Numerous herbs may help you lose weight. According to the MayoClinic website, weight loss comes down to burning more calories than you consume. Reducing extra calories from foods and beverages and increasing the number of calories burned through physical activity can help you lose weight. Certain herbs help support healthy weight loss. Before taking herbs to help you lose weight, talk with your doctor about possible side effects, proper dosage and potential drug interactions.
Green Tea
Green tea is an herb that may help you lose weight, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. All types of tea -- green, black and oolong -- are produced from the Camellia sinensis plant using different methods. Fresh leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant are steamed, producing green tea that may be used for medicinal purposes, including weight loss. Green tea decreases your cholesterol levels and protects your skin from sun damage. Ed Smith, an herbalist and author of the book "Therapeutic Herb Manual," states that green tea's high content of catechins, flavonoids and other compounds make it an excellent antioxidant. Smith notes that green tea is also a mild stimulant, astringent and diuretic. Before taking green tea to help you lose weight, talk with your doctor about possible side effects, proper dosage and potential drug interactions.
Hoodia
Hoodia is an herb that may be beneficial for losing weight. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, or MSKCC, states that hoodia, also known as hoodia gordonii, is a flowering, cactus-like plant that grows in southeastern Africa, especially in the Kalahari Desert. The harvest of hoodia is protected by conservation laws, notes the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, or NCCAM. Local tribesman consume hoodia to help ease hunger during periods of starvation. According to the MSKCC, hoodia extracts can suppress your appetite and assist weight loss, although its mechanism of action is unclear. Dried extracts of the plant's stems and roots are used medicinally. The quality of hoodia products varies widely, states NCCAM. Before taking hoodia to help you lose weight, talk with your doctor about possible side effects and proper dosage.
Ma Huang
Ma huang is an herb that may help you lose weight. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, ma huang, also known as Ephedra sinica, is a shrub native to Pakistan, China and northwestern India. Some species of this plant grow in the American southwest. Ma huang is a perennial evergreen that stands about 1 foot in height. Ma huang has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 5,000 years to treat numerous health problems, including obesity, asthma, fever and chills. Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," states that ma huang is a diuretic, diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic. Ma huang may promote weight loss and increase the metabolic rate of your adipose, or fat tissue. Before taking ma huang to help you lose weight, talk with your doctor about possible side effects and proper dosage.
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