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Weight loss is meant to be easy right? Eat less, eat sensibly and up the exercise. Unfortunately, even though this is the back bone for achieving a desired and healthy weight it doesn’t always work that way for all people and some need some supplemental help.
There are some herbal medicines and nutritionals which can support the journey. These include supplements to reduce sugar cravings, balance blood sugars, support healthy metabolism and energy levels.
It is hard to reduce food intake when all you think about is eating. There is strong evidence which shows for some people sugar can be an addictive behaviour, and for others it can be a nutritional deficiency or making poor dietary choices.
Brindleberry (Garcinia cambogia). The skin of the fruit contains a chemical called hydroxycitric acid (HCA) thought to be the key ingredient attributed to its ability to help with weight reduction. HCA stimulates fat oxidation, increases serotonin release and normalizes blood lipid profile. Serotonin is related to satiety, supporting a reduction in food intake.
Kelp (Fucus vesiculosus) provides a natural source of the mineral iodine, which is a precursor for the production of thyroid hormones. Important for energy production and maintaining the body's metabolic rate. Zinc, selenium and vitamin D also support healthy thyroid function.
Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) can be used to inhibit intestinal absorption of glucose, increases insulin levels and enhance the sensitivity of insulin. It can stimulate the synthesis and release of thyroid hormones and adiponectin (a hormone which is involved in regulating glucose levels and fatty acid transport). It supports the transport of glucose and fatty acids into the mitochondria of cells of adipose and skeletal muscles - for energy.
Gymnema sylvestre. This herb is known as the sugar destroyer with constituents which suppress the taste of sweetness. Gymnema can help with blood sugar balance, support the pancreas as well as controlling sugar cravings.
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia). Cinnamon has the potential to lower blood glucose.
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) is useful for lowering blood glucose and can significantly increase satiety, allowing for reduced energy uptake.
Psyllium (Plantago ovata). When psyllium is added to a meal or taken directly before or after it can significant decrease glucose absorption. Psyllium can also help you feel full for longer. Remember when increasing fibre, also increase water intake.
Garlic (Allium sativum). Studies have shown that garlic and its bioactive constituents exhibit many health benefits including antiobesity and antidiabetic activity.
Green tea (Camellia sinensis) extract. Studies have proven regularly consuming green tea can reduce abdominal fat and improved metabolic syndrome.
Green Coffee Bean helps reduce glucose absorption, helps regulate sugar metabolism and supports the breakdown fatty tissue for energy.
Chromium is an essential trace mineral for carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Chromium picolinate and has been shown to improve body composition by maintaining lean body mass.
When the sugar (fuel) in your blood drops, your energy levels fall and body needs to find fuel. This can be the time when fats are burnt, and also the time you need fuel to keep metabolism going. A drop in sugar can also lead to extreme tiredness and headaches. Achieving the right balance is important. When fasting, as in over-night when sleeping, your blood sugar becomes low, but as soon as you eat your blood sugar becomes high. Dysregulation of blood sugar can lead to dysfunction and even diabetes. When we talk about sugar as a fuel for the body, this is the fuel from carbohydrates.
Protein. Increasing protein can help reduce the hunger hormone and boost several satiety hormones. Metabolising protein burns calories due to a higher ‘thermic’ effect than that of carbohydrate and fats. High protein intake helps preserve lean body and muscle mass during weight loss. Protein shakes are an easy way of increasing good quality protein.
VLCD. A very low-calorie diet (VLCD) can achieve rapid weight loss and is based on meal replacement powders and ready to drink beverages. VLCD have been shown to be very effective in the management of obesity – helping with insulin sensitivity and blood sugar levels.
Fibre. Adding fibre to the diet is beneficial by contributing to satiety and its fat binding capacity, decreasing absorption.
Some supplemental fibres used to absorb dietary fat include:
Modulating the gut microbiota using probiotics may help with weight loss. The microbiota, the pathogenic community of the digestion, is known to protect gastrointestinal mucosa permeability and to regulate the fermentation and absorption of dietary polysaccharides. It is thought a dysbiosis of gut bacteria (an imbalance) could be responsible for obesity in some people.
Probiotics supplements may support weight reduction by aiding the release of the satiety hormone, reducing inflammation, reducing fat absorbency and improving gut health. The gut contains hundreds of different types of microorganisms, totalling over 100 trillion microbes, finding the right probiotic strain which may help with balancing the microbiome is individual.
Some strains of lactobacillus shown to help with weight reduction include Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus curvatus, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus amylovorus, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei.
Supplementing with weight-loss products will often be a catalyst to following a healthy life style and diet changes. Some supplements can reduce body fat, but may also reduce muscle mass. Exercise can help with maintaining and improving muscle mass. Endurance and resistance-type exercise help preserve muscle during weight loss, and resistance-type exercise also improves muscle strength.
Note: It is important to check with your health-care provider before taking any supplements to avoid interactions with medication and other health risks.