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Almost all of us are looking for a viable weight loss program but not all of us have the knowledge and patience to choose the correct one.
More often than not we opt for dietary supplements and formulas such as Herbalife which are unsustainable. These supplements alter our body’s metabolic conditions and cause damages rather than helping in reducing obesity.
Studies done by the US-based Institute, National Institutes of Health, has found various ill-effects of Herbalife products including acute liver damage.
Herbalife induced liver injuries are reported in as many as 50 cases, of which majority of the conditions were reversed once the patients stopped taking the supplements.
The reports started pouring in from Israel, Spain and then spread to the rest of the world. People taking these supplements specially formula 1 & 2 developed liver damage, nausea, vomiting, digestion problems just after 1-2 months after taking the supplements.
The drug has a latency period of 2-9 months and hence it takes time to develop the symptoms. In some cases, it was difficult to gauge the exact source of the problem as the patients were taking more than one supplement.
A case report of a 37-year-old woman is of immense importance here because this report showed how a perfectly healthy individual without any liver problems or hepatitis infection can face serious liver damage issues after 2 months of intake of Herbalife supplements.
Other reports showed 3 women suffering from liver injuries after taking Herbalife products for a month. Their biopsy report confirmed hepatocellular injuries.
One critical problem with Herbalife products is their concept of meal Supplements. Studies show meal Supplements are adequate only when you take it with a low calorie diet or while transitioning from high to low-calorie diet.
Herbalife, on the other hand, provides meal supplement shakes to be taken in place of your actual diet. Moreover, despite being protein-rich supplements, the heavily processed products offer very little natural source of protein and fibre.
The sugar content is another matter of concern. These shakes contain added sugars specially fructose which is 40% of Herbalife’s calorie content.
As per WHO guidelines, we need only 5% calories from sugars which amounts to 25grams of daily intake but here you get more than 18 grams of sugar from 2 servings of Herbalife meal replacement shakes.
A meal supplement is meant to meet your calorie and nutrient requirements and satiate your hunger. Unfortunately, Herbalife products do none of them. Their meal replacement shakes accounts for 170 calories when mixed with nonfat milk which isn’t ideal for people.
This results in increased hunger and increased level of blood glucose level and oxidative stress.
So, irregular eating habits and unhealthy eating habits develop.
Despite what they say, meal supplements aren’t suitable for all. People with allergies, pregnant women, children and people suffering from diabetes, cardiac problems, etc. shouldn’t take Herbalife products.
Thus, Herbalife is not the elixir of your weight problem. Initially, it may help in weight loss but in the long run, you’re in for serious health issues. So, it’s better to consult a proper doctor and nutritionist and draw up a proper fulfilling diet for sustainable weight loss.
[The above opinion is that of the writer of the article only]
References
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/herbalife-review#how-it-works
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3004035/
https://livertox.nih.gov/Herbalife.htm
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