Hydroxycut recall

janie1234

janie1234

Cathlete
Hey all. Did you see on the news that Hydroxycut has sent out a massive recall. Aparently the FDA has found that it causes liver damage. I don't use it but what I thought was interesting was how the news said that they use all "natural" ingredients. Got me thinking about my GNC womens active multivitamin pack that I take and how safe that is. I guess if you eat pretty well you don't really need supplements? Just curious what your thoughts are?
 
Thanks for the post!

I was looking into doing their Challenge - guess I'll be skipping that!! Thanks for the info - My DH got me some of this, plus the GNC vitapacks because I'm so bad at taking my vitamins....Hopefully GNC will have some info about this.
 
Glad I don't use that stuff either! I also take the GNC Women's Active formula of multivitamin. I would assume (yes, that's a dangerous word) that multivitamins are okay, unless they are contaminated by something, but then, that's possible with any supplement, food, etc. that goes through any assembly line. I've never heard of any issues with just a regular MV, but it doesn't hurt to be careful!

Glad I opted out of taking ANY weght loss additive! Whew!
 
And this stuff has been around for a while.
I wonder how much harm it's caused to how many people?
 
I've been using Cathe's nutrition site. I don't take vitamins etc on any day I get enough from food. It's amazing that your "grade" goes down when you get too much of some vitamins and minerals. Even too much calcium is supposed to be linked to arthritis. The doctor told me take 500mg calcium and vit d twice a day. I'm even watching that now that I am eating better.

I bought Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle and was happily surprised that Tom Venuto suggested real food instead of protein powder. I eat 3 meals a day with one snack but did like his suggestions about number of calories to eat.

It's a shame it is so tempting to try to find the easy way out. I hope most people on this site eat clean(ish) and do Cathe's dvd's instead .
 
JoanC said:
It's a shame it is so tempting to try to find the easy way out. I hope most people on this site eat clean(ish) and do Cathe's dvd's instead .
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I deffinitely don't take vitamins and supplements to take the easy way out. I think you mean the diet pills? I do take supplements (omega 3, glucosomine, and my GNC active multivitamin pack) because my diet is not always the best, not because I don't eat clean but sometimes I just get to busy to focus on how much protien, carbs, and veggies I'm eating. Part of the whole eat clean principal is to plan your meals which I don't do. I just stock the house with good for you foods. Out of sight out of mind. There will be days when I'm in a veggie mood and that will be all I eat all day. I'm sorta a "crave" type of eater which is not the best. :(
 
janie1234 said:
I guess if you eat pretty well you don't really need supplements? Just curious what your thoughts are?
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I believe in selective supplementation:
B12 if you're a vegan (though many non-vegans are deficient in it)
D if you don't get enough sun exposure to make your own
 
This is a completely snarky remark but I'll bet ad revenue is waaaaaaay down for the Oxygen magazine w/ this recall. :eek: I've never seen as many questionable supplement ads in any magazine as that one!
 
jonahnah said:
This is a completely snarky remark but I'll bet ad revenue is waaaaaaay down for the Oxygen magazine w/ this recall. :eek: I've never seen as many questionable supplement ads in any magazine as that one!
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I think Hydroxycut has adds in a LOT of exercise magazines (they have pages of those "ad/articles" in a couple of them---very annoying).
 
No surprise.

There is no such thing as a magic pill that melts the fat and gives you definition. But people still have to try when a product claims just that. people like to find an easy way out but for health, a healthy body weight, and definition there is no easy way out. Just a nutritious diet and vigorous, daily exercise.
 
It never ceases to amaze me that people think because something is "natural" it is automatically safe. Snake venom is natural, as is arsenic :eek: I don't think I would want to take either one. Herbs in excess or wrong combination can be just as damaging as other drugs.

That being said, from what I have read it was a handful of cases where they are not sure if it was even caused by HydroxyCut but then we have prescription drugs with liver toxicity and the FDA won't do a thing. I don't think it's wrong that they take precautions but it would be nice if they applied the same standards to everyone.

I don't take any synthetic vitamins and supplements, the ones that I take are from whole foods and for confirmed conditions and deficiencies. I am not sure that anyone would need to take supplements over a long time if they are eating a good diet.
 
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The scariest part is that they don't know what blend of herbs caused the toxic effect. Plus, the ingredient hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is in a number of "natural" weight lost supplements.

I had a serious side effect with a natural energy pill last year. Took 1 pill that am,had a great intense workout & felt great all day, then 12 hours later I suddenly got lightheaded and passed out in a restaurant-ambulance was called. I didn't go to hospital because I knew exactly what caused it. I think my BP bottomed out.

I will never put an unknown energy or weight loss substance in my body again, you never know how YOUR body will react.

Plus, the fact that these herb blends aren't FDA tested means that they only find out potential side effects after its tested in the general population.

Nothing against herbs or supplements in general, just buyer beware!
 
:):):)
I am SO glad I'm part of Cathe's community!!! Living in Greece, I'd have no way of knowing about this issue... and I'd have continued using Hydroxycut... :eek::eek::eek:
Thanks so much, everyone!
And to think that the Greek FDA has approved it already. Better let them and the fitness shop I get my stuff from know first thing Monday morning.

I am glad I only have been using Hydroxycut for the past couple of weeks and only on cardio days...
Unfortunately, my father passed away 12 years ago from liver failure... and that put a really good scare in me!!!

Thanks again, guys, for the knowledge you share!

Chris.
 
I am always surprised at what people are willing to believe, and consume, in hopes of becoming skinny. Diet pills- much like a second marriage, they are the triumph of hope over experience.

With regard to herbs, they either have an effect, or they don't. If they do have an effect, they have the potential to be very dangerous as well as helpful. If they don't have an effect, then they are a waste of money and a scam.

I feel the same way about alternative health treatments- TCM (traditional Chinese medicine), acupuncture, naturopathy, homeopathy, massage therapy, chiropractic treatment, etc.

For example, it so happens that I love acupuncture, and it has been effective for me- which means that it could be easily dangerous, in the hands of an unskilled and/or untrained practitioner. In most places, TCM and acupuncture are unregulated, which means that anyone could stick needles in you, manipulate your skeleton through tuina massage, "prescribe" secret remedies of Chinese herbs, etc.

People that assume that because something is natural, it must be "okay", not only are putting themselves in danger, they are likely spending money on crap that could be better used.
 
I think that vitamin supplements in large quantities are very dangerous and bad for the liver. Fat-soluble vitamins stay in the body for a long time and if they build up, they are toxic.
 
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