herbal remedies for weight loss

5 Amazing Herbal Remedies for Weight Loss

Herbs are what are natural and you can very well take help of these herbs for weight loss. Have you ever thought why people in the past were not so bothered about getting fat? Why obesity was not a problem as it is today? From the time onwards when people started processing natural foods and leading life which lacks physical movements, they also started gaining weight. Even today if you talk to someone who has lost weight, you’ll be told of lots of herbs and natural foods along with exercises that had helped them in losing weight. So, why not you too know about the top herbs for weight loss. Only knowing is not enough. Act on this. Adopt these herbal remedies for weight loss and get in shape not instantly but with lasting effects.

Herbal Remedies for Weight Loss

1. Green Tea for Weight Loss

Green tea is not only loaded with antioxidants but has thermo-genic properties within itself. Thermogenesis can be understood as the process of heat production in organisms including human beings. It increases consumption of energy and fat oxidation so you burn your body fat faster. Green tea also helps feel you full so that you don’t eat more than you need. Not only this, EGCG in green tea reduces the amount of fat that your body absorbs when you eat your food. This is not only helpful in your weight loss efforts but also in reducing your cholesterol level.

How to have green tea for weight loss?

1. Make your green tea by placing 1-2 tsp of good quality green tea in a cup or bowl. Pour hot water over it and let it brew for a minute. Taste it. If it is not strong enough for your taste buds, let it brew for another minute and then taste again. Keep on tasting every minute to know what strength of green tea would you prefer. Then onwards, you may brew your tea for that many minutes. Usually people brew green tea for 2-5 minutes. Strain and drink your cup of green tea. As this is for weight loss, its desirable not to add any sweetener to the tea.
2. Have green tea instead of regular tea or coffee in the morning. It has enough caffeine to start off your day. Also, this will speed up your metabolism right in the morning so that you may burn more calories throughout the day.
3. Drink at least 4-5 cups of green tea throughout the day. This will help you feel full and you’ll concentrate lesser on binge eating. Having a cup of green tea before or after meals is a good idea.

2. Ginseng for Weight Loss

Ginseng has long been used by Chinese medicine as a traditional medicine for energy, stamina, and overall well being. Modern researchers have also found ginseng to be effective for weight loss as well as diabetes control. One of the researches talks about ginseng’s ability to make body cells lesser capable of storing fat. Ginseng is an adaptogen, a substance which improves the body’s capability to cope with physical, emotional and environmental stress. You can find ginseng in fresh as well as dried form. While sometimes leaves of ginseng plant are also added with its root but the root is the most beneficial part of this plant. Ginseng can help you in two ways to lose weight. First, it will boost your metabolism wherein when you eat, you will store less fat as compared to when you don’t take ginseng. Secondly, ginseng will fill you with energy so that you remain more active and thus spend more calories.

Make ginseng tea for weight loss

Get this:

• Dried ginseng root- 4 tbsp
• Water- 4 cups
• Honey (optional)- 1-2 tsp
• Cinnamon (optional)- ¼ – ½ tsp

Do this:

• Boil the water in a pan.
• Add ginseng root to the boiling water.
• Simmer for about an hour.
• Remove from the heat and strain.
• Add honey and/or cinnamon. Honey reduces the bitter aftertaste f ginseng herb and cinnamon powder can make it a little aromatic.
• Drink one cup each in the morning and after lunch.

3. Guggul Herb Extract for Weight Loss

Guggul is an age old herbal medicine recommended by Ayurveda for various health conditions including weight loss. And what is more important is that modern studies have also supported the effect of guggul herb in weight loss. Guggul gum resin is extracted from the Commiphora mukul tree or the mukul myrrh tree. Gum guggul extract contains guggulsterone, a plant steroid which is thought to be anti-tumor, anti-angiogenic and cholesterol-lowering component. However, the weight loss effect of guggul comes from its activity on thyroid gland. Thyroid hormones are essential for exact metabolic rate which decides how much calories would you burn in a day. As guggul stimulates thyroid function, your metabolic rate comes to the optimum level and weight loss becomes easier and faster. The added advantages of guggul are lowered cholesterol levels and a good mood too. And because, it doesn’t stimulate your central nervous system, it is a safe herb for weight loss.

Ways to take guggul for weight loss

1. Guggul extract is easily available in form of tablets in health stores, especially Ayurveda herbal medicines stores. Generally, you should take 75 milligrams of guggul extract divided in 3 doses. This means 25 milligrams as one dose. Sometimes 100 milligrams can also be taken but it’s better to consult an Ayurvedic doctor or a herbalist before you take guggul supplement.
2. If you decide to take guggul gum, you may keep 1 gram (about ¼ tsp) of this resin under your tongue or inside your mouth so that it dissolves there. Do it 4 times a day.

4. Hibiscus Tea for Weight Loss

The beautiful flowers of Hibiscus are loaded with nutrients, flavonoids and various minerals. The amylase inhibitors in this herb help in lowering absorption of fats and carbohydrates. The fats and carbohydrates in your body are broken down by hibiscus so that they can be flushed out of body. Hibiscus flowers also have mild diuretic property s, which o that you shed water weight too and reduce your bloating. Your body gets added advantage of strengthened immunity due to the antioxidants present hibiscus.

How to make hibiscus tea for weight loss?

Hibiscus tea can be served cold as well as hot. Cold hibiscus tea takes more time to be made than the hotter one.

Make cold hibiscus tea

Get this:

• Dry hibiscus flowers- 1 cup
• Water- 8 cups
• Honey (optional)- as per taste

Do this:

• Get fresh hibiscus flowers, the ones that are about to bloom.
• Separate the petals and place them on a paper. Leave them for few days to dry off.
• Once dried, take one cup of dried hibiscus flower petals.
• Soak them in the water for about 1-2 days or till the time they fade away.
• Strain and store in refrigerator. They can be stored in fridge for about 5 days.
• When you want to drink this hibiscus tea, take a cup from the whole lot and add honey to this. You may also add other ingredients like cinnamon or lemon juice to give it some more taste.
• If you want to have hot tea, heat this cold hibiscus tea on stove top or in a microwave oven. You may also make hot hibiscus tea through other method described below.

Make hot hibiscus tea

Get this:

• Dried hibiscus petals- 2 tbsp
• Water- 2 cups
• Honey (optional)- as per taste

Do this:

• Place water in a pot and add the hibiscus petals to it.
• Bring to a boil and then simmer for 5-10 minutes.
• Strain and add honey if needed. You may also add lemon, cinnamon etc.
• Enjoy your hot hibiscus tea an lose weight!

Precaution: If you are a pregnant or nursing woman or taking some medication, consult your doctor before taking any herbal tea including hibiscus tea.

5. Yerba Mate for Weight Loss

Yerba Mate is a traditional South American drink. It is in fact an infusion made with dried and aged yerba mate plant and which is drunk in social gatherings from a single gourd and bombilla. Due to its health benefits, this drink has come to be known as tea even when it has more similarities to coffee. Just as coffee can energize you due to its caffeine content, yerba mate can also fill you up with stamina again due to its caffeine. The difference is that yerba mate will also increase the rate at which your body burns calories. Apart from increasing your metabolic rate, yerba mate also gives you the benefits of different vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants. It also helps in slowing down your digestion so that you feel fuller for longer and consume less calories during the day. So, it makes sense to replace your morning coffee with yerba mate tea for weight loss!

How to make yerba mate tea for weight loss?

While socially a special gourd (also called a mate) and a bombilla (metal straw with a hollow filtered bottom) is used to infuse yerba mate and to drink it, you may use a French press (coffee press) to make your yerba mate tea. After all, you are not drinking yerba mate for social purpose but for very personal cause, for your weight loss!

Get this:

• Dried yerba mate herb – 1 tbsp
• Hot (not boiling) water- 1-2 cups

Do this:

• Place dried yerba mate herb (about 1 tbsp) at the bottom of your coffee press.
• Add 1-2 cups of hot water (not boiling water) to this.
• Stir a little and cover. Leave the plunger up on to your French press. The coffee press allows room for leaves to infuse and expand fully. The powdered small particles also get filtered through its fine sieve.
• Let steep for 3-5 minutes.
• Pour in your cup and enjoy.