It is essential to ascertain which herbal supplement you require. This depends greatly on the main barriers to your weight loss. Everyone differs in the reasons why they struggle to lose weight, whether it is a couple of pounds you want to lose or a few stone. Most people fall into one of the following categories:
- Slow/Sluggish Metabolism
- Water Retention
- Emotional/Anxious Overeating
- Insomnia/Late Night Eating
- Excessive Eating
Whichever barrier you struggle with in the fight to lose weight, there is a herbal supplement that can help you to overcome it.
Choosing your Weight Loss Supplement
The list of herbal remedies available today is extensive and extremely detailed. this article aims to introduce some of the more well known and widely used supplements.
- Dandelion - Well known for its diuretic properties, dandelion is beneficial for those who retain excess body fluids. It aids weight loss by reducing overall body water.
- Garcinia Cambogia - This herb is well known as an appetite suppressant and also contains Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA) which is used to prevent the conversion of proteins and carbohydrates onto fat in the body.
- Passion Flower- This herb can be infused and drank as a tea of taken in the usual capsule form. It is extremely beneficial in its relaxing and anti-anxiety properties. It aids relief from insomnia, stress and anxiety, nervous tension and premenstrual tension (PMS).
- Siberian Ginseng - This herb is known as an adaptogen and a stimulant. It is beneficial for anyone starting an exercise regime who wants to increase their energy levels. As an adaptogen, Ginseng can help the body to adapt to changes that may occur when trying to lose weight, such as stress and fatigue.
Additional Weight Loss Tips
Herbal supplements alone are not as effective in weight loss as combining foods and drinks that can also aid and speed up the weight loss process. The obvious one is drinking at least 8 glasses of water every day. Not only will this help to flush out the kidneys, it is also beneficial for suppressing your appetite. In many cases when someone believes they are hungry they are actually thirsty. If you drink a glass of water when you feel hungry and then wait for 30 minutes before eating, most times you will find your hunger actually fades. Another helpful food tip is to fill up on fibrous foods. They can help to make you feel full without adding the much unwanted fat content to your diet. Foods rich in fibre will also help to stabilize blood sugar levels and so act as an aid to prevent sugar cravings. Especially beneficial for those with a sweet tooth. Foods rich in fibre include pineapple, papaya, grains and pulses, vegetables and pasta.
Cautions with Herbal Supplements
As with any new medicine natural or prescribed, caution should be advised with contraindications and possible side effects. A qualified herbalist and/or Go should be consulted before starting a new course of herbal supplements. This is especially important if your are already taking prescribed medications or have a pre-existing medical condition.
