Bitter orange has become the standard diet pill replacement for FDA-banned ephedra. But is bitter orange a safe and effective weight loss supplement?

Bitter orange contains synephrine, which is very similar to ephedrine, the active ingredient in ephedra. Like ephedrine, synephrine is a stimulant and purportedly boosts energy and metabolism while decreasing appetite. There is little scientific evidence to support bitter orange as an effective weight loss supplement. But there is some evidence that, like ephedra, bitter orange may be unsafe.

Bitter orange diet pill may cause high blood pressure and irregular heartbeat, which could lead to heart attack, stroke, or even death. These are the same safety concerns that prompted the FDA to pull ephedra diet pills from the market. Also, the blood pressure raising effects of bitter orange may be intensified by caffeine, a common ingredient in most diet supplements.

Based on scientific research, the safety risks of bitter orange diet pills probably outweigh the possible benefits, especially if you have high blood pressure. Touted as an ephedra substitute, bitter orange may suffer the same fate as ephedra, an FDA ban, if further evidence shows that bitter orange is unsafe.

A one month supply of bitter orange diet supplements cost $10 - $20. Also, bitter orange can be found as a main ingredient in many popular diet pills, such as Dexatrim.