Being overweight is a problem, a serious problem.  Too much of the wrong kind of fats plus high sugar content foods are a big part of the greatest nutritional hazard in America.

Obesity is a disease that is often neglected.  Frequently it is not thought of as a disease, but more as a self-inflicted condition that cannot be prevented and remedied by self-control.  Effective treatment requires a combination of diet, exercise, and behavior modification therapy.  More than 70% of all mortality in the United States is related to heart disease and cancer.  Experts predict that at least half of the incidence of these diseases is either premature or unnecessary, and most importantly, related to our dietary habits.

Approximately 35% of women, 31% of men, and 25-35% of children in America are overweight.  These numbers are continuing to increase.  The combination of desire for the wrong types of fatty food, convenience, and the lack of exercise and a prudent diet are some of the causes for this increase in obesity.  Excessive weight (or obesity) increases the risk of diabetes, coronary artery disease (heart attack), high blood pressure, high blood triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, osteoarthritis, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, and several types of cancers.

Various species of Citrus Auruntiom (the fruit of the bitter orange tree) contain small amounts of alkaloids such as synephrine and octopamine, which are direct and indirect adrenergic agents.  Adrenergic agents, with B-agonist activity, stimulate fat breakdown, and increase the resting metabolic rate thus increasing the removal and oxidation of fats from adipose tissue.

Synephrine and octopamine have a mechanism of action whereby they stimulate the release of adrenaline and dopamine from Beta 3 receptor sites.  It has been reported that these B-3 receptor sites primarily affect increased metabolic rate (thermogenesis), and fat breakdown in the body.

Ginseng has been shown to increase the oxidative capacity of the liver, and to increase free fatty acids (FFA's) available for oxidation.

Ginkgo biloba has been reported to increase mental alertness, and to dilate the vascular beds (blood vessels), so as to increase blood flow to help in an environment where increased FFA's are circulating.

Caffeinated green tea is a powerful antioxidant, and can increase metabolic rate.