| There are herbs you can add to your diet as | | | | genus Garcinia (particularly Garcinia |
| supplements, teas, and foods that will help | | | | cantbogia) have high contents of |
| your weight loss program go smoothly. | | | | hydroxycitrate (HCA), which is the active |
| Besides, there are several herbs which | | | | ingredient in this and many other currently |
| contain sympathomimetics and xanthine | | | | marketed weight loss products. However, it |
| compounds synergistically increase the body's | | | | has not yet been shown, in controlled studies |
| basal metabolic rate to increase the burning | | | | published in the scientific literature, to be |
| of calories and fat, act as mild stimulants, | | | | effective in weight loss in humans. |
| and suppress the appetite. | | | | |
| | | | Preliminary research suggests that garcinia |
| The action of certain herbs "trick" the brain | | | | inhibits the accumulation of lipid droplets |
| into thinking the stomach is full | | | | in fat cells and thereby reduces lipid levels |
| | | | and decreases lipid accumulation in the |
| Herbs that cause weight loss can be | | | | liver. The hydroxycitrate acid (HCA) found in |
| classified as: | | | | garcinia is also theorized to improve |
| | | | exercise endurance by increasing lipid |
| 1.Stimulants: encourage the body to burn more | | | | oxidation and decreasing carbohydrate |
| calories. | | | | utilization . A dosage of, an extract |
| | | | containing 50% hydroxycitric acid, 1000 mg |
| 2.Diuretics: cause the body to excrete water | | | | three times daily has been used for weight |
| through excess urine. | | | | loss. |
| | | | |
| 3.Cathartics: cause evacuation of the bowels, | | | | Green Tea |
| reduce calorie consumption by impeding full | | | | |
| digestion. | | | | Aids fat metabolism and increases energy. |
| | | | Clinical studies conducted by Dr. Abdul |
| 4.Appetite suppressants: reduce hunger by | | | | Dulloo, of the University of Geneva in |
| expanding in the stomach, altering mood, or | | | | Switzerlands brought the conclusion that |
| satisfying taste. | | | | green tea weight loss programs raises |
| | | | metabolic rates and speeds up fat oxidation. |
| Alfalfa | | | | |
| | | | As part of their study, the investigators |
| Aids digestion and acts as a diuretic. The | | | | measured the 24-hour energy expenditure of 10 |
| active components of alfalfa include its | | | | healthy men receiving three doses of caffeine |
| saponin content. Studies indicate that | | | | (50 mg), green tea extract (containing 50 mg |
| saponins help make fats more soluable, and | | | | caffeine and 90 mg epigallocatechin), or a |
| they may play a role in maintaining the | | | | 'dummy' placebo per day. The study authors |
| health of blood vessels. The leaves also | | | | report that, compared with placebo, subject |
| contain flavones, isoflavones and sterols.. | | | | taking green tea extract had a "significant |
| | | | increase" (+4%) in daily energy expenditure. |
| Bladder Wrack Kelp | | | | |
| | | | Green tea extract may also help dieters shed |
| Kelp is a type of seaweed and it can be | | | | fat. This effect is due to increase in energy |
| bought in pills, tinctures, and dried. It is | | | | expenditure. |
| delicious and can be used a salt substitute, | | | | |
| or eaten as a snack. One of the ways it works | | | | Guar Gum |
| is by strengthening the thyroid , which can | | | | |
| increase the metabolism. The other way it | | | | Helps to reduce hunger and has a laxative |
| works is by giving your body easily absorbed | | | | effect. As a weight loss product, it have |
| nutrients which feed the body on a cellular | | | | been used to promote normal gastrointestinal |
| level which reduces cravings. It is a bulk | | | | motility and maintain fecal bulk. It has been |
| laxative. | | | | noted to decrease appetite by providing a |
| | | | "feeling of fullness." |
| Chickweed | | | | |
| | | | Precautions: Guar gum and guar gum |
| In several studies it has shown its ability | | | | preparations have been implicated in |
| to break down fat molecules. It is usually | | | | esophageal obstruction. The water-retaining |
| recommend in combination with burdock root | | | | capacity of the gum permits it to swell to 10 |
| which helps balance oils and fats in the | | | | to 20 fold and has led to gastrointestinal |
| body; the chickweed breaks down the fat and | | | | obstructions. Guar gum has also been known to |
| the burdock helps transport it out of the | | | | cause significant fluctuations in blood |
| body. As a tea, it is an effective way to | | | | glucose (sugar) levels, thus diabetic |
| curb cravings, assist digestion, and help | | | | patients should not use these preparations. |
| lose weight. | | | | |
| | | | Hawthorn |
| Burdock | | | | |
| | | | Reduces blood fat and improves circulation. |
| Improves fat metabolism and acts as a | | | | Hawthorn berry helps with stagnant, |
| diuretic. Active ingredients include inulin, | | | | undigested food accumulated in the stomach, |
| polyphenolic acids, and non-hydroxy acids. It | | | | they also stimulate the adrenal glands and |
| is an excellent herbal blood purifier that | | | | improve thyroid function. |
| detoxifies the blood and lymphatic system. It | | | | |
| is high in iron , and can help build blood | | | | Kola Nut |
| during times of low hemoglobin. Burdock is | | | | |
| also considered a mild laxative. Burdock | | | | A stimulant that decreases appetite and aids |
| aids in the elimination of uric acid. | | | | in the metabolism of fat. Kola nuts are |
| | | | stimulants like caffeine. Kola nut is used |
| Burdock root can also help to reduce cravings | | | | extensively by natives of western and central |
| and hunger and thus assist in weight loss. | | | | Africa, and also in Brazil. |
| The best way to use burdock root for weight | | | | |
| loss is as a standard decoction: Bring water | | | | Parsley |
| to a boil, pour in about an ounce of dried | | | | |
| burdock root, gently simmer for ten to twenty | | | | A diuretic and nutritional aid. Juicing |
| minutes, and allow to cool. Drink between | | | | recipes with carrot or parsley juice help |
| meals. | | | | curb the appetite & reduce hunger cravings. |
| | | | Besides, Carrot or parsley juices can also |
| Cardamom | | | | help maintain proper blood sugar levels, |
| | | | reducing the blood sugar swing that you can |
| A thermogenic herb. One of Cardamom's main | | | | experience when on a weight loss program It |
| uses is as a digestive aid due to its | | | | is one of the highest sources of life-giving |
| soothing and antispasmodic properties. | | | | chlorophyll which acts like iron to oxidize |
| Studies have shown it may help with any | | | | the blood. Look for healthy, dark green |
| digestive condition. | | | | leaves. |
| | | | |
| Cayenne | | | | Phyllium |
| | | | |
| Improves circulation and digestion. Has | | | | Helps to curb hunger and allows the |
| thermogenic effects. In one study it was | | | | elimination of wastes from the body. |
| shown that cayenne increased core body | | | | Herbalists say that the weight-loss effect of |
| temperature, which in turn increased the | | | | plantain and psyllium is related to the |
| metabolism and caused the participants to | | | | spongy fiber (mucilage) in the seeds and to |
| lose more weight then the group not taking | | | | specific chemicals (polyphenols) in the |
| cayenne. | | | | leaves. |
| | | | |
| Cinnamon | | | | In one Italian study, scientists gave women |
| | | | who were seriously obese (over 60 percent |
| Creates a thermogenic burn. It reduces | | | | over their recommended weight) three grams of |
| cholesterol levels - in particular, lowering | | | | plantain in water 30 minutes before meals. |
| bad cholesterol while leaving good | | | | The plantain group lost more weight than a |
| cholesterol the same. It is cinnamon's effect | | | | similar group of women who simply cut back on |
| on blood sugar that makes it a potential help | | | | their diet. Recommended Dose: Take a |
| in the war against obesity , insulin | | | | teaspoonful of psyllium mixed well with a |
| resistance , sometimes known as | | | | glass of juice or water. Take it before each |
| "prediabetes," and the "Metabolic Syndrome." | | | | meal. |
| Cinnamon can be used in its powdered or stick | | | | |
| form, adding it to drinks and foods, or as a | | | | Senna |
| supplement. | | | | |
| | | | An all natural laxative. It stimulates the |
| Dandelion Root | | | | colon, leading to the increased metabolism of |
| | | | fat. |
| Aids fat metabolism by affecting the liver. | | | | |
| By acting to remove poisons from the body, it | | | | Red pepper ( Capsicum ), Hit Mustard, and |
| acts as a tonic and stimulant as well. | | | | other hot spices |
| | | | |
| Nettles | | | | Scientists have found that people who took |
| | | | hot spicy foods (adding a teaspoon of |
| Nettles is high in nutrition (rich in | | | | red-pepper sauce and a teaspoon of mustard to |
| vitamins C and E and minerals such as calcium | | | | meal) raised their metabolic rates by as much |
| , magnesium , iron , silica, and potassium , | | | | as 25 percent. The hot spice also stimulates |
| which are important for healing broken bones, | | | | thirst, so you drink more liquids that also |
| muscle strains, and tendon injuries.) and | | | | helps in gaining less weight. |
| helps clears toxins but it also has a effect | | | | |
| on weight loss that isn't clearly understood, | | | | Citrus Aurantium |
| but it is believed that it helps by feeding | | | | |
| the cells on a deeper level which reduces | | | | It is a commonly used Chinese herb to improve |
| cravings. Nettle tea is used to curb appetite | | | | stomach and gastrointestinal function. Recent |
| and cravings and assist in weight loss. | | | | research has shown that it may be as |
| | | | effective as ephedra in increasing |
| Fennel | | | | thermogenesis in the body without the side |
| | | | effects that often result with the use of |
| A diuretic that reduces hunger and improves | | | | ephedra. Thermogenesis is the process through |
| energy. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seed and | | | | which the body converts stored fat into |
| nettle (Urtica dioica) leaves make a useful | | | | energy and body heat. Increasing the |
| tea for weight loss. Use one teaspoon fennel | | | | thermogenic process in the body may increase |
| seed and two teaspoons nettle leaves to three | | | | weight loss. Citrus aurantium, or Zhi Shi, |
| cups water. Do not exceed the recommended | | | | contains a combination of adrenergic amines. |
| dose. Fennel is potentially toxic. | | | | These are synephrine, N-methyltyramine, |
| | | | hordenine, octopamine, and tyramine. All of |
| Prepare fennel seed tea: 4 tsp. of seeds in 2 | | | | these substances have been shown to have |
| pints of boiling water and simmer for 5 | | | | powerful thermogenic properties. When this |
| minutes. Remove from heat, keep the container | | | | herb is used along with moderate exercise and |
| covered, and allow to stand for 15 minutes, | | | | a healthy diet , it may assist with weight |
| then strain. 1 cup 3 or 4 times per day, cool | | | | loss. |
| or heated. | | | | |
| | | | Instead of just using dried, capsulated, |
| Gymnema Sylvestre | | | | herbal products, start including *whole* |
| | | | herbs in your life. Eat them everyday, as |
| It decreases sugar cravings by acting on the | | | | fresh as possible, (e.g. take walks, check |
| pancreas enabling it to maintain a steady | | | | out the vegetable stand, or tend a garden), |
| blood sugar, which decreases cravings and | | | | everyday. Instead of taking a capsule, eat a |
| hypoglycemia | | | | handful of fresh parsley. Experiment with |
| | | | tasting each of your favorite culinary herbs |
| Flax Seed | | | | made up as "diet" tea. Collect dandelion |
| | | | leaves, plantain, mints, lettuce, whatever, |
| A bulk laxative that helps curb hunger. | | | | and whip it up in your blender as special |
| Loaded with vitamins and phytonutrients, it | | | | diet "green drink." Almost no calories in |
| is an excellent source of protein and fiber, | | | | most herbs. Eating and living with herbs can |
| flaxseed is nature's gift to health! Besides | | | | bring you a lifestyle which may be more |
| stabilizing the body sugar levels, flax | | | | conducive to weight loss. |
| expands five times in bulk when ingested. | | | | |
| Flax taken half an hour before meals will | | | | Herbs can be used to assist in the weight |
| help you eat less, so you will lose weight | | | | loss process, while they may not be enough on |
| while simultaneously strengthening your | | | | their own, when used in combination with |
| immune system. | | | | dietary changes and mild exercise can make |
| | | | most weight loss attempts very successful. |
| Garcinia Cantbogia | | | | |
| | | | NOTE: Before attempting to loose weight, be |
| Aids fat metabolism and reduces hunger. This | | | | sure you know why you have a problem, and |
| herb is currently used in the United States | | | | then choose the herbs according to your |
| as a component of weight loss formulas. | | | | personal condition and needs |
| Various species of South Asian plants of the | | | | |