products contain. If the label lists “mercurous chloride,” “calomel,” “mercuric,” “mercurio,” or “mercury,” you know that the product has mercury. Don’t use it or buy it. Mercury can kill you.

Eyedrops

Eyedrops
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Eyedrops get rid of bloodshot eyes but they can also be dangerous if your kid decides to squirt some in their mouth. “Eyedrops that contain imidazoline decongestants such as naphazoline, tetrahydrozoline, or oxymetazoline are dangerous when ingested, even in small quantities like 1-2 tablespoons,” says Gwenn Christianson, RN at the Indiana Poison Center at IU Health. They can sedate children, and interfere with breathing.

St. John’s wort

St. John’s wort
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This well-known herb has been used for centuries to treat depression. It can be a safe alternative to prescription antidepressants, but St. John’s wort doesn’t always play nice with the other meds you may be taking. “St. John’s Wort is a known enzyme inductor, meaning it prompts the body to produce more of the enzymes that break down substances and clear them from the body,” says Cara Harbstreet, MS, RD, of Street Smart Nutrition. These herb-drug interactions can occur if you’re taking meds such as antiretroviral drugs, oral contraceptives, cyclosporine, antidepressants and anticoagulants. Drug interactions can reduce the effectiveness of your prescription meds, drastically reduce your immune system or magnify the side effects of the drug you are taking. If you are considering adding a herbal supplement, consult with a physician or dietitian who can provide guidance to avoid potentially dangerous herb-drug interactions,” says Harbstreet.

Here are some other trusted home remedies that will only make things worse.

Ayurvedic products

Ayurvedic products
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Ayurvedic medicine is trendy. It is based on a traditional system of healing arts that originated in India. Ayurveda uses spices, herbs, vitamins, proteins, minerals and metals – including mercury and lead. Although many people claim they’ve benefited from this method of medicine, wellness seekers need to be aware that many of the products being sold aren’t regulated. According to the FDA website, researchers tested 193 products and almost 21 percent were found to contain levels of lead, mercury or arsenic which can be toxic and dangerous.

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Source: RD.com

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