Natural Herbal Weight Loss Supplements

Natural herbal weight loss supplements may seem like a less expensive option than prescription diet pills. However, before you take the path of least resistance by purchasing them online or at your drug store, keep in mind that natural herbal weight loss supplements may not give you the weight loss benefits you expect. And, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, "natural" doesn't always mean "safe."

Supplement Definition

Per FDA classification, dietary supplements encompass not only multivitamins and minerals, but also herbal supplements and other natural botanical supplements that can be taken orally. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, supplements serve a variety of purposes. You may take them to ensure you get all of your daily nutrients or for optimal health, if you don't eat a varied diet. By law, marketing claims for natural herbal supplements -- and all supplements -- cannot purport that they treat, cure or prevent diseases. Nor can they legally claim to help you lose weight, according to the Federal Citizen Information Center.

Supplement Regulation

Natural herbal supplements intended for weight loss or any other purpose are treated differently than prescription medications, which undergo rigorous evaluation, including human study, by the FDA before they go on the market. Marketers of natural herbal weight loss supplements don't need FDA approval before they sell their product; therefore, there's no guarantee that what you buy is safe or effective. The FDA steps in whenever adverse effects are associated with certain herbal supplements. For example, in 2004, the FDA pulled weight loss supplements that contained the botanical ingredient ephedra from the shelves after determining they were unsafe.

Supplement Claims

Companies that make dietary supplements can make a limited number of claims associated with their product. According to the Mayo Clinic website, these companies can assert the supplement helps with nutritional deficiencies, optimizes your health and helps your body function in a specific way. Makers of supplements can attach the results of independent research to their products, but must include a disclaimer notifying consumers that the FDA hasn't evaluated this claim. Dietary supplement makers are expected to follow "GMPs" -- good manufacturing practices -- which make sure the product is uncontaminated and contains what is included on the label.

Supplement Dangers

The words "natural" and "herbal" attached to your product can lull you into a false sense of security, as these marketing terms suggest that a supplement is gentle on your body. But this isn't necessarily true, according to the Mayo Clinic. Herbal supplements may contain active constituents that have side effects, and they can even be threatening to your health if you take them with other medications or supplements. Of particular concern are herbal supplements that contain undeclared ingredients. In March 2009, the FDA released a list of more than 70 so-called natural herbal weight loss supplements that contained pharmaceutical-grade medications, such as sibutramine, an appetite suppressant, and cetilistat, an experimental drug not yet approved by the FDA. Taking contaminated weight loss supplements can cause seizures, hypertension, heart attack and stroke; they can even result in death.

Safer Weight Loss

Because herbal weight loss supplements can negatively affect your health, you should talk to your doctor before using them for any purpose -- as well as to get accurate information on how well the supplement functions. Unwanted weight gain is caused by consuming too many calories, coupled with a sedentary lifestyle, according to the National Institutes of Health. If you want to lose weight, your better bet is to monitor portion size, eat low-fat/low-calorie foods, cut sugary beverages from your diet and get regular exercise.