Loose weight naturally
Healthy eating and regular exercise are the most important steps to lose weight, you can also harness the power of certain natural remedies that have shown beneficial effects in helping with weight loss.
Eating smart and exercising are your best bets to paring down to a healthy weight. For most people that means making a complete lifestyle change -- not one that means no more cheesecake, ever, but one that knows how to incorporate that cheesecake into an overall healthy eating style.
Are You or Aren't You?So how do you know if you're overweight or obese? First you need to calculate your body mass index (BMI). This is the method the government uses to determine who's at a normal weight, who's overweight, and who's obese. To get your BMI, divide your weight in pounds by 2.2 to convert your weight to kilograms. Then divide your height in inches by 39.37 to convert it to meters. Multiply your height in meters by itself, and then divide your weight in kilograms by that number. Say you weigh 150 pounds and you're 5'7" (67 inches). Your BMI figures would look like this:
150 divided by 2.2 = 68.2
67 inches divided by 39.37 = 1.70
1.70 x 1.70 = 2.89
68.2 divided by 2.89 = 23.59
A normal BMI is between 19 and 25. A BMI over 25 is considered overweight. And a BMI over 30 is considered obese.
Top Herbal Weight Loss Remedies:
Flaxseed: Also known as Linseed or Alsi in Hindi, flaxseed comes with a mucilage coat surrounding the seed; when it contacts water, it swells, adding to the bulk in your stomach. Therefore, it can make you feel full with lesser volumes of food and this helps with weight loss. Flaxseed is also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids that are good for your heart. Pregnant women should avoid the use of flaxseed because it has estrogen-like properties and can cause undesirable hormonal fluctuations.
Powder flaxseeds and add a little of the powder into soups, oats, breakfast cereal, juice, chapatti dough, dosa batter, chutneys, curds or butter milk. Since flaxseeds are naturally bland, they will not contribute any flavour to the dish.
Green Tea: Green tea contains several valuable components of which, the catechins are the most valuable because of their antioxidant activity. Research has shown evidence of the metabolism-boosting and fat-burning properties of green tea, making it a wonderful weight loss aid.
Take the green tea leaves in a tea strainer and place it over a cup. Heat water until bubbles just start to form at the bottom of the vessel (around 80 °C) and pout it so as to cover the leaves, and allow them to steep for two minutes; then remove the strainer, and drink the green tea after it has cooled down a little.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon has been found to activate insulin receptors as well as stimulate important enzyme systems involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Therefore, it can regulate the levels of blood sugar and increase metabolism and this, combined with its ‘bad cholesterol’-reducing action makes it a wonderful weight loss aid.
Include about one teaspoon of cinnamon in your daily diet by sprinkling cinnamon powder on food you eat – breakfast cereal, tea and coffee, fruits such as apples and pears or curds.
Some people also combine cinnamon with honey in the form of a tea by mixing one tablespoon of each in half a cup of hot water. This tea should be drunk about 30 minutes before breakfast every day to see a noticeable weight loss.
Black Pepper: The piperine in black pepper has been known for years as a digestive; recent research shows that it also helps burn fat and through action at genetic level, may help prevent the formation of fat.
Freshly ground black pepper can be added to several regular dishes right from salads to meats. Make sure you add it at towards the end of your cooking because exposure to too much of heat can cause a loss of its flavour and reduce its effectiveness.
Turmeric: Indians have always used turmeric in cooking, religious rituals and as a beauty aid. Researchers all over the world are now finding that it can also help to metabolize fat and reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
Besides the traditional way of adding turmeric to vegetable, rice, curry and dals, make a tea of turmeric. Add a teaspoon of turmeric and a pinch of ginger powder into around 4 cups of boiling water; allow to simmer for 10 minutes; strain and drink when cool.
Ginger: Well-known for its digestive properties, ginger also has thermogenic properties – it raises the body temperature by burning fat and this makes it useful for those seeking to lose weight. Research has shown it also has a satiating property which means you tend to eat less, and this contributes to the weight loss. Ginger has blood-thinning properties and it is wise to consult your doctor if you are on blood thinners such as aspirin before consuming it.
Powder ginger and add about half a teaspoon to a cup of hot water, cool and drink. You can also mix a tablespoon each of cinnamon and ginger with water, boil for a minute or two and drink when cool. Adding peeled and grated or chopped fresh ginger into vegetable or rice dishes is yet another way of including it in your diet.
In recent years, being overweight or obese has come to be recognized as a risk factor for several lifestyle diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes and as people grow more aware of this fact, weight loss is becoming priority number 1 on their ‘to-do’ list. Regular exercise – at least 30 minutes a day for five days in a week – is the best way to prevent weight gain. For effective weight loss, it is vital you combine exercise with the right diet. When you make these herbs a part of your diet, not only do they help with weight loss, they also help you keep lifestyle diseases at bay.
Honey: home remedy for weight loss Honey is really effective for circulating the fats in the body. Consume a spoon of honey one-half an hr subsequently every meal. An effective remedy is to blend a teaspoon of honey and lemon juice and take it twice a day. Instead, you can consume a bowlful of hot water, put a teaspoon each of honey and lemon juice and use it in the morning time on an hungry stomach. This is a really beneficial remedy to melt the surplus fats.
Ginseng: Most overweight persons have a slower metabolism and the ginseng herb will work wonders in this case. Drinking ginseng will boost your metabolism and burn off more calories. You can use ginseng as a tea or take it in pill form. A good tip to increase your metabolism is following a 6 meals a day diet. (Visit our how many calories to lose weight page to learn more about burning calories and losing weight)
Hoodia Gordonii: This is a cactus from the Kalhari Desert in Africa. Hoodia acts as an appetite suppressant and it will work by tricking the brain into thinking that you have a full stomach. This is a good herbal remedy to consider if you are struggling to control your diet intake. It is currently available in the form of pills and tea.
Cayenne: You might know this as a popular spice that is used for cooking. But, it is also a natural herb for weight loss. Cayenne has a capsaicin substance that is really effective when it comes to stimulating digestion and boosting metabolism
Glucomannan: Made from Amorphophallus Konjac root, this natural weight loss herb can slow down glucose absorption in the intestines. Apart from promoting weight loss, this herb will also give you a full feeling. Although this is an effective herbal remedy, you should exercise caution when using it for weight loss. Some people have actually complained about esophageal blockage after using this supplement.
Eating smart and exercising are your best bets to paring down to a healthy weight. For most people that means making a complete lifestyle change -- not one that means no more cheesecake, ever, but one that knows how to incorporate that cheesecake into an overall healthy eating style.
Are You or Aren't You?So how do you know if you're overweight or obese? First you need to calculate your body mass index (BMI). This is the method the government uses to determine who's at a normal weight, who's overweight, and who's obese. To get your BMI, divide your weight in pounds by 2.2 to convert your weight to kilograms. Then divide your height in inches by 39.37 to convert it to meters. Multiply your height in meters by itself, and then divide your weight in kilograms by that number. Say you weigh 150 pounds and you're 5'7" (67 inches). Your BMI figures would look like this:
150 divided by 2.2 = 68.2
67 inches divided by 39.37 = 1.70
1.70 x 1.70 = 2.89
68.2 divided by 2.89 = 23.59
A normal BMI is between 19 and 25. A BMI over 25 is considered overweight. And a BMI over 30 is considered obese.
Top Herbal Weight Loss Remedies:
Flaxseed: Also known as Linseed or Alsi in Hindi, flaxseed comes with a mucilage coat surrounding the seed; when it contacts water, it swells, adding to the bulk in your stomach. Therefore, it can make you feel full with lesser volumes of food and this helps with weight loss. Flaxseed is also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids that are good for your heart. Pregnant women should avoid the use of flaxseed because it has estrogen-like properties and can cause undesirable hormonal fluctuations.
Powder flaxseeds and add a little of the powder into soups, oats, breakfast cereal, juice, chapatti dough, dosa batter, chutneys, curds or butter milk. Since flaxseeds are naturally bland, they will not contribute any flavour to the dish.
Green Tea: Green tea contains several valuable components of which, the catechins are the most valuable because of their antioxidant activity. Research has shown evidence of the metabolism-boosting and fat-burning properties of green tea, making it a wonderful weight loss aid.
Take the green tea leaves in a tea strainer and place it over a cup. Heat water until bubbles just start to form at the bottom of the vessel (around 80 °C) and pout it so as to cover the leaves, and allow them to steep for two minutes; then remove the strainer, and drink the green tea after it has cooled down a little.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon has been found to activate insulin receptors as well as stimulate important enzyme systems involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Therefore, it can regulate the levels of blood sugar and increase metabolism and this, combined with its ‘bad cholesterol’-reducing action makes it a wonderful weight loss aid.
Include about one teaspoon of cinnamon in your daily diet by sprinkling cinnamon powder on food you eat – breakfast cereal, tea and coffee, fruits such as apples and pears or curds.
Some people also combine cinnamon with honey in the form of a tea by mixing one tablespoon of each in half a cup of hot water. This tea should be drunk about 30 minutes before breakfast every day to see a noticeable weight loss.
Black Pepper: The piperine in black pepper has been known for years as a digestive; recent research shows that it also helps burn fat and through action at genetic level, may help prevent the formation of fat.
Freshly ground black pepper can be added to several regular dishes right from salads to meats. Make sure you add it at towards the end of your cooking because exposure to too much of heat can cause a loss of its flavour and reduce its effectiveness.
Turmeric: Indians have always used turmeric in cooking, religious rituals and as a beauty aid. Researchers all over the world are now finding that it can also help to metabolize fat and reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
Besides the traditional way of adding turmeric to vegetable, rice, curry and dals, make a tea of turmeric. Add a teaspoon of turmeric and a pinch of ginger powder into around 4 cups of boiling water; allow to simmer for 10 minutes; strain and drink when cool.
Ginger: Well-known for its digestive properties, ginger also has thermogenic properties – it raises the body temperature by burning fat and this makes it useful for those seeking to lose weight. Research has shown it also has a satiating property which means you tend to eat less, and this contributes to the weight loss. Ginger has blood-thinning properties and it is wise to consult your doctor if you are on blood thinners such as aspirin before consuming it.
Powder ginger and add about half a teaspoon to a cup of hot water, cool and drink. You can also mix a tablespoon each of cinnamon and ginger with water, boil for a minute or two and drink when cool. Adding peeled and grated or chopped fresh ginger into vegetable or rice dishes is yet another way of including it in your diet.
In recent years, being overweight or obese has come to be recognized as a risk factor for several lifestyle diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes and as people grow more aware of this fact, weight loss is becoming priority number 1 on their ‘to-do’ list. Regular exercise – at least 30 minutes a day for five days in a week – is the best way to prevent weight gain. For effective weight loss, it is vital you combine exercise with the right diet. When you make these herbs a part of your diet, not only do they help with weight loss, they also help you keep lifestyle diseases at bay.
Honey: home remedy for weight loss Honey is really effective for circulating the fats in the body. Consume a spoon of honey one-half an hr subsequently every meal. An effective remedy is to blend a teaspoon of honey and lemon juice and take it twice a day. Instead, you can consume a bowlful of hot water, put a teaspoon each of honey and lemon juice and use it in the morning time on an hungry stomach. This is a really beneficial remedy to melt the surplus fats.
Ginseng: Most overweight persons have a slower metabolism and the ginseng herb will work wonders in this case. Drinking ginseng will boost your metabolism and burn off more calories. You can use ginseng as a tea or take it in pill form. A good tip to increase your metabolism is following a 6 meals a day diet. (Visit our how many calories to lose weight page to learn more about burning calories and losing weight)
Hoodia Gordonii: This is a cactus from the Kalhari Desert in Africa. Hoodia acts as an appetite suppressant and it will work by tricking the brain into thinking that you have a full stomach. This is a good herbal remedy to consider if you are struggling to control your diet intake. It is currently available in the form of pills and tea.
Cayenne: You might know this as a popular spice that is used for cooking. But, it is also a natural herb for weight loss. Cayenne has a capsaicin substance that is really effective when it comes to stimulating digestion and boosting metabolism
Glucomannan: Made from Amorphophallus Konjac root, this natural weight loss herb can slow down glucose absorption in the intestines. Apart from promoting weight loss, this herb will also give you a full feeling. Although this is an effective herbal remedy, you should exercise caution when using it for weight loss. Some people have actually complained about esophageal blockage after using this supplement.
Yoghurt: A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association that followed almost 120,000 adults for 20 years concluded that the the food most strongly associated with long-term weight loss is yoghurt. People who ate at least 1 serving a day dropped about a pound every 4 years, while those who didn't eat it regularly gained weight instead.
The following ingredients have also been known as effective weight reducer.
Acai Berry : Acai freeze dried powders, juices, and supplements have become a very popular health food in recent years because of the berry's energizing antioxidant benefits as part of a weight loss diet.
Bitter Orange : Extracts of bitter orange peel contain chemicals that are effective metabolism boosters.
Cacao : Recent studies show that adults who eat chocolate on a regular basis are actually thinner that those who don't and that modest, regular chocolate consumption might be calorie-neutral.
Chickweed : Chickweed tea is an old remedy for obesity, and wise women still drink teas of fresh chickweed as one of the classic spring tonics to cleanse the blood.
Coconut Oil : Coconut oil raises your metabolic rate, helping to release energy and promote weight loss. Coconut oil is different from other saturated fats because it is composed of medium-chain fatty acids.
Coffee : Green coffee extract, (GCE) is obtained mostly from green or raw coffee. GCE is believed to suppressing the accumulation of hepatic triglycerides, in other words it works as a fat burner.
Coleus Forskohlii : Coleus forskohlii extracts help in losing weight by improving the breakdown of fats, improving digestion and nutrient absorption.
Eleuthero Ginseng : While adaptogenic herbs like eleuthero do not promote weight loss directly, when you feel more energetic and less stressed, you're more likely to stick to your new exercise and diet routine.
Fennel : Fennel's ancient reputation as a weight loss aid still holds up today. Drinking a cup of fennel seed tea 15 minutes before eating a heavy meal seems to take the edge off your appetite.
Garcinia Fruit : Both Garcinia cambogia and the extracted acid HCA are widely used in weight control formulas. Grapefruit : Grapefruit increases circulation, stimulates the lymphatic system, has a cleansing effect on the kidneys, and may help to regulate body weight with regular use.
Guarana : Guarana can be used to help depress appetite for dieters, and can be very effective if you are prone to nervous headaches. Use this stimulating herb with common sense, I find a little goes a long way.
Gurmar : Taken over a long period of time Gymnema sylvestre has been shown to reduce the sugar cravings that can hijack your sensible eating plans.
Buy organic bulk herbs, spices, oils and teas
Hibiscus : Hibiscus is a natural source of hydroxycitric acid (HCA, or hydroxycut), the same chemical used in many diet formulas. It also contains other obesity fighting chemicals such as chromium and ascorbic acid.
Hoodia: Hoodia Gordonii works by mimicking the effect that glucose has on the nerve cells in the brain.These cells transmit the feeling of fullness to the brain, diminishing appetite.
Kelp/Bladderwrack: Kelp is commonly used in herbal medicine to stimulate the thyroid function, and can be effective in weight loss as part of a low calorie diet.
Oolong Tea: Oolong tea not only boosts metabolism and suppresses sugar cravings, but it may also burn fat, making this tea a good addition to any healthy diet plan.
Pomegranate:The punicic acid found in pomegranates is an especially powerful form of CLA, which has been shown to be beneficial in the fight against cancer, obesity, diabetes and heart disease. There seems to be no downside other than cost in adding pomegranate juice to your daily diet.
Prickly Pear : Pectin and water-soluble fiber from prickly pear cacti is effective in treating problems associated with diabetes and obesity, including the regulation of blood sugar and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism.
Psyllium: Natural psyllium acts as a safe and effective weight loss aid. The seeds expand in your stomach, increasing the feeling of fullness and slowing down the absorption of simple carbs.
Spirulina: Spirulina is such a complete food source it is often used to the supplement the diet during cleansing fasts. Stevia : The sweet leaves of this plant are a pleasant and guilt free alternative to sugar.
Tea: Many studies indicate that green tea has positive effects in metabolic syndrome and weight loss. The importance of caffeine was also highlighted in these studies, green tea catechins taken alone had no significant effects.
White Kidney Bean: Phaseolus vulgaris, the common white bean, is an inhibitor of alpha-amylase, an enzyme that promotes the breakdown of starch in the human gastrointestinal tract.
White Willow Bark: White willow is used mainly in weight loss formulations to enhance the actions of other herbs. This is sometimes referred to as "stacking" in body building.
Yacon Root: Yacon root and yacon root syrup show great promise as a sweetener for those who need to lower blood sugar and lose weight safely.
Yerba Mate : Mate acts much like a smooth caffeine. Additionally, it is believed to act to assist dieters in reducing food cravings and by helping you feel fuller, longer.
Bitter Orange : Extracts of bitter orange peel contain chemicals that are effective metabolism boosters.
Cacao : Recent studies show that adults who eat chocolate on a regular basis are actually thinner that those who don't and that modest, regular chocolate consumption might be calorie-neutral.
Chickweed : Chickweed tea is an old remedy for obesity, and wise women still drink teas of fresh chickweed as one of the classic spring tonics to cleanse the blood.
Coconut Oil : Coconut oil raises your metabolic rate, helping to release energy and promote weight loss. Coconut oil is different from other saturated fats because it is composed of medium-chain fatty acids.
Coffee : Green coffee extract, (GCE) is obtained mostly from green or raw coffee. GCE is believed to suppressing the accumulation of hepatic triglycerides, in other words it works as a fat burner.
Coleus Forskohlii : Coleus forskohlii extracts help in losing weight by improving the breakdown of fats, improving digestion and nutrient absorption.
Eleuthero Ginseng : While adaptogenic herbs like eleuthero do not promote weight loss directly, when you feel more energetic and less stressed, you're more likely to stick to your new exercise and diet routine.
Fennel : Fennel's ancient reputation as a weight loss aid still holds up today. Drinking a cup of fennel seed tea 15 minutes before eating a heavy meal seems to take the edge off your appetite.
Garcinia Fruit : Both Garcinia cambogia and the extracted acid HCA are widely used in weight control formulas. Grapefruit : Grapefruit increases circulation, stimulates the lymphatic system, has a cleansing effect on the kidneys, and may help to regulate body weight with regular use.
Guarana : Guarana can be used to help depress appetite for dieters, and can be very effective if you are prone to nervous headaches. Use this stimulating herb with common sense, I find a little goes a long way.
Gurmar : Taken over a long period of time Gymnema sylvestre has been shown to reduce the sugar cravings that can hijack your sensible eating plans.
Buy organic bulk herbs, spices, oils and teas
Hibiscus : Hibiscus is a natural source of hydroxycitric acid (HCA, or hydroxycut), the same chemical used in many diet formulas. It also contains other obesity fighting chemicals such as chromium and ascorbic acid.
Hoodia: Hoodia Gordonii works by mimicking the effect that glucose has on the nerve cells in the brain.These cells transmit the feeling of fullness to the brain, diminishing appetite.
Kelp/Bladderwrack: Kelp is commonly used in herbal medicine to stimulate the thyroid function, and can be effective in weight loss as part of a low calorie diet.
Oolong Tea: Oolong tea not only boosts metabolism and suppresses sugar cravings, but it may also burn fat, making this tea a good addition to any healthy diet plan.
Pomegranate:The punicic acid found in pomegranates is an especially powerful form of CLA, which has been shown to be beneficial in the fight against cancer, obesity, diabetes and heart disease. There seems to be no downside other than cost in adding pomegranate juice to your daily diet.
Prickly Pear : Pectin and water-soluble fiber from prickly pear cacti is effective in treating problems associated with diabetes and obesity, including the regulation of blood sugar and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism.
Psyllium: Natural psyllium acts as a safe and effective weight loss aid. The seeds expand in your stomach, increasing the feeling of fullness and slowing down the absorption of simple carbs.
Spirulina: Spirulina is such a complete food source it is often used to the supplement the diet during cleansing fasts. Stevia : The sweet leaves of this plant are a pleasant and guilt free alternative to sugar.
Tea: Many studies indicate that green tea has positive effects in metabolic syndrome and weight loss. The importance of caffeine was also highlighted in these studies, green tea catechins taken alone had no significant effects.
White Kidney Bean: Phaseolus vulgaris, the common white bean, is an inhibitor of alpha-amylase, an enzyme that promotes the breakdown of starch in the human gastrointestinal tract.
White Willow Bark: White willow is used mainly in weight loss formulations to enhance the actions of other herbs. This is sometimes referred to as "stacking" in body building.
Yacon Root: Yacon root and yacon root syrup show great promise as a sweetener for those who need to lower blood sugar and lose weight safely.
Yerba Mate : Mate acts much like a smooth caffeine. Additionally, it is believed to act to assist dieters in reducing food cravings and by helping you feel fuller, longer.