Forskolin - Weight Loss Aid?

With Obesity in epidemic proportions, people are catching anything that will help them lose weight. The caveat here is that some ingredients can be harmful to your health. Prescription medications have side effects, so all natural alternatives should be considered. Keep in mind that all things natural can also pose health hazards. Guarana is a natural, but it contains caffeine alkaloids and can speed up your heart rate. The take away here is to always consider what you are taking in relation to the food and drinks you eat. If you drink caffeine, Tea or Coffee, you already have caffeine in your system, so be careful.

The new star in the weight loss scene is Forskolin. This herb has been used for hundreds of years. Coleus forskohlii, or Forskolin, is also known as Plectranthus barbatus and can be found in tropical climates, especially in India. These herbs are used in the practice of ayurvedic medicine for a variety of conditions, but have recently been shown to be an effective aid for weight loss.

How does it work?

Through biological events, Forskolin promotes the release of a fat burning enzyme called Lipase. What the research shows is that the use of Forskolin stimulates weight loss, and weight loss tends to be permanent. These are herbs that will increase your metabolic rate, and damage stored fat tissue. It helps to reduce fat mass while not reducing muscle mass. Forskolin will also increase insulin levels which helps in nutrient intake.

Coleus forskohlii has been studied for its effect on thyroid function. According to researchers, Forskolin stimulates adenylate silicone in the thyroid membrane. Adenylate cyclase is an enzyme with a regulatory role in all cells, including the production of ATP (for energy) and cAMP (which indicates adrenaline). Therefore, researchers have concluded that Forskolin can be a useful tool for improving thyroid metabolism. "(Citation: Kasai K, Suzuki Y, Hiraiwa M, Kuroda H, Emoto T, Nakamura T, Shimoda S .: Forskolin Stimulation of Adenylate Cyclase in Human Membrane Thyroid Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 1985 Feb; 108 (2): 200- 5).

Recent clinical studies, including a placebo-controlled study conducted in 2012, show that Forskolin "significantly decreases body fat and fat mass", as well as "a significant increase in lean body mass". Participants lost an average of five pounds of pure body fat, while building lean muscle mass to look lean. According to a study published in Obesity Research in 2005, overweight or obese men were assigned to receive either Forskolin or placebo daily for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, members of the Forskolin group showed a higher decrease in body fat and a higher increase in lean body mass (compared to placebo group members). Study participants treated with Forskolin also experienced a significant increase in bone mass.

Healthy diets and workouts should be part of your weight loss effort, you can't rely on supplements alone to change your body. The best results are always achieved by people watching what they eat, and participating in several forms of exercise several times a week.

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