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Have you heard about herbal weight loss strategies and are thinking about giving them a try? Herbal weight loss techniques have been used by a variety of cultures, including Mongolian, Chinese, Italian and African, for hundreds of years. Many herbal weight loss techniques involve making slimming teas from the roots, leaves and seeds of different plants.
It sounds like a natural, holistic remedy, but how well do herbal weight loss strategies really work? And are there any side effects to be wary of ?
Herbal weight loss teas work in one of two ways. They either act as stimulants and speed up the body's functions in order to increase the metabolic rate, or they act as diuretics to encourage the body to shed excess water. Stimulants, such as caffeine, do increase metabolic rates and therefore can instigate slimming.
It's important to be very cautious with stimulants, however, because very strong stimulants can cause a variety of negative side effects, including hypertension, heart attack or stroke. Diuretics also cause initial shedding of pounds due to water loss. Unfortunately, this effect only lasts as long as the tea is consumed, after which the body will but weight back on in the form of fluid.
If you are thinking of trying these methods, there are some dangerous products that you should avoid at all costs. Herbal laxatives such as cascara, senna, aloe, and buckthorne can stop your intestines from functioning properly. Ephedra has been known to cause seizures, strokes and heart attacks. Fen-phen also can cause heart attack and stroke. Some safe remedies to try are Cayenne pepper, which is a mild stimulant; Green Tea; and Seaweed, which stimulates the metabolism.
While some of these products do have slimming effects, it's important to remember that they shouldn't be used on their own, but rather as part of a calorie reduced diet and regular exercise regime. Be cautious about any programme that suggests that you should limit your intake to the tea, or requires that you cut back drastically on any one food group. If in doubt, consult your doctor.
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