Natural Herbs For Weight Loss - Can Herbs Really Help You Lose Weight?

With all the diet and weight loss products being sold today it's easy to forget that natural herbs for weight loss have been around for many, many years. Unfortunately, these herbs don't receive the heavy advertising budgets that other weight loss products and systems do. But, that doesn't mean that natural herbs don't work in losing weight. Here's a look at how herbs can help you achieve the results you've been looking for.

The problem with all the different weight loss pills, powders and systems on the market today is that you just don't know what actually works and what doesn't. Most of them are simply built around marketing and hype. That isn't a great way to spend your money and try to lose weight.

Natural herbs for weight loss provide many benefits, even some which go beyond reducing your weight. Some of these herbs include:

Dandelion

I know you may be thinking that dandelion is a pesky weed you try to keep from growing in your yard, but the truth is somewhat different. Dandelion is known as a diuretic when used in weight loss. It helps with the digestive tract when eaten in salads or put in a tea. Research is even proving dandelion to eliminate cholesterol, which is a major health concern today.

St. John's Wort

Used primarily as a mood enhancer, St John's Wort works as a natural herb for weight loss based on research that shows people who are happy tend to eat less than those who are depressed. It may cause much less binge eating, which can really pack on the pounds when left unchecked.

Licorice Root

This interesting herb helps with weight loss in that it cuts out the cravings. You will find yourself not craving those afternoon snacks like you may have been. Licorice root doesn't contain the high calories and carbohydrates as snack foods do. The one important thing to keep in mind though is that eating too much of it may have an adverse effect on blood pressure levels.

Garcinia Cambogia

This natural herb for weight loss is a good appetite suppressant as well as great for your metabolism. You can find garcinia cambogia in most all health food and drug stores. It comes in a capsule and for maximum effectiveness you take 500mg 3 times a day. As a weight loss herb, garcinia cambogia is one of the best you will find.

This is only a short list of the various natural herbs for weight loss that are available. You can find out much more by doing some research online. If you are looking to lose weight naturally, I would encourage you to further check into using herbs. It could be your best bet.

Are Natural Herbs - A Safe and Effective Way to Lose Weight?

A variety of products are sold in stores as natural weight loss aids, most of which have not been scientifically evaluated. Seven percent of Americans are using over the counter weight loss products, and most are young women.

Because of the Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act (DSHEA) passed by Congress in 1994, weight loss and other supplements are not regulated by the FDA, are not required to demonstrate efficacy for the conditions for which they are promoted, and are not even required to prove that they contain what they claim to contain.

Many of the supplements currently promoted for weight loss have sympathomimetic effects; in other words they are compounds from plants, herbs, or other natural compounds that stimulate the sympathetic nervous system. They carry the same risks as prescription drugs that stimulate the sympathetic nervous system.

One such supplement is the Chinese plant Ma Huang, which contains ephedra, a compound similar to ephedrine, which stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Ephedra increases heart rate, blood pressure and energy expenditure, stimulating ²-1 and ²-2 adrenergic sympathetic receptors. Ephedra is often combined with caffeine as a weight loss supplement. Ma Huang is also combined with guarana, a Brazilian plant with a high caffeine concentration, and promoted as a weight loss supplement. A recent meta-analysis that pooled the results from several different studies together showed that ephedra containing products result in weight loss of 2 pounds per month, although no information is available for treatment longer than 6 months.

Ephedra is one of the most dangerous over the counter supplements available today. It accounts for the majority of all reports of adverse events for herbs and supplements to the FDA. It is associated with a 2-3 fold increase in psychiatric, autonomic, heart related and gastrointestinal side effects. 87 episodes of heart attack, stroke, seizures, and high blood pressure have been reported to the FDA. It has been associated with several deaths, including a pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, which led to the unusual (for a supplement) step of the FDA banning it in 1994. The FDA has since revoked the ban.

Hydroxycitric acid is sold under the name garcinia and is promoted for weight loss. It has been shown to inhibit the enzymes that convert compounds into coenzyme A, blocking the storage of energy as fat. The evidence related to its ability to promote weight loss is contradictory. Other products, including psyllium, guar gum, chitosan, chromium, and conjugated linoleic acid showed no effect on weight loss, although they have no major potential toxicities.

The bottom line is that the only natural herbs that might help you lose weight (i.e. Ma Huang) also carries significant potential risk that may be as great as prescription drugs. Sustained changes in diet and exercise that are adopted for life are the best way to lose weight and keep it off.

Natural Herbs for Weight Loss

Inactive lifestyles, heredity and wrong eating habits have led to a number of health related problems. The prominent problem being obesity, which further causes insulin resistant diabetes, heart disease, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and stroke. In order to lose weight people follow diet plans or rely on various chemical weight loss supplements. In most cases, the desired effect is not achieved and there are serious side affects resulting in depression that eventually aggravates the condition. Natural herbs offer a safe and effective medium for consistent weight loss.

The time tested and tried herbs for weight loss are cascara, dandelion, ephedra, glucomannan, guarana and guar gum. Cascara is a strong stimulant laxative and a common ingredient in various herbal weight loss products. However, pregnant and lactating women should avoid its consumption. Glucomannan is used as a weight-loss aid. It delays the absorption of glucose from the intestines.

Guarana is an effective stimulant of the central nervous system and used as a weight loss product due to its diuretic effects. Guar Gum is a dietary fiber that is obtained from the Indian cluster bean. Research shows that it is capable of decreasing cholesterol, controlling diabetes and achieving the desired weight loss. It is used to promote normal gastrointestinal motility and reduces the appetite owing to the feeling of being full that a person experiences on consumption.

There are Chinese herbs that are also used in majority of the weight loss supplements. Penta is one such herb. It has the ability to lower cholesterol level and break down its deposits on the vascular walls.

Even though herbal preparations have their advantages, there are a number of unqualified people who sell these products failing to alert consumers about the observed side effects of certain herbs. It is wise to exercise caution and purchase natural herbs for weight loss from reputed dealers only.