Clinical Weight Loss Diet Nutrition Tips Guide

Clinical Herbal Studies

By Veronica Tripplethorn

Looking at the herbal supplement section of diet aids can be like trying to decipher the Dead Sea Scrolls. All of them promise to make you slim and trim, energize you, and improve the way you look and feel. Sadly, most of these hyped products are just a waste of money.

Clinical studies have shown that the majority of them have little to no effect on weight loss. However, some societies have used herbs for generations as an appetite suppressant. Is it possible that herbs outweigh science when it comes to weight loss?

Before you take any herbal supplement, make sure that it is manufactured and distributed by reputable companies. The FDA standards for herbs are not very high, but they have linked certain herbs to serious side effects and even death. It is definitely best to avoid the use of these herbs.

Herbal laxatives With Side Effects

Herbal laxatives sold as a diet herbal tea, cascara, senna, buckthorn, aloe and rhubarb root can all cause cramping and diarrhea. If overused, they could cause your bowels to no longer function without laxative stimulation. High doses of ephedra can raise blood pressure, increase heart rate, and over stimulate the central nervous system.

The FDA states there are more than 800 reports of side effects linked with the use of ephedra, including heart palpitations, seizures, stroke, chest pains and heart attacks. This herb is believed to have caused at least two deaths. The diet drug fen-phen contains ephedra as the main ingredient. Herbal fen-phen has not been shown to be ineffective in clinical trials, and can produce serious side effects like irregular heartbeat, heart attacks and strokes.

Herb Tricks Your Brain Into Thinking You Are Full

The latest herbal supplement for weight loss that’s causing buzz is Hoodia. Clinical studies at Brown University indicate that Hoodia appears to work by interrupting or stopping the hunger mechanism in the brain. Simply put, the herb "tricks" your brain into thinking you’re full even if you haven’t eaten yet.

While this can be helpful, never forget that your body needs proper fuel to function. Reducing calories is key to losing weight, but make sure that you energize yourself with calories that come from fruits, vegetables and lean meats. Diabetics should not take Hoodia because this herb may interfere with the function of normal physiological processes that indicate when blood sugar is becoming dangerously low.

Five Cups Of Green Tea A Day

Clinical studies by Japanese researchers suggest that if the average person were to drink five cups of green tea a day, they would burn an extra 70 to 80 extra calories through an effect known as thermogenesis, which is the process of heat production in organisms.

Green tea on its own will not make you lose weight, but it can be helpful when combined with exercise and a healthy diet. Green tea seems to have weight loss benefits because of its caffeine content. It increases your metabolism so that you burn more calories, and has a positive effect on blood sugar and insulin regulation. However, unlike coffee, green tea is rich in antioxidants that cleanse your body of harmful toxins as you lose weight.

Many clinical studies have shown that natural herb supplements can aid in weight loss but you have to be careful about what you take and how much of it you take. Before you take any medicinal herbs, you should speak to a doctor or pharmacist and an herbalist to make sure that you do not have any dangerous drug interactions. It’s also critical that you eat a healthy diet and exercise. You can’t have a healthy, energetic body without the right fuel.

Please Note: All information given on this site is for information purposes and is not to replace any medical opinion or medical diagnosis given by a qualified medical doctor, a dietitian/nutritional expert or any other medical expert, as individual circumstances may vary. Please see your medical doctor, before any action is taken to alleviate symptoms.

This Article was about Clinical.

About the Author:
Veronica Tripplethorn is an author of nutrition, dieting, fitness and exercise articles including Veronica Tripplethorn is an author of health, nutrition, dieting, and fitness articles including Massage Therapy, Massages, Aromatherapy Massage, Aromatherapy Candles, Aromatherapy, Aromatherapy Candles, Aromatherapy Oils, Aromatherapy Essential, Aromatherapy Products.
Keep a lookout for more of her articles coming soon.

More Facts About Herbs...

Where can I buy herbs?
The good news is that you can buy herbs in any grocery store or health food store. You can buy the medicinal varieties in pill form from your local pharmacy. If you have a farmer’s market nearby, you may want to try buying fresh herbs there. If you are looking to buy a particular herb in bulk, you may want to try a wholesale food club. This of course only works if you are buying the dried herb. A fresh herb will not last long.