Marjet D. Heitzer, Ph.D.

The Plateau-proof Diet Foundation

http://www.plateauproofdiet.com

Email: info@plateauproofdiet.com





Does drinking a small quantity of citrus juice in the morning jump start your metabolism?

The simple answer is no. Although the basis of this dieting myth is elusive at best, it is possible that its creator heard about the new Ephedra substitute, synephrine, found in the outer peel of Citrus aurantium also known as the Seville orange or bitter orange. Synephrine is marketed as an ephedra substitute that increases metabolic temperature, utilizing a greater amount of fat stores as energy during a workout. Synephrine is closely related to ephedra, increasing thermogenesis (your body's production of heat by burning fat), appetite suppression as well as increasing energy. Although manufacturers of synephrine claim that it possesses all the beneficial characteristics of ephedra, without posing the health threats associated with ephedra, some recent data suggests that synephrine may be just as harmful as ephedra. For example, one such study found that synephrine not only causes hypertension and increases heart rate, but also interacts with other prescription medications, affecting their metabolism (1). Metabolism of medications is the way in which your body breaks down ingested drugs before they can be eliminated from the body. When a drug's metabolism is inhibited, toxic levels of that drug could build up in your body in a relatively short amount of time. Synephrine may also induce vasoconstriction, leading to ischemic stroke (2). Caffeine contaminants from guarana, maté, or other herbs in association with synephrine are thought to be responsible for the health risks associated with synephrine supplements.

Because synephrine is a dietary supplement, it is not subject to regulation by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Therefore, animal testing and clinical trials that are normally used to determine if a drug is safe are not performed. Because most dietary supplements are composed of plant materials, most supplements are contaminated with other herbs that could affect your health. It is important that you speak with your doctor before taking any dietary supplement or herbal medicine as some of them may interfere with prescription drugs and/or induce other health complications.

Although consumption of citrus juice in the morning does not increase your metabolism, citrus fruits are a good source of vitamin C as well as fiber. However, to get the beneficial effects of the fiber from citrus fruits, you must eat the fruit as a whole, not just consume the juice.

There is some evidence that certain prescription drugs interact with grapefruit juice. Such interactions usually affect the action (efficacy and safety) of those drugs, so if you take prescription drugs, consult your doctor before consuming significant amounts of grapefruit or grapefruit juice.

The best way to start burning calories at the beginning of the day is to have a well rounded breakfast. The National Weight Control Registry states that eating breakfast regularly is beneficial in the long-term maintenance of weight loss (3, 4). Furthermore, eating breakfast regularly is associated with more physical activity, suggesting that consuming breakfast increases your energy.





1. Haller, C. A., Benowitz, N. L., and Jacob, P., 3rd Hemodynamic effects of ephedra-free weight-loss supplements in humans. Am J Med, 118: 998-1003, 2005.

2. Bouchard, N. C., Howland, M. A., Greller, H. A., Hoffman, R. S., and Nelson, L. S. Ischemic stroke associated with use of an ephedra-free dietary supplement containing synephrine. Mayo Clin Proc, 80: 541-545, 2005.

3. Elfhag, K. and Rossner, S. Who succeeds in maintaining weight loss? A conceptual review of factors associated with weight loss maintenance and weight regain. Obes Rev, 6: 67-85, 2005.

4. Wyatt, H. R., Grunwald, G. K., Mosca, C. L., Klem, M. L., Wing, R. R., and Hill, J. O. Long-term weight loss and breakfast in subjects in the National Weight Control Registry. Obes Res, 10: 78-82, 2002.

About the author:

Dr. Marjet Heitzer is a biomedical scientist specialized in cancer and endocrine research. She is the founding editor of 'Trimming America', the free journal of 'The Plateau-proof Diet Foundation'. She is a strong proponent of reversing obesity and some of its comorbidities, including type II diabetes and hypertension, with a lifestyle change that has healthy dieting at its core.

Http://www.plateauproofdiet.com