There are no magic bullets for weight loss, but herbal supplements may help. Herbs that control insulin are promising for weight loss, as insulin and insulin resistance play a role in metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Both of these conditions render weight loss and management extremely difficult to achieve. One caveat, however, is that herbal treatments are alternative treatments that have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Cinnamon
An evaluation of several studies done by the USDA Beltsville Nutrition Research Center showed that cinnamon---from Cinnamon cassia, which is the cinnamon typically sold as a spice in the United States---improved insulin sensitivity. The evaluation also showed that human subjects with metabolic syndrome who were given cinnamon supplementation had increased lean body mass and decreased body fat percentage and experienced improved levels of fasting blood glucose.
In lay terms, this means that subjects experienced not only a healthier body composition, but that the primary indicator of diabetes and metabolic syndrome---high fasting blood glucose levels---showed improvement. With improved glucose tolerance, blood insulin levels stayed lower. Out of control insulin levels have been shown to be a contributor to weight gain and poor weight management.
Common forms of cinnamon supplementation include capsules, tea and using cinnamon in foods.
Cayenne
Cayenne pepper may be helpful in weight loss because of its effects on metabolism. According to My Fit Health and Fitness, the capsaicin in cayenne peppers not only provides a boost of heat to foods, but it also heats up your metabolism. The reason that cayenne boosts metabolism is because it increases body temperature, and your body burns calories as it attempts to cool itself down.
Cayenne pepper is available at the health food store in capsules, or you can add a little bit of powdered cayenne to your foods.
Green Tea
Green tea is another common herb that is recommended to aid in weight loss. A study was conducted by Kao Corporation's Health Care Products Research Laboratories No. 1 that showed that study participants who were given an extract of green tea showed decreased body fat, lower body mass index, smaller waist circumference and lowered subcutaneous fat than those in a placebo group.
Green tea may help weight loss through various functions including boosting metabolism, regulating insulin production and blood glucose, inhibiting fat absorption and possibly reducing appetite.
Green tea can be supplemented as capsules or included throughout your day as a tea.
References
- "Proceedings of the Nutrition Society"; Chromium and polyphenols from cinnamon improve insulin sensitivity; RA Anderson; February 2008
- National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Chromium
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Ingestion of a tea rich in catechins leads to a reduction in body fat and malondialdehyde-modified LDL in men; Nagao T, Komine Y, Soga S, Meguro S, Hase T, Tanaka Y, Tokimitsu I.; January 2005
- My Fit Health and Fitness: Foods that Speed Up Metabolism
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