| In the on going battle to lose weight, one approach | | | | appetite or food cravings because the body is |
| that is frequently overlooked is the many fat burning | | | | missing the nutrients normally found in these fats. |
| herbs that can supplement a healthy diet program | | | | To alleviate this hunger many people consume high |
| and workout. These herbs can assist you to lose fat | | | | amounts of carbohydrates, which are found in junk |
| and are proven factors for speeding up metabolism. | | | | foods like chips, cakes, and donuts, in an effort to |
| Improving the body's functions such as circulation, | | | | satisfy their nutritional need. |
| digestion, and elimination not only rid the body of | | | | In addition, because flax seeds are high in omega-3 |
| excess fat but can lead to other long-term health | | | | fatty acids, it has a stellar reputation as one of the |
| benefits as well. | | | | fat burning herbs that speeds up metabolism. Again, |
| To lose weight you must burn more calories than | | | | eating the right type of 'good' fat gives the body a |
| what you consume during the course of your daily | | | | better chance of storing the right amount of fats. |
| activities. Developing a lean, muscular body and | | | | This good fat promotes an increase in the body's |
| maintaining a regular workout schedule, will cause the | | | | metabolic rate through 'thermogenesis.' |
| body to operate at an optimal metabolic rate; this | | | | Thermogenesis is a process in which specialized fat |
| burns fat (calories) in the process. If you are serious | | | | cells, which are stored throughout the body and are |
| about fat loss, it is imperative that you consider | | | | called ' brown fat,' burns more calories (fat) when |
| adding fat burning herbs to your nutritional strategy. | | | | activated by the omega-3 fatty acids. Flax seeds |
| Following are four herbs that are known for their | | | | slimming effects is an important part of weight |
| affect on speeding up metabolism. | | | | control programs. |
| Green Tea | | | | Chromium |
| Green tea is well known as a powerful anti-oxidant | | | | Chromium is another one of the fat burning herbs |
| and is touted for combating cholesterol, bad breath, | | | | that speeds up metabolism and helps the body |
| dental cavities, tooth decay and (more recently) | | | | process protein and fat. A recent study showed that |
| cancer. It also has a reputation for speeding up | | | | patients who consumed 400mcg of chromium |
| metabolism. In January 1999, the American Journal of | | | | picolinate a day lost 6 pounds over a period of 3 |
| Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study that | | | | months; and that the control group lost only 3 |
| concluded that over a 24-hour period, green tea | | | | pounds. |
| extract increases the metabolic rate by 4%. | | | | The study also concluded that the weight loss |
| They found that the high levels of polyphenols called | | | | attained by the group taking the herbal chromium |
| catechins and found in green tea, help to increase the | | | | herbal supplement was in the form of body fat, not |
| amount of fat oxidation and thermogenesis. | | | | muscle. |
| Thermogenesis is the rate at which the body burns | | | | Although the science is not conclusive; it is believed |
| calories. In addition, experts found that the catechins | | | | that chromium aids in the regulation of blood sugar in |
| help to block the movement of glucose into fat cells | | | | one of two ways. By binding both insulin and the cell |
| and may, in fact, act as a glucose regulator. This in | | | | to use blood sugar more efficiently, in effect helping |
| turn slows down the rise of blood sugar after the | | | | to store the sugars as 'reserve energy.' The |
| ingestion of a meal. As a result, high insulin spikes, | | | | chromium may lower the rate at which insulin is |
| which lead to the storage of fat in the body, are | | | | extracted, which helps to improve glucose tolerance. |
| prevented. | | | | Keep in mind that insulin is not only a critical ingredient |
| Other research suggests that green tea acts an | | | | for helping the body to maintain blood sugar levels, |
| appetite suppressant. A study conducted by the | | | | but it also helps to speeds up metabolism. |
| University of Chicago injected lab rats with a green | | | | Cayenne |
| tea extract. After seven days of injections the rats | | | | Cayenne is another food that can be added to your |
| consumed 60% less food and lost approximately | | | | list of fat burning herbs. One of its main ingredients, |
| 21% of their body weight. This was attributed to the | | | | called capsaicin, is considered a themogenic substance |
| blood regulating attributes of the green tea. | | | | that speeds up metabolism. Researchers have |
| So the evidence points to the effectiveness of | | | | concluded that capsaicin cause an increase in the core |
| green tea as one of the many fat burning herbs that | | | | body temperature. This increase in body temperature |
| speeds up metabolism. An additional benefit is its | | | | raised the metabolic rate and resulted in the patients |
| ability to help regulate blood sugar, which in turn, | | | | losing more weight than the group who did not take |
| suppresses the appetite. | | | | cayenne. So, if you make the choice to partake in a |
| You can turbo charge your fat burning even more by | | | | meal that is high in fats, try sprinkling a dash of |
| replacing your morning mocha or frappucinno with a | | | | cayenne on your food. It will stimulate your digestion, |
| cup of green tea instead. Imagine the calories you | | | | your saliva and speeds up metabolism as well. |
| can save there! | | | | The use of herbs for strengthening the body and |
| Flax Seeds | | | | treating disease has been well documented from the |
| Flax seeds is an excellent food choice on the list of | | | | beginning of human history. It has been thoroughly |
| fat burning herbs; they are a very good source of | | | | that many cultures from around the world have |
| omega- 3 fatty acids. The body uses these essential | | | | utilized various fat burning herbs for their ability to |
| fatty acids as the building blocks for making the type | | | | depress appetite and for the qualities that speeds up |
| of good fat that the body uses to stabilize the blood | | | | metabolism. |
| sugar level. The fact that it helps to maintain the | | | | As with any changes made in your diet, you should |
| blood sugar underlies its importance as a member of | | | | use them with caution and in consultation with your |
| the fat burning herbs family. Without a stable blood | | | | health care provider. |
| sugar level you would experience an increase | | | | |