There seem to be hundreds if not thousands of weight-loss products and programs available to the interested dieter…and for good reason: the United States has the highest number of obese and morbidly obese adults and the also the most obese children of any nation in the world. Every day, it seems, there is the latest miracle cure for losing weight, and all promise to help you shed pounds by doing nothing but taking a pill or swallowing a portion. Unfortunately, these products also don’t reveal the downside: while they may help with initial weight loss, 98% of users of these products gain the weight they lost back—plus additional pounds. This sets the dieter on the dangerous path of "yo-yo dieting," a phenomenon that can cause serious damage to the body, especially the thyroid, liver, and pancreas. However, there is a safe method available for losing weight: the use of herbal supplements for weight loss.

Using herbs to help with physical ailments has been around since there have been people, so the use of herbal supplements for weight loss is a highly tried and true method. Using herbal supplements for weight loss, however, is not a miracle-cure, and it also requires additional work on the part of the dieter to enact real bodily change that will be permanent in nature. These changes are mostly common-sense in nature: exercising more, drinking large amounts of water, increasing daily fiber intake (which helps the body more effectively flush itself of toxins), consuming at least five servings of fruit and vegetables, and, of course, daily exercise. When these lifestyle changes are added to the consumption of herbal supplements for weight loss, the dieter will see steady and permanent weight loss.

Which herbal supplements for weight loss seem to be the most effective? Ones that focus on boosting metabolism and calming appetite appear to do the most good. For example, herbal supplements for weight loss that boost metabolism include the extra-hot spice cayenne—which literally burns the metabolism into overdrive. Along with cayenne, there is Bitter Orange, Guarana, and Green Tea (which also has numerous secondary health benefits such as attacking dangerous free radicals and works wonderfully as a substitute for caffeine). Another herbal supplement for weight loss is Hoodia, an herb that has become more widely known in the United States. Hoodia works by dramatically reducing appetite—although how this mechanism actually works is not fully known. Finally, two more herbal supplements for weight loss include the lesser-known South East Asian herb called Garcina Cambogia, which makes the dieter feel fuller while eating and then also suppresses appetite between meals. The second herb is St. John’s Wort, more commonly known as a treatment for dark moods and depression. However, as many overweight people will attest, one of their biggest triggers to overeat is their psychological mood; controlling that mood will cut back on the desire to eat out of sadness, loneliness, or depression.

Choosing the right herbal supplement for weight loss will require some research on the part of the dieter and a commitment to some core life-style change. It would also be a good idea to visit an herbalist as well for further insight and suggestions. Choosing to lose weight by using herbal supplements for weight loss is a wise and long-lasting health-conscious choice on the part of anyone interest in shedding unwanted pounds.