While there are many pills, powders and drinks that claim to help you lose those unwanted pounds more quickly, certain herbs are being looked into as well by the fitness and medical industries for their metabolic enhancements to the body. Understanding these various herbs can help you to decide if they might help you to succeed in losing fat, but you should consult with your physician first before beginning any new herbal supplements or making any changes to your nutritional regime.
Classifications
There are four main classifications of metabolic enhancers, including stimulants, cathartics, diuretics and appetite suppressants. Stimulants increase the body's natural thermogenesis, diuretics cause the body to lose excess water through urination, and cathartics accelerate defecation and prevent the body from breaking down all foodstuffs properly which leads to a feeling of fullness. This can often cause a drastic calorie reduction. Appetite suppressants reduce satiety by a number of different methods, and could affect taste, alter mood or even expand in the stomach, preventing hunger.
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a diuretic herb. It contains saponin, which according to WomenFitness.net helps to make fats in the body more soluble, which allows the body to break them down more easily. Alfalfa also contains flavones and isoflavones, which have been studied for their chemopreventative qualities, and this herb can also aid in digestion.
Cayenne
Cayenne can be added into foods to give it a spicy flavor, and also helps to improve circulation and digestion. According to WomenFitness.net, cayenne has the ability to raise the body's core temperature, also known as a thermogenic effect. This also boosts the body's metabolism, which can help in breaking down fat stores. Due to its thermogenic-enhancing qualities, cayenne can be considered a stimulant.
Flax Seed
Flax seed can be mixed in with various foods due to its tasteless nature, including oatmeal, yogurt, protein shakes and even soup. Flax seed is classified as a cathartic, or bulk laxative because once ingested, flax seed expands in the stomach five times the amount ingested. This leads to a feeling of fullness, so many health experts recommend having flax seed a half hour before meals to prevent overeating. Flax seed is also loaded with protein and fiber, which helps the body to stabilize blood sugar levels and regulate the body's insulin response.
References
- "Nutrition: The Complete Guide"; Dr. John Berardi; 2009
- Women Fitness: Herbs That Help Shed Pounds
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