Herbs Can be Part of the Plan to Overcome Obesity

Obesity is a major health risk that has become epidemic in America and many other modern Western societies. It is so serious that around two thirds of adult Americans is considered to be overweight and one in three to be seriously overweight or obese.  If you have a body fat ratio of between twenty to thirty percent above your ideal weight for your age, sex and height, you are considered obese.  So, what can you do ? Is it possible that herbs might help you with weight loss ?

As well as being uncomfortable and unattractive, obesity increases the risk of serious conditions such as diabetes, infertility, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, stroke, kidney disease, uterine fibroids, complications in pregnancy and gallstones. Carrying excess body weight also puts extra stress on joints which increases the risk of arthritis.

Metabolic rates vary between individuals. This means that different people burn calories at different rates. There are many reasons for this including genetics. If you eat more than your body uses on a regular basis, you will gain weight. For example, if you eat one hundred more calories every day than you need, you will gain a pound in weight in about a month. You can calculate expected weight gain on the basis that a pound of body fat is equivalent to 3500 calories.

Some weight loss experts blame sedentary life styles for weight gain even more than excess calories. This is because exercise not only burns calories, it builds muscle. Muscle mass is important because your body will be able to burn more calories when it is at rest, the more muscle mass you have.

The combination of diet and exercise can be supported by some herbal products which are used to increase metabolism or suppressing appetite. It is however important to be aware of any potential side-effects when you use herbs, particularly in combination. Check with a health care provider experienced in the use of herbs.

Herbs For Weight Loss

• Aloe Vera is cleansing to the digestive tract and aids digestion which improves the uptake of nutrients and improves metabolic rate.
• Astragalus aids in the absorption of nutrients and improves energy levels.
• Bee Pollen can satisfy a sweet tooth without harming and it also stimulates the metabolism.
• Bladderwrack is a wonderful thyroid tonic mainly because it is high in iodine.
• Brewers Yeast is high in B group vitamins and decreases food and drink cravings.
• Cayenne increases your metabolic rate and helps you to feel satisfied after meals so that you don't continue eating.
• Chitosan slows the rate at which fat is absorbed in the intestines.
• Chromium assists in muscle building and the body's ability to utilize fat for energy.
• Dandelion, cleanses kidneys, increases metabolism, and suppresses sugar cravings.
• Ephedra, (ma huang), is an appetite suppressant.
• Fennel is an appetite suppressant that also clears fat and mucous from the intestines.
• Garcinia cambogia is an appetite suppressant.
• Green tea improves the fat burning ability of the body.
• Guarana, contains caffeine which is an appetite suppressant, raises the metabolic rate and is also mildly diuretic.
• Guggul, reduces cholesterol and helps to control weight.
• Kelp raises the metabolic rate.
• Licorice regulates blood glucose levels and decreases sugar cravings.
• Malabar tamarind helps limit fat production and is also an appetite suppressant.
• Siberian ginseng regulates blood glucose levels and decreases sugar cravings.
• Yohimbine improves metabolism and ability to burn fat as well as suppressing appetite.

These herbs are meant to complement a healthy diet and regular exercise not to replace them. Creating a healthy lifestyle is the key factor to losing weight.  Check out some of the hoodia products on our hoodia gordonii reviews page as they do have some of these ingredients.