Fruit is generally considered a diet-friendly food group, and if you're on a weight loss regimen, you've probably found fruit to be a staple of your diet. In addition, the use of certain bitter fruits in weight loss formulas has become popular. Bitter orange, in particular, has gained a reputation as a substitute for ephedra, an herbal diet ingredient that has been removed from the market. Bitter melon is being studied for its possible use in addressing Type 2 diabetes and obesity. Talk to your doctor before beginning any diet or diet pill.
History
Bitter oranges, also known as citrus aurantium, were first imported to America by the Spanish and Portuguese in the 1500s, according to Drugs.com. The extract from these oranges was also used as a Chinese folk remedy for indigestion and stomach upset. In European herbal medicine, it has been used to prevent gastrointestinal problems, gout, nervous conditions and sore throat. According to a study published in the journal BMC Complementary Internal Medicine, bitter melon, also called momordica charantia, has been traditionally used to address diabetic symptoms in traditional Chinese and ayurvedic medicine.
Function
One of the main components of bitter orange is synephrine, a central nervous system stimulant and sympathomimetic amine that may increase your metabolism and energy levels. According to Drugs.com, synephrine alkaloids may also decrease your appetite by activating alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors. Bitter melon reportedly affects fat metabolism by minimizing lipid levels in human fat cells and preventing lipogenesis, according to the BMC Contemporary and Internal Medicine study mentioned above. Neither of these bitter fruit extracts are considered a medical treatment for any condition.
Effects
Although some data indicates that bitter orange may help you lose a moderate amount of weight when combined with diet and exercise, MayoClinic notes that this benefit may not be worth the potential risk. Drugs.com reports that some evidence suggests that a daily dosage of 32 mg of synephrine may help you lose weight. The study in BMC Contemporary and Internal Medicine, which was authored by Pratibha V. Nerurkar and colleagues, found that bitter melon suppressed lipid growth in cryo-preserved human fat cells. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings, and you should talk to your doctor about whether these approaches are suitable to your health needs.
Side Effects
MayoClinic.com notes that the synephrine in bitter orange may deliver a host of adverse effects. You may experience effects such as rapid heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, migraines, loss of consciousness and fatal heart attack or stroke. Drugs.com also noted that synephrine is associated with various cardiac events, including tachycardia, angina and ischemic stroke. Bitter melon may lead to hypoglycemia due to its blood sugar effects, and you may also experience diarrhea.
Interactions
Bitter orange is said to interact with several different medications, and therefore may amplify the adverse effects of these medications. According to Drugs.com, it may interact with antidepressants, anxiety medications, vasoconstrictors and other weight loss products. MayoClinic.com warns that bitter orange can be particularly harmful when combined with caffeine. Many weight loss products do combine bitter orange with caffeine. Talk to your doctor before taking a bitter orange or bitter melon product.
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