The Most Popular Herbal and Diet Supplements to Lose Weight Naturally

Weight loss can be an uphill battle, making us desperate for quick fixes and a little extra help. However, you need to be careful when looking for such fixes because not all diet and herbal supplements are truly natural or safe. The search for supplements to aid weight loss can be like opening Pandora’s Box. As we explored the most popular and widely sold supplements for weight loss, it became clear that many simply do not work and some are even fraught with risks. Here’s what we learned about some of the highest selling diet and weight loss supplements. 

Top Selling Diet and Herbal Supplements

1. Green Coffee Bean Extract

Green coffee beans, which are nothing but unroasted coffee beans, contain caffeine and chlorogenic acid. They are believed to speed up metabolism or fat burning and to aid carb breakdown in the gut.

Does it really work?

Several studies have confirmed the weight loss benefits of green coffee bean extract, with regular supplementation encouraging weight loss. The natural supplement may also offer other benefits in terms of blood sugar and blood pressure management.

What are the risks?

In some cases, supplementation can cause nausea, anxiety, insomnia, and diarrhea because of the caffeine content. Chlorogenic acid may also cause diarrhea in some people.

2. Garcinia Cambogia

Garcinia cambogia is undoubtedly the most well-known herbal supplement for weight loss across the world. It is believed that hydroxycitric acid (HCA) in the extract inhibits an enzyme that produces fat and it also gives a serotonin boost that can make it easier to eat healthy.

Does it really work?

Despite all the hype, studies show that there is no difference between garcinia cambogia supplementation and taking a placebo. However, one review suggests that it could promote some weight loss over a period of time. 

What are the risks?

Like most herbal supplements, garcinia cambogia is largely regarded as safe, but may cause mild indigestion in some people. 

3. Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)

Conjugated linoleic acid or CLA is one of the most popular supplements to support weight loss efforts. This healthy fat is believed to control appetite, boost metabolic activity, and facilitate the breakdown of body fat. 

Does it really work?

The nutritional supplement is moderately effective, with a review of studies showing that it increased weight loss by about 0.1 kg a week, when taken over a 6 month period. 

What are the risks?

Like most natural diet pills, CLA needs to be used consistently for a long period of time. Unfortunately, this can cause serious side effects including higher risk of fatty liver disease and insulin resistance. Short terms use can cause digestive disturbances. 

4. Caffeine

Caffeine may be a natural ingredient in coffee and tea, but it is also consumed as a weight loss supplement. Well known for its stimulant effects, caffeine can boost metabolism to aid weight loss.

Does it really work?

Caffeine can be quite effective at boosting metabolism, with some studies showing a boost of up to 11 percent, while fat burning can increase by as much as 29 percent. Other studies have also shown specific weight loss benefits in humans. 

What are the risks?

Caffeine supplements don’t make much sense, especially if you consume coffee and tea. Moreover, excessive intake of caffeine can cause diarrhea, anxiety, nausea, and sleep disturbances. 

5. Bitter Orange 

Bitter orange is a specific type of orange with a particularly tart and bitter taste. Its unique health benefits are linked to the compound synephrine, which is why synephrine supplements are also popular. Like ephedrine, synephrine works by suppressing appetite and stimulating fat burning. 

Does it really work?

Bitter orange is regarded as fairly effective, with some studies showing significant weight loss in short periods. However, more research is needed. 

What are the risks?

Although bitter orange and synephrine may be effective at promoting weight loss, the ingredient is best avoided. Synephrine is thought to have similar side effects to ephedrine, which means that it can cause heart damage and may also cause addiction. 

6. Raspberry Ketones

Raspberries do taste quite delightful and they are extremely healthy, as are most fruit. Red raspberries also contain a chemical called raspberry ketone, which gives it weight loss benefits. The ingredient is said to increase metabolism, reduce appetite, and speed up fat burning.

Does it really work?

There have been no human studies to confirm raspberry ketone benefits, but a study on rats did show that it could reduce weight gain. 

What are the risks?

There has been inadequate research to determine the risks of raspberry ketones - it’s most likely safe but ineffective.

7. Ayurvedic Polyherbal Blends

Ayurvedic polyherbal supplements have become increasingly popular and can be quite varied. Ayurvedic weight loss pills typically include extracts from herbs such as amla, nagarmoth, gokhru, guggulu, methi, sunth, and so on. There is no single herb to promote weight loss, but they offer various therapeutic benefits and in certain combinations can aid weight loss.

Do they really work?

The efficacy can vary depending on the blend of herbs used, as well as the quality of supplement. However, it is worth noting that individually these herbs can aid sugar control and appetite regulation to reduce cravings, making it easier to lose weight. Some like sunth, guggulu, and harda have been shown to have direct effects on weight loss too.

What are the risks?

Ayurvedic herbs have been used for millennia and most of the herbs in these formulations have also been studied rigorously using modern clinical studies. When taken in the appropriate dosage, they are generally regarded as safe and free of side effects. 

If you’re looking for a natural aid to support weight loss, you can consider using Herboslim an Ayurvedic capsule for weight loss that supports healthy fat metabolism and lipid regulation. It contains many of the herbs mentioned above. Herboslim works best in combination with Kabaj Capsules. Kabaj contains ingredients like sunth and sonamukhi, further aiding weight loss and strengthening digestion, absorption of nutrients, and elimination of wastes. 

Of course, no matter what supplement you choose to use, you should keep in mind that weight loss cannot be achieved without adequate changes to your diet and lifestyle. No diet and herbal supplement will lead to weight loss, but some can help you if you make the effort.

References:

• Onakpoya, Igho et al. “The use of green coffee extract as a weight loss supplement: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials.” Gastroenterology research and practice vol. 2011 (2011): 382852. doi:10.1155/2011/382852
• Heymsfield, S B et al. “Garcinia cambogia (hydroxycitric acid) as a potential antiobesity agent: a randomized controlled trial.” JAMA vol. 280,18 (1998): 1596-600. doi:10.1001/jama.280.18.1596
• Onakpoya, Igho et al. “The Use of Garcinia Extract (Hydroxycitric Acid) as a Weight loss Supplement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Clinical Trials.” Journal of obesity vol. 2011 (2011): 509038. doi:10.1155/2011/509038
• Whigham, Leah D et al. “Efficacy of conjugated linoleic acid for reducing fat mass: a meta-analysis in humans.” The American journal of clinical nutrition vol. 85,5 (2007): 1203-11. doi:10.1093/ajcn/85.5.1203
• Dulloo, A G et al. “Normal caffeine consumption: influence on thermogenesis and daily energy expenditure in lean and postobese human volunteers.” The American journal of clinical nutrition vol. 49,1 (1989): 44-50. doi:10.1093/ajcn/49.1.44
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• Shekelle, Paul G et al. “Efficacy and safety of ephedra and ephedrine for weight loss and athletic performance: a meta-analysis.” JAMA vol. 289,12 (2003): 1537-45. doi:10.1001/jama.289.12.1537
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• Yang, Jeong-Yeh et al. “Guggulsterone inhibits adipocyte differentiation and induces apoptosis in 3T3-L1 cells.” Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) vol. 16,1 (2008): 16-22. doi:10.1038/oby.2007.24
• Chevassus, Hugues et al. “A fenugreek seed extract selectively reduces spontaneous fat consumption in healthy volunteers.” European journal of clinical pharmacology vol. 65,12 (2009): 1175-8. doi:10.1007/s00228-009-0733-5
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