Herbal Weight Loss

The problem with the recent popularity in herbal weight loss products is the number of them that manufacturers are producing just makes it difficult for people to decide which ones they really need. Probably the most well known of these products are pretty much household names like Guarana, Hoodia, dandelion, extract of green tea and the slightly lesser know cascara.

The most recent of this group comes from Africa and unofficial tests have proved interesting but Hoodia Gordonni, as it is more commonly known, is a rare and expensive method of stopping the pangs of hunger. Apparently, it tricks the brain into thinking blood glucose levels are normal thus suppressing the body’s natural response to low blood sugar which is the sensation of hunger and while this sounds promising, long term weight loss studies are required.

Most people are aware of the properties of caffeine which is the main ingredient of Guarana, the plant of which originates in Brazil but it also works as a diuretic as well. While this herbal weight loss supplement is very effective, it is not without side effects and some users report they feel light headed, sometimes nauseous, anxious and a rise in blood pressure can also be seen.

Another supplement that has diuretic properties is dandelion and many children are warned against using it by their parents although it is pretty harmless, some people have become allergic to using it. Results from its use are seen quite quickly with an increase in the amount of fluid that is removed from the body but this should only be used for short periods.

To help rid the body of unwanted toxins and keep it ‘regular’; cascara is used as a natural laxative for use with weight loss programs. Just because it is marketed as an herbal weight control supplement doesn’t make it any better and its overuse can cause depletion in vital nutrients.

One particularly popular herbal weight loss supplement is the extract that can be obtained from green tea which can be found in many products including drinks, vitamins and even as a concentrate in a tablet. The one thing that does become clear though is that green tea just like other natural products is far more effective if it is part of a calorie, health based diet that also contains regular physical activity.

While hundreds often thousands of dollars are spent annually by Americans on herbal and natural products to help control their weight, much more long term research needs to be carried out to assess just how effective these supplements really are. With Hoodia being a rare and protected plant, it is not surprising that a price of fifty dollars for a single months supply is not uncommon which is why many users find their wallet is often the only thing shedding weight. Unfortunately the average person wishing to lose a few ponds believes that herbal weight loss supplements are the answer all on their own but long term weight control requires a change in a person’s attitude to what they eat and how much physical activity they carry out; natural products are just a way to help.