Unfortunately the recent popularity of natural and herbal weight loss supplements has meant that every manufacturer has decided to start supplying them and the range keeps increasing, confusing the public. Some of the more popular natural weight loss supplements are Hoodia, guarana, dandelion, cascara and green tea extract.

The most recent of this group comes from Africa and unofficial tests have proved interesting but Hoodia Gordonni, as it is more commonly known, is a rare and expensive method of stopping the pangs of hunger. Apparently, it tricks the brain into thinking blood glucose levels are normal thus suppressing the body’s natural response to low blood sugar which is the sensation of hunger and while this sounds promising, long term weight loss studies are required.

The other well know supplement is Guarana which is a caffeine based stimulant with a diuretic effect so it helps speed up the system and burn off calories at the same time. Guarana has a few side effects which might not suit it as an herbal weight loss supplement like increasing the blood pressure with some users feeling dizzy or nauseous after using it.

To rid the body of excess fluid the dandelion has been used for many years as it makes the user go to the toilet more frequently and doesn’t generally cause any harm apart from the odd allergic reaction which has been reported. Whilst it is very effective at reducing the amount of fluid in the body, this herbal supplement is not designed to be used on daily basis.

Cascara is a laxative used in many weight loss supplements but any laxative will help a person lose weight just like any other form of ‘purging’ the body of waste and toxins. However, any form of laxative, herbal or otherwise should be used with caution as these products also remove healthy bacteria and essential nutrients when used regularly.

Green tea extract is probably the most popular yet safe herbal weight loss supplement and appears in vitamins, energy drinks and even in concentrated pill form. Some studies have shown positive results for increased weight loss with the use of green tea extract so long as healthy eating and exercise habits are also being followed.

Despite the large sums of money spent by people on natural weight loss products, there is still little proof that they are effective in the long term. Herbal products are also expensive and some experts believe this popularity is feeding the bank accounts of many large companies who are capitalizing on this with expensive supplements like Hoodia for example, which can often cost in the region of 50 dollars for every month it is used. If you are serious about shedding the pounds then you need to look at your diet and exercise level as well as how many natural weight control products you use.