Some people experience unpleasant side effects when using
various Herbalife products. These are described and addressed in this
article for your safety and well-being.
Bloating:
If you experience bloating, try changing the portion size to reduce this
feeling. Enjoy healthy snacks during the day and smaller meals to
assist your digestion. If you are using the shake mix as a meal
replacement you may want to reduce the portion size or frequency.
Dry Mouth:
Some people report that their mouth is dry after black or fruit tea.
Detox products often produce thirst so you can try increasing your
intake of water. Dryness from using the shakes can be caused by acid
reflux since it contains guar gum and psyllium husk. These have
expanding properties, which can cause reflux. Guar bean is high in
protein and oil and guar gum is used worldwide in many beverages, foods
and supplements. In significant quantities, guar gum dehydrates the body
and can cause some serious side effects. However, it is regulated by
the FDA who only permits extremely small quantities of it in food. Guar
gum in the shake mix is used to emulsify or bind the particles and has
been determined to be of insignificant quantities.
Heart Palpitations:
Palpitations may be from caffeine sensitivity. The tea does have
caffeine in it so you could either stop using the tea or eventually you
will get used to caffeine and the palpations should recede. The shake
mix does not contain any caffeine.
In the nineties it was found that Ephedra caused increased heart rate
and Herbalife discontinued using Ephedra in any of its products.
Upset Stomach, Headache and Fevers:
In the first few days, many years of accumulated toxins and waste in the
body begin to be expelled. Diarrhea, headaches, fever or nausea can
arise.
These are temporary symptoms and will subside whether you continue
the diet or not. The discomfort is not very common but happens to some
people. Once you are detoxified you should feel great however. The body
has toxins or free radicals surrounded by fat molecules, and when
burning these fat molecules, the toxins are released into the
bloodstream for elimination. They circulate through the body and are
filtered out by the kidneys and liver. This can take up to 2 weeks.
Areas where toxins and pollutants are expelled from the body can display
reactions. You can first use a detoxification program to cleanse your
system before starting the weight loss program if you wish.
Unpleasant-Smelling Urine or Perspiration:
This is another possible reaction to the body cleansing that is not
caused by the products, but the waste you are cleaning out. The products
are working just as they should.
Allergic Reaction and Blocked Sinuses:
People who are very allergic to fish need to know that some Herbalife
products contain fish oil. See a medical specialist to determine if this
is an allergic reaction. Sinuses are especially sensitive because they
are soft tissue. Sinus irritations should clear in 1 to 3 weeks but if
they get worse, discontinue using the product and consult a medical
professional.
Malnutrition:
Beware of nutrient deficiency when losing weight. The Herbalife
ShapeWorks program recommends that along with the 2 shakes and one
healthy meal, you should add the Multivitamins and Cell Activator to
ensure that you are getting enough nutrition. Cell Activator helps
increase your nutrient absorption from food.
Stimulants:
Caffeine in green tea is not the same as in coffee. It is slower-acting
and has a calmer quality. But if you feel too stimulated try half a cup
instead of a whole cup for a while.
Swollen Legs:
This might indicate an allergic reaction to an ingredient in the
Herbalife products. Please show your doctor the product labels and ask
his advice. It would be best to discontinue using the product until you
know what the cause of your swelling is.
Stomach Acidity:
If you are using Cell-U-Loss, try discontinuing it and see if that
reduces your symptoms. If so, then Cell-U-Loss is not for you. If
acidity persists when you are not taking it, there is some other cause.
Cell-U-Loss contains 3 ingredients which may be causing the acidity:
Apple Cider Vinegar, Vitamin C and Iron. It also contains herbs that
have diuretic properties such as couch grass and corn silk extract.
Pregnancy:
Total Control (the metabolism booster) carries a warning to not be used
by the pregnant, lactating (or those that want to get pregnant). Rapid
weight loss and stimulants during breastfeeding can release too many
toxins into your blood stream and thus into your milk. This can cause a
decrease in your milk supply and be unhealthy for your baby. Avoid the
stimulants in Total Control and the Herbal Tea, which contain caffeine.
Herbalife products have nutrition labels that show warnings to guide
women who are pregnant, nursing or who may become pregnant.
Rashes:
These are the most commonly reported side-effects that happen when the
body is de-toxifying. Redness, blotchy skin and irritation can arise.
Your skin being the largest organ, has the most cells to repair and also
discharges toxins. It takes about 2 weeks to cleanse the blood stream
and during this time the departing toxins can be irritating. Exercise
produces sweat and will release toxins that can irritate the skin.
Herbal Aloe Soothing Gel can provide symptomatic relief.
Hair Loss or Breakage:
Formula 1 Nutritional Shake Mix has been shown to improve skin, hair and
nail growth. If you experience hair loss early in your weight loss
program, this is because damaged cells are being repaired or replaced.
When beginning a weight loss program, your body will target the most
damaged cells. Hair usually has the oldest cells and is thus the first
target for renewal. Hair soon becomes healthier than before so you need
not worry about this.
General Detoxing Effects:
It is very well known that at the beginning of a diet or fast there may
be some adverse side effects. These usually subside within a few weeks
however. If you detoxify for a few days using plain water, fruit or
vegetables you will also experience some side effects. When we have
better nutrition, or when toxic substances such as coffee, tea,
chocolate, tobacco, salt, and pepper are discontinued, amazing changes
take place. Our bodies discard the lower grade materials and tissues to
make room for newer, healthier ones.
Weight Gain:
An ideal weight-loss rate is between 3 and 5 pounds per week. If you
lose weight gradually and are getting proper nutrition, it will stay
off. Moderate exercise like walking is necessary to get the fat burning
process going. Adequate hydration (drinking water regularly) is
essential to flush the toxins.
Do not try to stop any Herbalife side effects by taking drugs. Either
let the healing take its natural course or stop using the product if
you experience an allergic reaction.