Natural Ways to Support Metabolism & Healthy Weight Management

Programs for quickly flushing fat are intended increase to your metabolism and weight loss. Using some home remedies, perhaps even using herbs you grow yourself, can contribute to a healthier lifestyle and long-term weight maintenance. While herbal capabilities are not necessarily substantiated by the United States Food and Drug Administration, harmful effects are not either. Always consult your health professional before using any home remedy to ensure it is right for you.

Why It Works

• Your digestive system removes water and salt from waste before it is purged. In theory, toxins and fats build up in this area, causing poor health and weight gain. While the bowel is normally self-cleaning, you can facilitate the process by ingesting herbs such as dandelion root, milk thistle, Oregon grape root and tumeric (available at health food stores) to help flush your system (especially the liver), thereby removing toxins and fats collected.

What You Do

• To embark on a fat-flush diet, restrict your diet to fruits, steamed vegetables, beans and nuts and reduce or eliminate meat, sugar, dairy, and caffeine from your meals. Most fat-flush diets include phases. First, you restrict your calories to fewer than 1,000 per day for two weeks. Then, you increase your calorie count by 500 to 1,500 per day. Maintain this regimen until you reach your goal weight. Once you do, consider fasting one day a month by drinking only fruit juices for energy to flush your body of unnecessary toxins and fats.

  Herbs and spices you have at home can help your body heal itself faster. For example, blend carrots, parsley, spinach, comfrey leaves, celery, green beans with water and ginger for a smoothie that acts as an soothing tonic.

  For a simple diuretic that increases urination as part of a fat flush, add a handful of borage leaves or a teaspoon of burdock seed, fennel, thyme or mustard seed to 2 cups of boiling water to make a tea you can strain, steep, sweeten and consume several times a day.

What You Can Expect

• Be sure to drink at least 10 8-ounces glasses of water a day to prevent dehydration, a common side effect of fat flush diet programs. This can cause headaches and general malaise. Exercise moderately and get plenty of rest to minimize any negative side effects. As a result of your efforts, you may feel lighter and refreshed and will certainly feel a sense of accomplishment.