Herbal Diet Plan

An herbal diet plan incorporates botanical therapies reputed to boost the metabolism and promote weight loss. However, with few exceptions, there is no scientific evidence that these herbs enhance weight loss. In addition, herbal supplements do not take the place of a sensible low-fat, reduced calorie diet and regular exercise for long-term weight loss. Since plant compounds can produce side effects, consult a qualified health care practitioner before embarking on an herbal diet plan if you are taking medications or have a chronic condition, such as diabetes or heart disease.

Metabolism Theory

In addition to sticking to a diet low in fat, carbohydrates and calories, some people believe that adding herbal supplements will help to stimulate the metabolism to encourage the body to burn more calories. While it's true that metabolism does regulate the percentage of calories burned, you cannot necessarily blame a "slow" metabolism for weight gain. For instance, although the Mayo Clinic says that your basal metabolic rate, or BMR, is responsible for burning up to 75 percent of the calories utilized per day, this only reflects the amount of energy needed to fuel your body so it can perform basic functions. This amount doesn't vary much from day-to-day, unless you increase physical activity. This explains why starving yourself or skipping meals doesn't result in significant weight loss.

Whole Foods

An herbal diet plan features whole, natural foods. After all, cereal grains, oats and many vegetables and spices are considered herbs by definition. These foods are also high in fiber, which can help to improve digestion. Increasing your daily fiber intake can also increase thermogenesis, which is the amount of energy consumed to digest food foods and absorb nutrients. According to the Mayo Clinic, your body dedicates roughly 10 percent of the calories you burn each day to this purpose. Fiber, in particular, may become even more important as you age. In fact, in a prospective cohort study involving more than 74,000 women between the ages of 38 and 63, S. Liu and fellow researchers at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston found that women who consumed whole grains consistently weighed less than those who ate refined grains.

Digestive Herbs

Traditionally speaking, certain herbs are believed to help facilitate weight loss by improving digestion. For instance, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, ginger has been used as a digestive aid for more than 2,000 years. In Ayurveda, the traditional healing system of India, adding ginger to the diet is often recommended for people struggling with obesity. In the Ayurvedic system, these people are considered to have a "kapha" type constitution, which is characterized by a well-developed physique with a slow digestion and a craving for bitter or astringent foods. Several other bitter herbs may be incorporated into the diet as well, such as cayenne, mustard seed, cumin and black pepper.

Lymph System Herbs

Some herbalists believe that stimulating the lymphatic system will help to promote weight loss by increasing the rate of the elimination of waste materials from the body. According to Kathi Keville, author of "Herbs for Health and Healing," herbs traditionally used to encourage lymph flow include echinacea, mullein, cleavers and red clover.

Safety Considerations

Some herbs may interfere with the absorption of certain medications, or increase their effects. This includes diabetes medications, drugs used to regulate high blood pressure, chemotherapy agents and blood-thinning medications. If you have a chronic disorder, are taking medications or have a history of liver, kidney or gallbladder disease, check with your doctor before using an herbal diet plan to lose weight.