The controversial Brazilian Diet is meant to both detoxify the body and suppress the appetite, with the end result of losing weight. The diet pills used in this diet contain a variety of herbs designed to carry out specific functions to aid in weight loss. The FDA posted a safety alert Jan. 16, 2006 warning the public not to use the products contained in the Brazilian Diet as they were not approved and could result in serious side effects. The diet consists of two distinct parts.
Yellow Phase
LoveToKnow.com describes the Brazilian Diet as having two parts. The first part of the diet is called "yellow" after the color of the pills taken during this phase. This portion of the Brazilian Diet is the cleansing and detoxifying phase, and pills contain ingredients such as cat's claw, erva tostao, artichoke extract, sarsaparilla and magnesium.
Herbs
Carqueja, erva tostao and chanca piedra are the main herbs used in this portion of the Brazilian Diet. Erva tostao is used as a liver and gallbladder cleanser, and also acts as a diuretic. Carqueja is also used to cleanse the liver. Chanca piedra has a more direct affect on the kidneys, and helps to remove gallstones.
Orange Phase
The second part of the Brazilian Diet focuses on weight loss, and is the "orange" phase. Herbs high in caffeine, such as cha de bugre, guarana and yerba mate, are used as appetite suppressants as well as diuretics.
Cautions
LoveToKnow.com notes the the herbs contained in the Brazilian Diet can pose serious health concerns. Erva tostao, guarana and chanca piedra should be avoided by people with high or low blood pressure, and those diagnosed with heart disease. Chanca piedra should be avoided by those with hypoglycemia, as the herb affects blood sugar levels. Both chanca piedra and carqueja can induce abortion of a fetus, so should be avoided by pregnant women. Yerba mate is cited as interfering with MAO inhibitors, and is not recommended to be taken with MAOI drugs.
FDA Warning
The FDA has found that some of the active ingredients in the Brazilian Diet pills are also active ingredients in the prescription drugs Librium and Prozac. A stimulant, Fenproporex, also found in the diet pills, has not been approved for use by the FDA in the United States.
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