A quick check of any junk mail folder will give you some idea as to the commercial popularity of weight loss pills. While most claims attached to such products fail to materialize, some herbal items can actually increase the rate at which the body burns fat. These pills do so through a variety of mechanisms.
Fat Cells
To help control the rate of fat burning, fat cells have particular mechanisms embedded into their design. Fat cells all over the body possess both alpha and beta receptors, which work in synchrony to balance the rate of fat burning. Beta cells burn fat in response to stimulation of noradrenaline, while alpha cells send signals back to the central nervous system to reduce the production of the peptide hormone; this system protected valuable fat stores during human evolution. Alpha-antagonists can overcome this regulation.
Thermogenesis
Thermogenesis, the process through which the body burns fat to maintain a healthy core temperature, uses up around 10 percent of the body's overall energy expenditure; Dr David Banner, a biochemist from the University College London and the author of "Introduction to Nutrition and Metabolism," reports how the rate of thermogenesis can vary between individuals. Some supplements can increase thermogenesis.
Yohimbe
Yohimbe, often provided by supplement manufacturers in the form of yohimbe hydrochloride, has featured in traditional remedies for fatigue, fat loss and increasing sexual stamina. An alpha-antagonist, Muscle Science reports how yohimbe blocks the action of these alpha cells, increasing the amount of fat burned. Because the abdomen and buttocks tend to hold a higher concentration of alpha receptors, the use of this herb may help shed fat in these areas.
Sida Cordifolia
A herb native to Brazil, sida cordifolia stimulates beta receptors at fat cells. It also stimulates beta cells in the respiratory tract, causing the relaxation of smooth muscle, which explains its traditional use in asthma and bronchitis Nutritional Reviews points out that the herb contains ephedrine, a powerful stimulant, which they suggest may contribute to its fat burning effects. Although considered a gentle herb because it does not raise the heart rate, sida cordifolia features in a list of banned substances issued by the World Anti Doping Authority. Currently, very few studies have analyzed the ability of the herb to induce weight loss.
Green Tea
Although the herbal beverage has featured in the daily habits of societies across the globe for hundreds of years, the supplement industry has recently overseen a multitude of green tea extracts hit the market. Extracted from the camelia sinensis plant, the extracts draw interest for their catechin content. David Tolson, a nutritional researcher and a contributor to Bulk Nutrition, notes how these catechins can increase the availability of noradrenaline in the central nervous system by inhibiting an enzyme responsible for it's breakdown. This action increases fat burning by stimulating thermogenesis.
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