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Herbs for
Obesity
Obesity is one of
the major health concerns that plague America today. Approximately
two-thirds of American adults are considered overweight; while one in
three are seriously overweight or obese.
Obesity is defined
as having an abnormal amount of body fat; being 20 to 30 percent over the
ideal weight for age, sex and height.
Aside from being a
major cosmetic concern, obesity is a great risk factor for serious medical
conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney troubles,
prostate enlargement, female infertility, uterine fibroids, pregnancy
disorders, gallstones, cardiovascular diseases, stroke and cancer.
Excessive body weight also puts great stress on joints increasing the
chances of arthritis.
Everyone's
metabolism (the rate at which the body burns calories) is different and is
influenced by many factors, including genetics. Regularly eating even a
few more calories than your body needs can lead to weight gain. By
consuming only 100 extra calories a day, for example, you'll gain a pound
in approximately a month (a pound of body fat equals 3,500 calories). Some
experts think a sedentary lifestyle influences weight gain even more than
eating too many calories. Exercise burns calories and builds muscle. And
the more muscle mass you have, the greater number of calories your body
burns at rest.
Aside from
aggressive dieting and exercising, some herbal products may aid in raising
metabolism or suppressing the appetite. But at the same time, you should
also be wary of their side effects. Always check with your health care
provider first.
- Aloe Vera,
improves digestion and cleans the digestive tract
- Astralgus,
increases energy and improves nutrient absorption
- Bee pollen,
stimulates metabolism and quickly satisfy craving for sweets
- Bladderwrack,
contains iodine which helps enhance thyroid function
- Brewer’s yeast,
reduces various cravings for food and drink
- Cayenne, reduces
hunger after meals and increases calorie burning by the body
- Chitosan, slows
the absorption of fat in the intestine
- Chromium, helps
the body use fat for energy and builds muscles
- Dandelion,
flushes out kidneys, boosts metabolism, and off-sets cravings for sweets
- Ephedra, also
known as ma huang, suppresses appetite
- Fennel,
suppresses appetite and removes mucus and fat from the intestinal tract
- Garcinia
cambogia, quells hunger pangs
- Green tea,
increases energy expenditure and enhances the ability of the body to
burn fat
- Guaraná,
contains caffeine which curbs appetite, increases metabolic rates and
has a mild diuretic effect
- Guggul, lowers
cholesterol and promotes weight control
- Kelp, boosts
metabolism
- Licorice,
sustains regulated blood sugar level and reduces cravings for sweets
- Malabar
tamarind, helps prevents the production of fat and suppresses appetite
- Siberian
ginseng, stabilizes blood sugar and reduces cravings for sweets
- Yohimbine,
raises metabolic rates, reduces appetite and increases fat burning
These herbs are
not recommended to replace regular diet. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
is key. |