How Effective Is Caralluma Fimbriata At Helping You Lose Weight?

Written by Zachary Pierson, M.P.H., C.P.T.

Weight loss has been a struggle for many people over the years. Many diets are great in the short term but most people want to lose weight and keep it off. Many herbs have been tried and tested, yet nothing seems to do the trick. Nonetheless, there is a cactus plant that claims to help.

1. The Plant That Helps With Weight Loss

The plant that claims to help reduce weight it an edible cactus known as Caralluma fimbriata or Caralluma adscendens. For many years, the tribal Indians used this cactus to help suppress hunger and also increase the duration of one's stamina (1). It was used as a raw vegetable with added spices or it was preserved in pickles and chutneys. These succulent plants are usually found in India or Sri Lanka on the roadside or as a boundary marker or garden border. This cactus can also be found in Africa, Southern Europe, Canary Islands, and Saudi Arabia.

As mentioned before, the edible plant was used to suppress the appetite and to boost one's energy, and that is why the Indians took it along to eat when they went hunting for food (2). These reasons led researchers to believe that the plant's extract could help people who are always feeling hungry and who constantly want to eat. For certain people, this is not a problem, but for others weight gain is a serious result of eating too much.

Summary:

There is an edible cactus plant that claims to help suppress the appetite and also boost energy levels. In this article, we will see if this cactus can help you reduce body weight.

2. What Are The Uses Of Caralluma Fimbriata?

There isn't much evidence for the use and effectiveness of this succulent, however after a few studies that have been made, these were the results that were found (3, 4):

• Helps to reduce calorie intake: Research suggests that the use of this succulents' extract can help suppress the appetite and reduce hunger. This may lead to a reduced waistline due to fewer calories and fat that is eaten.
• Quenches thirst
• Allows one to feel energized for longer, with less food intake.

Summary:

The cactus plant claims to help reduce weight due to the appetite suppressant properties. It is also useful to quench your thirst and boost your energy.

3. What About The Health Benefits?

This plant does not only claim to help reduce weight, it also offers other beneficial properties that may help with your overall health and well-being.

The extract contains omega-9 fatty acids, which can help reduce inflammation. In turn, it helps to prevent many diseases, such as heart disease and arthritis, as inflammation is one of the main causes of these situations. With this, it may also help regulate blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels. Furthermore, it contains antioxidants, which helps protect the cells in the body from free radicals which may cause cellular damage. This substance can also help slow down aging of the skin (5).

Even though research is lacking for the effect of this cactus on body weight, it is clear that it can help in many other ways for the benefit of your health.

Summary:

There is evidence that this cactus can help with other health issues such as cardiovascular disease, inflammation, arthritis, regulate blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, and also act as an antioxidant.

4. Are There Any Known Side Effects?

The extract seems to be safe for most people and also well tolerated when using about 500 mg two times a day for 60 days. The side effects that may occur include (6):

• Intestinal gas
• Stomach pain
• Constipation
• Unsettled stomach
• Bloating

This plant has been used by Indians for many years and no severe adverse effects have been documented, even when taken in high dosages. With this said, there is no evidence of the effects on women who are pregnant or lactating. It would be better to consult a healthcare professional before using this extract, or just avoid it all together.

Summary:

This cactus has been used by tribal Indians for many centuries and thus far there is no documentation of severe side effects. A few minor effects have been documented, however, it is too few to be certain of.

5. Why Do I Have Food Cravings?

Eating is a survival mechanism, and when we eat, our brain releases chemicals that make us happy. The reward center in the brain encourages this process and wants us to eat more, especially when we see things like junk food. So, when you crave for food your body is not necessarily hungry, it just wants to feel that 'happy feeling'. This is why researchers believe Caralluma Fimbriata extract can help suppress these feelings of hunger and ultimately help you reduce calorie intake which causes weight gain.

Though, when on a diet, one must remember that totally restricting the body from food may have more physical and emotional consequences than you think. It is best to start by reducing bad habits and ultimately try to consume various foods in moderation.

Here are a few tips you can use when starting to eat less and to change your habits. Firstly, change the size of your plates and dishes, as well as the size of serving spoons. This will trick the brain in thinking you are eating a full plate of food. Another wise step is to reduce carbohydrates and rather fill up on healthy proteins, such as eggs, lean meat, and fish. Protein will not only help build muscle mass, it will also help to boost your metabolism (7).

The reason for this is because the body needs to use more energy to burn protein than it does to burn carbs.

Also, one could help the process of losing weight by using a supplement, such as ones made from the extracts of this cactus. Just remember that you still need to focus on what you eat and how active you are. Once you have decided that you are ready to make the change and you are willing to make the necessary sacrifices, then you are on the right track to success. Losing weight is a process and cannot just happen overnight, no matter what herb, supplement, or plant you use.

Summary:

Due to cravings, caused by hormones secreted in the brain, one may tend to over eat or indulge on unhealthy food choices. To help you during the process of reducing body weight, it may be wise to add a natural supplement to your daily routine that may help suppress the appetite.

6. Our Final Take Home Message

In conclusion, it is clear that this cactus extract has been effectively and safely used for many years to help suppress hunger and improve endurance. There was even a significant effect in the reduction of waist circumference. Keeping weight off also prevents the appearance of stretch marks which occur when your skin expands rapidly to keep up with your growing girth. It is recommended to keep your weight under control instead of trying to treat stretch marks.

Additionally, it is also proven to provide health benefits for cardiovascular disease, cholesterol, and inflammation, just to name a few. By combining a healthy diet and lifestyle, regular physical activity, and an effective natural supplement, you can achieve your goal weight.

Brought to you by our expert team at Authority Health.