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