Weight-Loss Herbal Supplements - Choose Wisely

Although a right diet and intense exercise are the corn-stones to losing weight, studies indicate that dietary supplements can play a significant, yet complementary role in helping us shed excess pounds. Many herbal preparations effectively work to speed metabolism, curb appetite, and suppress cravings for sweet, sugary, and fatty foods.

In order to make wise choices as to which herb or supplement to try, it is essential to know what causes overweight and obesity. Weight gain is not a simple consequence of overeating, but a more complex phenomenon that can be influenced by a number of factors. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that excess weight can be caused by:

- genetic susceptibility;
- sluggish metabolism;
- wrong behaviours;
- various diseases;
- environmental factors;
- side effects of certain medications;
- inactive lifestyle;
- cultural influences; and
- low social and economic status.

Interestingly enough, our food choices are not mentioned among the major causes of weight gain… However, a long-term diet of fast foods will inevitably lead to overweight.

Popular weight-loss programs usually target overweight and inactivity. They focus around implementing low-calorie, low-fat diets complemented by regular exercise, but seldom do they take into consideration other factors that can lead to overweight, such as metabolic disturbances, low levels of motivation, hyperinsulinemia, or fattening effects of many pharmaceutical drugs.

Dietary supplements can help regulate some of these weight-gain mechanisms that are not addressed by diets and exercise alone. When chosen correctly, they can aid in fat loss by targeting metabolic problems, insulin overload, and other root causes of overweight.

For example, supplements that contain chromium picolinate or Gymnema sylvestre can be helpful in controlling the production of insulin - the pancreatic hormone that lowers blood glucose and stimulates the accumulation of body fat. By lowering the secretion of insulin, we can help our bodies jump-start the process of weight loss.

Such herbal supplements as green tea, Coleus forskohlii, and Garcinia cambogia target fat stores by improving the metabolic rate. Extracts of Coleus forskohlii are proven effective in breaking down body fat cells; Garcinia cambogia works to hamper the production of cholesterol and shrink the fat reserves; while green tea speeds up metabolism and can also prevent the development of different types of cancer.

Capsicum annuum is another well-established fat burner. Due to its powerful thermogenic effect, this hot supplement greatly increases the metabolic rate and helps burn more calories.

Betaine and choline, which belong to the class of lipotropes, can be helpful in cleaning the livers of overweight people from accumulated fat stores.

In some people, and especially in women who suffer from PMS or unpleasant symptoms of menopause, weight gain is caused partially by water retention. Natural diuretics, such as green tea and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, can lower weight by eliminating excess build-up of liquids in the tissues.

Many people cannot lose weight because they are addicted to sweet snacks, chocolate, or sugar pop. Such individuals can curb their cravings for unhealthy carbohydrates with weight-loss products containing Gymnema sylvestre. Natural Hoodia supplements will further reduce appetite for unhealthy, fattening foods.

How to choose which weight-loss supplement is right for you? We recommend that you should start with talking to your health care provider. He or she will assess if taking a particular fat-burner or metabolic-speeder is safe for your health. You can also discuss what exactly causes weight gain for you and therefore target the supplements with a particular action that will benefit your very own weight control needs.

Healthy dieting and exercising are a great beginning to losing excess poundage, but adding natural herbal remedies can give you an additional push in dropping annoying weight.

Tim Ford