Herbs are derived from plants or plant extracts and are used in both food and medicine. They are often used to heal the body and reduce the risk for minor and life-threatening medical conditions. On top of that, evidence suggests that certain herbs can help raise metabolism and induce fat loss. Consult your health care provider before taking any herbs.
Cayenne Pepper
Derived from dried chili peppers, cayenne pepper contains the compound capsaicin, which might help raise metabolism, according to lead researcher Yasser Mahmoud and colleagues from the University of Aarhus in Denmark. Scientists discovered that capsaicin increases metabolism and body temperature by inducing thermogenesis, or the process of converting energy to heat in the body, according to the June 2008 issue of the "Journal of Biological Chemistry."
Green Tea
Green tea's powerful antioxidants, called catechins, might have fat-burning properties. Hongqiang Wang led a team of researchers from Fudan University in the Netherlands who examined the impact of catechin-enriched green tea on body composition, or muscle-to-fat ratio in the body. They discovered that overweight subjects taking two servings of 886 mg of catechin green tea twice a day for three months experienced a decrease in body fat, especially from the abdominal region, the August 2009 issue of the journal "Obesity" reports.
Ma Huang and Guarana
The herbs ma huang, also known as ephedrine, and guarana might increase metabolism and enhance fat loss. Researchers from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons discovered that overweight participants taking an herbal supplement containing ma huang and guarana for eight weeks experienced significantly greater weight loss compared to those receiving a placebo, according to the March 2001 issue of the "International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders."
Cinnamon
Tim Ziegenfuss and colleagues from the Wadsworth Medical Center in Ohio investigated the impact of cinnamon extract on body composition in participants with metabolic syndrome, a group of factors that increase the risk for heart disease. They observed that subjects taking cinnamon extract for 12 weeks experienced a decrease in body fat and an increase in lean mass compared to those taking a placebo, according to findings published in the December 2006 issue of the "Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition."
References
- ScienceDaily: Hot Peppers Really Do Bring The Heat
- Obesity: Effects of Catechin Enriched Green Tea on Body Composition
- PubMed.gov: An herbal supplement containing Ma Huang-Guarana for weight loss: a randomized, double-blind trial
- Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition: Effects of Water-Soluble Cinnamon Extract on Body Composition and Features of the Metabolic Syndrome in Pre-Diabetic Men and Women
Member Comments