Safe Herbal Weight Loss

Consumers should never automatically equate the word "herbal" with "safe", since many herbal supplements have been associated with serious side effects. However, when used appropriately, herbal supplements can safely and effectively promote weight loss. There are a few natural herbs that are truly worthwhile for people pursuing safe weight loss with real results. These ingredients, used alone or alongside other formulas, can promote weight loss.

Caffeine-Containing Herbs

• Caffeine is the most tried-and-true herbal treatment for obesity. Found in numerous herbs, including coffee, guarana, black tea and green tea, caffeine enables safe herbal weight loss in several ways. Caffeine acts as a stimulant, diuretic and laxative, so it helps to flush excess fluid and solid waste while actively raising metabolism. Though caffeine-containing herbs are associated with insomnia, anxiety and a temporary rise in blood pressure, they are safer than powerful stimulants like ephedrine, yohimbine and synephrine.

Brown Seaweed

• A natural derivative of brown seaweed, fucoxanthin appears to be an effective diet product with none of the side effects associated with stimulant-containing diet pills. Classified as a "non-stimulant thermogenic," fucoxanthin is believed to raise metabolism without elevating heart rate or blood pressure. It has not been reported to cause anxiety, palpitations, tachycardia or hypertension, so it is considered to be safe for people with heart disease and anxiety disorders.

Green Tea

• Green tea may be an ideal herbal weight loss supplement because it contains two safe, effective metabolism-boosters. Green tea contains moderate amounts of caffeine, as well as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)-- an antioxidant with dozens of health benefits. According to a study published in Phytomedicine, EGCG enables a loss of about three pounds per month beyond what caffeine provides alone. Green tea also contains L-Theanine, an amino acid that can modulate the negative side effects of caffeine.