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Herbs for Weight Control

Millions of people try to lose weight at some point in their lives. Overall, it takes healthy eating, exercise and self-discipline, which equals hard work. Many weight loss herbs claim that they can make the process easier. Unfortunately, many do not live up to their claims. It takes time and good clinical research to know the difference between fact and fiction. Green tea, hoodia, acai berry and banaba are four popular herbs in the weight loss industry.

  1. Green Tea

    • Green Tea is made with unfermented Camellia sinesis leaves. Compared to other teas, green tea has the greatest concentration of polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants. Used for centuries in China, India, Japan and Thailand, green tea has been the subject of many clinical studies. These studies suggest that green tea supports weight loss by burning fat and increasing metabolism. One study shows that it may also help increase abdomen weight loss when combined with exercise. The green tea used in these studies contained caffeine.

    Acai Berry

    • Acai berry is the fruit from the Acai Palm tree of Brazil. Brazilians have enjoyed the many benefits of acai for centuries. The rest of the world had to wait until better processing and refrigeration technology became available. Acai berries deteriorate within twenty-four hours after they are picked if not properly processed. Clinical studies show that acai berries are high in vitamin C, anthocyanins, flavonoids and polyphenols. These nutrients and more make acai fruit pulp a greater super-antioxidant than blackberries, strawberries or blueberries. In studies, antioxidants have proven beneficial against heart disease and cancer. Unfortunately, however good for you acai berries may be, no clinical studies have yet shown they are effective for weight loss. If you choose to take acai for its other health benefits, look for freeze-dried products.

    Hoodia

    • African tribesmen traditionally used hoodia on long hunts to decrease thirst and hunger. In 2004, hoodia use skyrocketed among people trying to lose weight after Lesley Stahl reported about the herb on the CBS news show 60 Minutes. There are many anecdotal reports of hoodia's effectiveness in weight loss, but not many human, clinical studies with scientifically significant results. This has raised concerns in the health care industry. In 2008, Unilever PLC, an international packaged food company, abandoned plans to use hoodia in a variety of diet products. According to CEO Paul Polman, after investing twenty million euros in research and development, their clinical research suggested that hoodia did not meet their "strict standards of safety and efficacy."

    Banaba

    • Banaba is native to India, Southeast Asia and the Philippines where it is a popular remedy for controlling blood sugar. Recent studies show that it has corosolic acid, which creates an insulin-like effect in humans, causing glucose to travel from the blood into individual cells. This process regulates blood sugar levels and insulin. Several animal studies suggest that it is also helpful for weight loss. Some experts speculate that regulated blood sugar and insulin result in reduced cravings for sweets and carbohydrates. If correct, in both mice and man, these reduced cravings may result in weight loss.

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