Big fat diet pill trouble from China If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And when it comes to the promises made by the manufacturers of weight-loss pills, you bank on it. The FDA just issued a warning for U.S. residents to steer clear of as many as 30 "natural" fat busters - many of which are from China. Most consumers don't know what's in these drugs - which have names like "Imelda Perfect Slim" and "Zhen de Shou" - because most of the ingredients are unlisted. But here's what I do know… The key ingredient of many of these drugs is sibutramine - a chemical that's actually found in the prescription anti-obesity drug Meridia. The fact that it's in there at all is bad enough, but it's in there in whopping dosages - as much as THREE TIMES the recommended daily dosage. It gets worse. Some of the pills also contain phenolphthalein, a chemical that was once used as a laxative but has since been withdrawn from the market because it MIGHT CAUSE CANCER. Of course, you won't find either of these ingredients listed on the box. These pills are chock full of uppers and laxatives and that can leave you chained to the john for hours at a time. But the worst part is that ingesting high dosages of these drugs (especially sibutramine) could actually trigger stroke or heart attacks in people with a history of heart issues or high blood pressure. Click here for a list of the drugs on the FDA's warning list. A new study just came out showing that people who snore tend to burn more calories - as many as 2,000 a day. Don't get too excited. I don't care if snoring melts away pounds, or wrinkles, or years - it's a dangerous condition that you should do everything in your power to correct. It may seem harmless (to those who don't have to sleep next to a snorer, anyway), but sleep sawing sometimes signifies medical conditions that are far from innocuous - or can lead to them over time. Few people seem to know this, but heavy snoring - especially if related to a disorder called sleep apnea - can cause dangerously low levels of blood oxygen. It's no secret that the fatter you are, the more likely you are to snore. But these bone- headed researchers - the same ones who said that snorers burn more calories - are blaming snoring for making them fat! They said it's not clear if sleep breathing issues are caused by obesity or if "sleep-disordered breathing may be associated with alterations in energy metabolism that, in turn, lead to weight gain." This whole thing is starting to make my head spin. My advise: Forget this research. If you're a snorer (or if you sleep next to one), read my article on 5 ways to kick the snoring habit. | 
