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Natural Diet
Whether you are looking for the perfect diet for weight loss, or want to improve your health and vitality there doesn't seem to be a one size fits all solution. There are many factors that will affect your ability to stick to and do well on any one eating plan,such as your state of health, metabolism and what foods you like and dislike. The only rule that seems to apply across the board is the ELMORE diet. That is Eat Less and MOve around moRE. No matter what path you choose, if it doesn't include a strategy for taking in less calories and burning more, odds are you will not succeed.
That said, herbs can help. It is finding the right herbal combination to enhance your personal metabolism that may take some testing and experimentation on your part. There is no one size fits all solution. Herbal supplements that contain a laundry list of every popular diet herb in "propriatory" formuals not only cost much more that bulk and loose leaf herbs, some are downright unsafe. Some of us may have a slow metabolism, others may have an underactive thyroid, or have trouble with digestion. You may have stress in your life, causing you to gain weight around the midsection, or have trouble with unsighly cellulite though your body weight is not problematic. That is why I am a proponent of buying herbs in bulk, and making your own diet teas and remedies. Not only will you be assured of greater quality and freshness, but you can fine tune your diet formula to suit your own unicque metabolism.
When using herbal stimulants, or trying any new herb, always start out with the lowest possible dose, only increasing by small increments until you gradually find the optimal amount that works for you. I have struggled with my weight all my life, and know that there are no magic pills or formulas. What does work is paying attention - to what I eat, why I am eating it, and having a good balanced diet and active lifestyle.
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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. The consumption of seaweeds has also been associated with lower cancer rates. |
Yerba mate is touted as the new healthy alternative to coffee. Additionally, it is believed to act on sensory organs to assist dieters in reducing food cravings. Yerba mate is glycogenolytic (breaking down stored glycogen in the liver, allowing it to store calories from the next meal), lipolytic (breaking down fats), and stimulating the central nervous system.
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Using Herbs for :Thyroid gland and weight |
Bladderwrack
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Many people have more trouble losing weight than others, because of a under active thyroid gland. Bladderwrack, or fucus is thought to stimulate the thyroid and so help reduce weight. It makes a rather horrible tasting tea, and is better suited to capsules and tinctures. 1 |
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Using Herbs for :Mood Enhancer |
Caco ( theobromine)
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Theobromine, the alkaloid contained in the coffee beans, has a positive effect on mood, and is a healthy anti-oxidant as well. The problem with chocolate however is to learn to enjoy it without mixing it with loads of sugar and fat. Try low calorie hot chocolate made with almond milk, and use stevia instead of sugar. You can also use Carob in your diet chocolate recipes. Carob powder is used in many diet powders and energy bars, because it helps to lower the glycemic index of foods so that sugars are released into the bloodstream much more slowly than with chocolate. 1 |
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Using Herbs for :Spicy hot metabolism boost |
Cayenne
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Cayenne helps boost your metabolism and induces the body to burn off more fat. Hot spicy foods also decrease appetite, add flavor and increase satiety, so you are inclined to eat less, and use less salt and fat in cooking without sacrificing flavor. Adding cayenne to your diet plan is a no-brainer. 1 |
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Using Herbs for :Fat Burners |
Garcinia cambogia
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The whole fruit of Garcinia cambogia can be used in herbal diet teas and tinctures to help block fat absorption, leading to weight loss. The extract used in weight loss supplements (HCA) is is bound to calcium and is poorly absorbed. Dried, whole fruits are make a tart, red tea, that can be sweetened with stevia and lemon for good tasting diet drink.. 1 |
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Using Herbs for :Grapefruit Diet and Weight Loss |
Grapefruit
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The premise of the grapefruit diet is to eat very little starch, no sugar, and and drink or eat grapefruit at every meal. Grapefruit does contain high amounts of Vitamin C, which helps in weight loss. Aromatherapists also recommend grapefruit essential oil to help dampen appetite and reduce the appearance of cellulite in problem areas like belly and thighs. Grapefruit seed extracts are also touted as a weight loss aid and are powerful antioxidants. 1 |
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Using Herbs for :Raising Energy and Metabolism Rates |
Guarana
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Guarana is a South American caffeine alternative, which is very similar to coffee, but has a longer lasting effect on the metabolism. Used with common sense, and an aerobic exercise program you can sweat off the pounds faster and will have a decrease in appetite. Add Guarana to herbal weight loss teas, and use in small amounts cellulite massages 1 |
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Using Herbs for :Fiber from herbs |
Psyllium
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Herbal fiber can make you feel fuller while consuming less calories. Psyllium seed is a great choice for fiber- it not only decreases appetite, psyllium seed reduces high cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Exactly how it does isn't known, but it appears to bind with dietary cholesterol and fat to prevent their absorption. |
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Using Herbs for :Natural herbal 0 calorie sweetner |
Stevia
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Stevia has been my best friend in my battle against sugar. So many think that their only choices are artificial sweeteners made with unhealthy chemicals, or sugar. This is due to the lengthy PR war waged against herbal stevia by the makers of sweetener products. Stevia does a a licorice like aftertaste that some find bitter, the trick is to use very small amounts, and combine it with other flavors like lemon, orange or carob. The longer you abstain from sugar, the better stevia tastes. Use whole stevia leaf in herbal diet teas, and use powdered extracts in baking, and coffee. |
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Using Herbs for :Raise metabolism |
White willow
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Willow bark is the original source of aspirin and contains salicylates that can cool inflammation, and slightly raise your metabolic rate. Willow is used mainly in formulations to enhance the actions of other herbs. This is sometimes referred to as "stacking", in weight loss formulas. |
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Using Herbs for :Herbal Diet Teas |
Yerba mate
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Drinks herbal diet teas is one of the best ways to reduce calorie intake while consuming a healthy beverage. Unlike diet soda, herbal diet tea contains no chemicals and artificial sweeteners. Herbs that make excellent choices for diet teas are: Chickweed,
Fennel,
Bitter Orange,
Yerba Mate,
Green Tea,
Oolong Tea,
Roobis Tea,
Rose Hips Tea,
Lemon Balm, and
Hibiscus. |
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 Depression : The simple act of preparing and savoring a herbal tea is part of the self healing process.- Liver : Milk thistle has been used for liver ailments for thousands of years
- Weight Loss : Herbal Appetite depressants, what you need to know before you use them
- Cellulite Reduction : Aromatherapy oil treatments for cellulite. Using essential oils helps get rid of cellulite while you improve overall skin tone and suppleness. Use essential oils in baths as well - the oils work by osmosis.
- Culinary : Herbs can be thought of as food, medicine, or better yet food pharmacy. They add micro nutrients and vitamins, digestive enzymes and great taste to any meal.
Natural Diet and Nutrition: References
- Duke, James The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook .(December 15, 2000)
- Linda B. White, M.D., Steven Foster. Herbal Drugstore (2003)
- Robert B Tisserand, The Art of Aromatherapy (1977)
- Richard Mabey, The New Age Herbalist (1988)
- Steven Foster and Yue chongxi, Herbal Emissaries (1992)
- Maud Grieve, Modern Herbal Vols 1, II (1931)
- Richo Cech, Making Plant Medicine (2000)
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
- Phyllis A. Balch, Prescription for Herbal Healing (2002)
- Adele Dawson, Herbs: Partners in Life (2000)
- Penelope Ody, Home Herbal (1995)
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Home Remedies for 
