We have all been there. You wake up one morning, go about starting your day, and then walk pass the mirror and think to yourself: “am I getting fat?” Or maybe you have had to live your whole life with the trouble of extra weight. While not the deadliest of conditions, having a few, or more than a few pounds extra can have a devastating impact on one’s self confidence, social and love life. Also, numerous health issues are directly linked with excess weight, primarily diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Combine this with a fast-paced modern lifestyle, where one doesn’t necessarily have time to lose weight the “regular way”, that being through regular exercise and a healthy diet, and you have a problem.
That is why modern medicine is striving to make the process of losing weight as easy as it can possibly be, but the solution to this problem may not be that modern. For ages now, the people of South Asia have grown an herb by the name of Coleus, which is a part of the mint family of plants. This plant, along with its appealing sent, seems to have some interesting properties. Forskolin is an extract of the Coleus plant, and it seem to be the new go-to diet supplement when it comes to weight loss.
Studies have shown that men who took 10% forskolin extract in the morning and in the evening for 84 days (12 weeks) had their body weight reduced when compared to the control group who were given placebo. The forskolin group has also had their testosterone level increased. However, while the benefits of the pure forskolin extract have been noticed, observed and studied, the question remains what kind of effect consuming the whole plant of Coleus has on the human body. It would seem that the natives of the regions where coleus plant naturally grows, such as Nepal or India, didn’t use the plant for any specific purpose; rather they have recognized its beneficial effect on the overall health.
Grow your own coleus plant
It’s quite possible to grow coleus at home. Here are some tips if you would like to try it:
- Provide the plant with its own pot. The plant has a soft structure and would do best when grown alone in its own container
- Make sure that the amount of light reaching the plant is the right amount. Coleus is sensitive to direct sunlight, but it also can’t survive in the dark. Make sure you leave it in the brighter part of the shade
- Water the plant properly. Make sure you add water whenever you notice that the surface is drying up
- Prune often
As a dietary supplement, pure forskolin extract has shown itself to be a good alternative to other non-natural options when it comes to weight loss. Furthermore, it may have some effect in treating or preventing other conditions, such as diabetes. So far, forskolin has shown no cause no side effects with the people who have used it to lose weight. So next time you catch yourself staring at the mirror, thinking about trimming that little extra off your belly, maybe consider forskolin as your shortcut.