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Herbals to Increase Metabolism

Nov 5, 2010 | By Aironius French
Herbals to Increase Metabolism
Photo Credit Max Oppenheim/Digital Vision/Getty Images

Herbal remedies that have been used by countless generations of people the world over to promote health and increase vitality. Today, many modern people are rediscovering the numerous benefits of herbs, in part due to their use in many energy drinks. Some people only desire short-term energy boosts from herbals, while others are interested in increasing their metabolism, often in an effort to lose weight. Consult a health care professional trained in herbal remedies before you start taking metabolism altering herbals.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has a stimulating effect on the thyroid gland, which is your body's main control over its metabolic rate. Metabolic rate is the measure of calories burned over a specific time-frame. Once stimulated, the thyroid gland releases thyroxin in order to increase metabolism, which burns more calories, often in the form of fat. People with an overactive thyroid, called hyperthyroidism, are frequently very lean and full of energy. Coconut oil is also a powerful laxative, which causes bowel movements and stimulates digestion.

Guarana

Guarana is a flowering plant native to Brazil that has become a popular additive in energy drinks. The fruit of the guarana plant provides a quick boost of energy because of the amount of caffeine it contains. According to "The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine," guarana fruit contains twice the amount of caffeine per gram compared to coffee beans. Caffeine stimulates your adrenal glands, which produce testosterone that boosts energy and increases metabolism. Caffeine is also a diuretic, which stimulates urination.

Green Tea

Green tea has numerous health effects, including thermogenic properties. Thermogenic means "heat producing," which is what occurs when metabolism is stimulated. Specifically, the catechin polyphenols in green tea alter your body's use of norepinephrine, a chemical transmitter able to increase the rate of calorie burn, as noted in "The Complete Book of Chinese Medicine." For this reason, green tea extract is often touted as a weight loss supplement. Green tea also contains caffeine, the effects of which are mentioned above.

Kelp

Kelp is a type of seaweed and often called a "superfood" because it's rich in many vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Kelp contains B-vitamins, which increase energy production due to cellular metabolism. Kelp also contains iodine and metabolic precursors to the hormones of the thyroid gland, both of which can increase basal metabolic rate and help burn fat more efficiently, as cited in "Medical Herbalism: The Science Principles and Practices of Herbal Medicine."

Asian Ginseng

Asian ginseng root, which is a separate variety from Siberian or American ginseng, is used in traditional Chinese medicine to boost energy and fight fatigue. A 2006 Chinese study found that a component within Asian ginseng increases and regulates fat metabolism in mice.

Rhodiola Root

Rhodiola root is also used in traditional Chinese medicine to fight fatigue and sexual dysfunction. Rhodiola root has been shown to enhance athletic performance and promote weight loss through increased metabolism by stimulating the adrenal glands, according to "The Complete Book of Chinese Medicine."

References

Article reviewed by Billie Jo Jannen Last updated on: Nov 5, 2010

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