Losing Weight with Herbs

For over four thousand years, the Chinese, Indians and Egyptians have practiced herbal medicine. In fact, the Indian discipline of Ayurveda is still very active and practiced today. Once considered charlatan by the medical community, herbs have imposed their beneficial qualities on modern day treatments, as science has exposed their beneficial chemical components. Herbs are natural products that are nutritious and healing, providing the body micronutrients not available with normal diets.

Herbs are plant products including the bark, berries, leaves, flowers, seeds, roots, stems, and gums. Today herbs are available as capsules, tablets, bark bits, extracts, powders, creams, salves, lotions and oils. Herbal products must have “standardized” on the bottle as most are not FDA approved and the label must indicate dosage and contraindications. The consumer must look for freshness. Loosely or bulk sold herbs are usually without nutritional value and freeze-dried herbs are better than air-dried herbs.

Herbs have weight loss and appetite suppression properties. Adding herbs to normal diet can help weight control and maintenance. Herbs are not the choice for rapid and massive weight loss. Certain herbs have undesired effects and must be used with caution. All diets and weight-loss plans must be accompanied with proper exercising and diet. Let’s take a look at some commonly used appetite curbing and dieting herbs.

Brazilian Cocoa: Almost identical to caffeine, it is a central nervous system stimulant that increases the metabolism and is mildly diuretic. Adverse effects are similar to caffeine and excessive use can cause sleeplessness, trembling, nervousness, anxiety and restlessness.

Cayenne: Capsaicin found in cayenne pepper stimulates salivation, aids digestion and accelerates metabolism which burns calories.

Green Tea: A natural stimulant like coffee, green tea also contains antioxidants and vitamin C. The strength of the infusion can be controlled by the steeping time. Though available as capsules, green tea is more beneficial in liquid form.

Evening Primrose: Known to be an efficient and natural cholesterol reducer, it aids proper fat processing and thus helps weight reduction.

Seaweed: Seaweed contains trace minerals and iodine, a natural thyroid stimulant. Usually taken as tablets and capsules, it’s available widely in health food stores.

Psyllium: Psyllium seeds and husks, which are loaded with soluble and insoluble fiber, taken with water, curbs appetite in addition to regulating bowel movements and aiding in diarrhea. Recent findings show it can help in decreasing cholesterol and aids in battling diabetes.

Queen’s flower: This beautiful flowering tree has many healthy properties. It is high in dietary fiber and has zinc and magnesium. It has weight reducing properties and phytochemicals like corosolic acid help in lowering blood sugar in diabetes.

Herbs may be consumed as infusions or teas, juices, tinctures, decoction etc. Herbs may also be consumed as prepared capsules, powders, tablets, concentrated syrups etc. sold in health food stores.

Herbs are naturally occurring, healthy and health providing goodies. Today, even conventional medicine has begun to sit up and take notice of its beneficial properties, which have been known to and used by man for thousands of years.