What Are the Dangers of Bitter Orange?
Bitter orange is a chief component in a variety of over-the-counter herbal remedies and dietary supplements for weight loss. It is also used for heartburn, loss of appetite and nasal congestion. In weight loss products, success claims to occur by speeding up the metabolism and controlling hunger, though these claims are uncertain. The products are often marketed as alternatives to ephedra (the dangerous main ingredient in diet products that is now banned by the FDA), though the products may encourage the same risks. According to Melina Jampolis, MD, dietary supplements are often assumed safe because they are not drugs, though this theory is often false and could lead to dangerous use of supplements.
