7 Natural Herbs to Help You Lose Weight

Green tea's best characteristic is its ability to help detoxify the body, which makes it a great asset in eliminating excess water and liquids from the body. For best results, we recommend combining the following herbs with a healthy diet, exercise and at least 2 liters of water a day.

Written and verified by the pharmacist Fabiola Marín Aguilar.

Last update: 09 October, 2022

If you exercise regularly and a have healthy diet but are still having trouble losing weight, you aren’t alone. Some people have a slow metabolism, and some have trouble resisting that tasty snack. Whatever your difficulty, there are some herbs that help curb cravings and boost your energy levels, making them very helpful if you want to lose weight!

Herbs that can help you lose weight

Green tea

You’ve seen it featured in many weight loss routines and among the most popular diet trends. That’s because green tea contains the perfect weight loss supplements, like natural minerals and catechin.

Catechin is an antioxidant linked to a fast metabolism and burning fat. Plus, the minerals found green tea, such as potassium and magnesium, make an excellent diuretic that can help you eliminate excess water weight.

A study done by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that participants who drank 690 milligrams of green tea extract daily lost more weight over several months than those who didn’t.

Horsetail

It’s not super well known, but horsetail is one of the most wonderful herbs out there if you want to lose weight. It’s known for its purifying characteristics, helping eliminate toxins and excess liquids from the body.

By itself, horsetail doesn’t burn fat, but adding it to your diet will help you cleanse your body, fight the build up of more fatty deposits, and can help ward off cellulite.

Barberry

Barberry is an herb known for its ability to treat anxiety. This might not sound helpful, but it can help cut down on any stress eating habits, which quickly add pounds to the body. This herb is also known for its ability to help improve digestion and boost your metabolism.

Artichoke

With diuretic characteristics that help eliminate toxins and excess liquids, artichokes are a tasty addition to your weight loss diet. Artichoke leaves have a lot of magnesium, calcium, iron and potassium. Your digestive system and metabolism love these substances. Plus, artichokes can make you feel full faster: a perfect snack!

Birch

To stimulate your kidneys and help eliminate toxins and excess liquids from your body, you’ll want to include birch as a diet supplement. Because birch is an anti-inflammatory, it stimulates the production of bile by the liver to help improve kidney functions, which can help you slim down if your problem is related to excess liquids.

Fucus

A kind of algae, fucus is rich in iodine, proteins, B-vitamins, and minerals like iron, magnesium, and phosphorus. The high iodine content stimulates your thyroids, helping you burn fat more easily.

You shouldn’t consume fucus daily, but when you do it’s best if it’s fresh. It loses much of its potency over time.  Having a glass of fucus tea before a meal is a great way to give your body a feeling of fullness.

Yerba mate

Known for its thermogenic properties, this is one of the more popular herbs supplements people use to lose weight. On top of that, this amazing herb can help make you feel full and keep you satisfied longer.

Final tips

• To maximize the benefit of these herbs, we recommend you have them as an infusion or tea.
• You should never drink them more than once a day, because they’re medicinal herbs and can have unexpected side effects.
• To ensure you’re getting the full benefits, always combine these herbs with a healthy diet, regular exercise, and 2 liters of water a day.
• It’s always best to consult with your doctor before making these herbs part of your diet if you have diabetes, hypertension, are pregnant, or on regular medication. This could lead to a negative interaction or unexpected side effects.