Fight sugar cravings, Find more energy, Reduce your calorie intake and Lose weight! These herbs might help!
Anyone who has tried losing weight understands that no matter how educated and determined you are to achieve your weight loss goals there are just times when it seems your body and life in general is conspiring against you. You know you need to exercise but you just don’t feel that you have the energy to. You know you don’t need the calories in that Gloria Jeans Cocoa Loco with whipped cream but the cravings are so strong that you just can’t resist! You’ve been doing really well and are on the road to you goal weight then you lose your job, your boyfriend breaks up with you and all of lives stresses are sending you on a calorie binge. So the following is a basic run down of six herbs that you might find helpful in your weight loss journey.
Green Tea
Green tea also know as Camellia sinensis is high in catechins, a substance with very powerful anti-oxidant properties. Green tea has been found to increase metabolism and stimulate the burning of fat in the body. A study conducted in 2009 found that the consumption of two servings of high catechin green tea reduced waist circumference, body weight as well as reducing the percentage of body fat after just 90 days. This may be one of the reasons why Asian nations who tend to consume a considerable amount of green tea have a much smaller incidence of obesity. So you may want to try consuming a glass of green tea with each meal. Keep in mind that too much green tea can cause diarrhoea and nervousness, so be sure not to over do it.
Gymnema Sylvestre
This herb is commonly used by herbalists for those with insulin resistance. The compounds in Gymnema are similar to glucose and trick the taste buds on the tongue into tasting a sweet flavour, creating the feeling of a sugar fix. For a period of approximately two hours after this herb is ingested any sweet/sugary foods that are consumed are not perceived to be as strong in their flavor. This results in the person consuming less of the sweet to feel satisfied and a reduction in the amount of calories consumed and therefore aiding with weight loss. Taken regularly enough it is thought to reduce the initial sweet cravings, and is worth a try for anyone who finds their sweet tooth is getting them into trouble.
Coleus Forskolii
This particular herb has been used by herbalists for weight loss as it has been shown to stimulate the production and release of thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones are important for the stimulation of thermogenesis- this is the process of producing heat. (energy is largely expended in the body by performing work and producing heat) It is this increase in calorie usage to produce heat that assists weight loss. Coleus is usually taken as a herbal extract in conjunction with other herbs that increase basal metabolic rate.
Avena Sativa
Also known as oat straw this herb can be useful in weight loss not because it has been scientifically proven to have a direct action on metabolism but because from a holistic point of view Avena is used to support the nervous system. In particular herbalists commonly employ this herb to help alcoholics, smokers, and heroin addicts supporting will power in beating their addiction. For many people there is a strong link between their emotional state and eating habits. When stressed some of us are more likely to reach out for food in order to comfort us and it’s often the foods that are worst for us that we find comforting. This is where herbs that support the nervous system are useful, oats being one of them.
Panax Ginseng
This herb is also known as Korean ginseng and is a very famous Chinese medicine herb, it has a variety of actions on the body however its primarily used in those experiencing general weakness, loss of physical stamina, exhaustion and tiredness. It is also useful for those experiencing depression, a common complaint from people who are over weight and needing to exercise is the the general lack of energy required to get going in the first place, its been my experience that Panax ginseng is very helpful in supporting people who find it hard to ‘get going’ and lose weight. You should not use this herb if you have high blood pressure, if you are taking warfarin, or anti-platelet medication.
Psyllium
The psyllium seed has a very high fiber content, that when in contact with water swells to become four times it’s original size. When ingested it expands in the stomach and gives the feeling of being full, therefore those who find it difficult to maintain portion control would find this herb useful. When this is ingested before a meal less food is consumed as you feel full sooner and so fewer calories are consumed. It also helps in reducing the absorption of cholesterol. If you are going to give this a go I recommend you start with a teaspoon in a full glass of water before lunch and dinner and remember to consume a good amount of water throughout the day, as this herb can dry out the stool and cause constipation if you don’t drink adequate water.
If you are considering giving these herbs a go seek the advice of your naturopath/herbalist as there are instances where these herbs may be inappropriate for certain individuals and the quality of the herbs usually varies greatly between products. These herbs are most useful in conjunction with other supplements specific for weight loss.
