Oriental Herbal Diets

Whether you need more energy, or your metabolism is in need of a wake-up call, oriental herbal diets work with your body to help you in your weight loss endeavors. Each one of these oriental herbs can be used different ways, and each one provides users with a variety of health benefits. These incredibly versatile herbs come in a variety of forms, making it easier to incorporate them into your daily routine.

Oolong Tea

• Oolong tea is made from the leaves, buds and stems of the Camellia sinensis plant. While it is the same plant used for making green teas and black teas, the difference between all three teas is how each one is processed. WebMD.com states that oolong tea is partially fermented. It is used for a variety of illnesses such as diabetes, obesity, cancer and heart disease. It is also used as a weight loss supplement. Since oolong tea helps to sharpen thinking skills and gives extra energy, it can be an ideal weight loss supplement to help dieters stay motivated and on track with daily exercise.

Green Tea

• Green tea has many health benefits for the body. It is made from unfermented leaves, which contain the most potent form of antioxidants known as polyphenols. Not only do these polyphenols prevent the damage caused to cells, which tamper with DNA, they also neutralize free radicals, which prevents the amount of damage caused to these cells. According to the University of Maryland, recent studies suggest that green tea helps with weight loss because it increases the metabolism, which helps the body burn more fat. Another study demonstrated that when obese individuals implemented green tea and caffeine into their diet, they experienced greater weight loss and were able to maintain their weight more effectively.

Rhodiola Rosea

• Rhodiola rosea is an arctic root found in the Tian Shan mountain range of Xingjian, China. The extracts of this root combat fatigue, help the body adapt to stress better and possess a variety of powerful antioxidants, which improves the functioning of the immune system. Rosavins are the biologically-active compounds responsible for the health benefits of this root. FoxNews.com reports that these compounds also help the body shed unwanted body fat, especially in the abdominal region. This is because the hormone that causes weight gain in this region of the body is not active; therefore, users benefit from using rhodiola rosea because it has the ability to activate this hormone. Once the hormone is activated, it helps to break down stored fat within the body.

Siberian Ginseng

• Siberian ginseng has been used in China and Russia for many years as a holistic tonic that helps strengthen the immune system. It is often used as a first line of defense against the cold and flu. The University of Maryland reports it is most often used in Russia as an adaptogen because it helps the body cope with mental and physical stress more effectively. Siberian ginseng has a multitude of uses; it increases vitality, energy and makes the immune system more resilient to various environmental and biological stressors. The root of the Siberian ginseng, which contains eleutherosides, is believed to have medicinal properties. Other important ingredients within this herb are polysaccharides, which in animal testing, improve the functioning of the immune system and lowers blood sugar levels.