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