Weight Loss

Obesity (Risks & Consequences)

The health problems associated with obesity are numerous. Obesity is not just a cosmetic problem. It is a serious health hazard.
Someone who is 40 per cent overweight is twice as likely to die prematurely as is an average-weight person.

What’s Obesity?

Obesity is accumulation of excess fats in the body.
How we get Obese?
Over Eating (A 100 calories daily excess intake can lead to 1lbs increase of weight in a month and 5.5 kg a year)
Some other causes of Obesity are Imbalance of hormonal secretions, Past Use of Steroid, Genetic Predisposition, Socialization, Age, Sex, Race,
Economical Status, Psychological, Cultural, Emotional, Environmental, Smoking
Are we obese?
Obesity is calculated based on BMI (body mass index). We can conveniently find our ideal weight matching against
respective height column.

Diseases related to Obesity:

Obesity can cause both physical & psychological complications. Physical problems include heat diseases and stroke, high blood pressure,
diabetes, cancer, gallbladder disease and gallstones, osteoarthritis, gout, breathing problems, and asthma while psychological problems
include emotional distress, discrimination and social stigmatization.

How is obesity linked to heart disease and stroke?

Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death and disability for people in the UK, India & Pakistan. Overweight people are twice as likely to have high blood pressure – a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke – than people who are not overweight. Very high blood levels of cholesterol can also lead to heart disease and are often linked to being overweight. Being overweight also contributes to angina (chest pain caused by decreased oxygen to the heart) and sudden death from heart disease or stroke without any signs or symptoms.
The good news is that losing a small amount of weight can reduce your chances of developing heart disease or a stroke. Reducing your weight by 10 per cent can decrease your chance of developing heart disease.

How is obesity linked to diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes reduces your body’s ability to control blood sugar. It is a major cause of early death, heart disease, stroke and blindness. Overweight people are more than twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to average weight people. You can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by losing weight and exercising more. If you have type 2 diabetes, losing weight and becoming more physically active can help control your blood sugar levels. Increasing your physical activity may also allow you to reduce the amount of diabetes medication you need.
Solutions are easy and within your own control:
 Ensure balance between your daily diet and exertion pattern.
 Don’t eat without being hungry
 Chew food properly
 Take water at-least half an hour before or one hour after meal
 Replace oily rich and fry food with fresh vegetables and fruits
 Daily walk not only helps to reduce weight but also ensures healthy and comfortable life. 

An ideal combination of Powerful Thermogenic & Laxative Herbs to lose Weight effectively and safely:
SlimSmart® contains Nature ingredients.
Two powerful natural thermogenic herbs in SlimSmart® working in a synergy to maximize the process of thermogenesis to encourage weight-loss are as follows:.

1. Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) in Garcinia cambogia as a natural substance in inhibiting lipogenesis, lowers the production of cholesterol & fatty acids, increases the production of glycogen in the liver, suppresses appetite, increases the body’s production of heat by activating the process of thermogenesis, and encourages weight-loss.

2. Piper Nigrum is another powerful “Thermogenic Herbs” to enhance thermogenesis of Fat molecules and accelerates Energy Metabolism in our body. Piper nigrum especially traps and enhances the thermogenesis of saturated fats which are most difficult to be cleaned by physical activity. Piper nigrm also affect local anesthetic effect in stomach to suppress excess appetite.

Thermogenic herbs serves as:

† A Fat Burner
† A Metabolism Booster
† An Energy Accelerator
† An Appetite Suppressant

Side effects: No known side effects are therapeutic dose. No known interactions with any other herbal dietary supplement or drug.

Precautions: During pregnancy and lactation women and young children are advised to avoid because they need nutrients for their health status.

Thermogenic Herbs Profile

I. GARCINIA CAMBOGLIA, the first Thermogenic Herb
Scientific Name: Garcinia cambogia
Common Name: Garcinia cambogia, Malabar tamarind, Brindall berry, Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA)
Garcinia cambogia is “Popular” component of over-the-counter weight-loss formulations. Many many diet pills have Garcinia cambogia as major ingredient. Garcinia cambogia is a unique source of Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA). HCA has been studied extensively and found to suppress fatty acid synthesis and food intake, in addition to sparing the use of carbohydrate in the body while causing an increase in fat oxidation.
Garcinia cambogia does not affect the central nervous system, then people who tried the herbs are not likely to gain weight after stopping.
Garcinia cambogia is a small-pumpkin shaped tropical fruit native to Southeast Asian and India countries. According to Indian folk tradition, Garcinia cambogia has been described for such ailments as rheumatism and bowel complaints.

Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is a natural substance that is extracted from the rind of the fruit of the Garcinia cambogia tree, and has been extensively studied for over thirty years and found to be effective in inhibiting lipogenesis, lowers the production of cholesterol & fatty acids, increases the production of glycogen in the liver, suppresses appetite, increases the body’s production of heat by activating the process of thermogenesis, and encourages weight-loss in laboratory animals. This acid is a natural compound that is similar to citric acid found in other citrus fruits. A decoction of the fruit rind is often given in support of rheumatism and bowel complaints. There have been numerous studies lately that determined possible uses of HCA for dieters or athletes. Research with animals has found that HCA enhances weight loss by curbing the animal’s appetites naturally, and by modifying their metabolism so that they have less of a tendency to convert carbohydrates to fat. Other studies have found that HCA supplementation may decrease appetite and also inhibit the actions of a specific enzyme in the liver called ATP Cytrate Lyase. This enzyme is specifically responsible for the conversion of carbohydrates to fat.

Both Garcinia cambogia and its extracted HCA are widely available in North America as a component in many commercial dietary supplements.
In 1965, researchers identified Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA) as the principle substance found in the fruit and rind of Garcinia cambogia. It is promoted as a weight loss agent because of HCA.

What is Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA)?

Garcinia cambogia is a unique source of Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA). HCA has been studied extensively in the animal model and found to suppress fatty acid synthesis and food intake, in addition to sparing the use of carbohydrate in the body while causing an increase in fat oxidation. Weight loss was also common within the animal model.

Garcinia cambogia does not affect the central nervous system, then people who tried the herbs are not likely to gain weight after stopping.

Advantages of HCA

1. HCA hastens the combustion of fat store into energy during prolonged exercise.

2. Inhibits the accumulation of fat as a result of consumption of carbohydrates and sugar.

3. Neutralizes the function of the enzyme ATP citratelies.* Of which the enzyme reduces the accumulation of fat and cholesterol in parts of the body. Glycogen is accumulated, then the body system can have sufficient energy, vitamins and minerals from the consumption of food.

4. Reduce appetite by raising the amount of serotonin in the body. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is believed to affect appetite control. Appetite reduction occurs because the body cannot accumulate fat and cholesterol. This elevates the amount of Glycogen, hence a “full” signal is transmitted to a part of brain which controls appetite. Therefore, the amount of food we take is in balance with what the body needs.

* The reputed effects of hydroxycitrate are based on its action as a potent inhibitor of the enzyme ATP citrate lyase (also known as citrate cleavage enzyme), which is required for the synthesis of fatty acids. The enzyme takes citrate, which has been exported from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm, and forms acetyl CoA and oxaloacetate from it.
Source: Watson, J.A., Fang, M., and Lowenstein, J.M. (1969) “Tricarballylate and Hydroxycitrate: Substrate and Inhibitors of ATP:Citrate Oxaloacetate Lyase.” Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 135, 209-217

II. PIPER NIGRUM, the second Thermogenic Herb

Scientific name: Piper nigrum Linn.
Other names: Black pepper, Maricha
Piper nigrum is another active ingredient in our unique formula. It is “thermogenic herb”. It enhances thermo-genesis of lipid (fat molecules) and accelerates energy metabolism in the body. It particularly traps and enhances the thermo-genesis of saturated fats which are most difficult to be by physical activity. It also exerts local anesthetic effect in stomach, then suppressing excess appetite.

Piper nigrum is another active ingredient in our unique formula. It is “thermogenic herb”. It enhances thermo-genesis of lipid (fat molecules) and accelerates energy metabolism in the body. It particularly traps and enhances the thermo-genesis of saturated fats which are most difficult to be by physical activity. It also exerts local anesthetic effect in stomach, then suppressing excess appetite.

What is Thermogenesis?

The metabolic process which produces energy at the cellular level in our body. Although thermogenesis has been identified as a key factor in maintaining weight loss, it also play an integral role in utilizing the daily food and nutrients that body consumes. Thermogenesis helps the mechanisms that lead to digestion and subsequent intestinal absorption.

And that Piper nigrum enhances the body’s natural thermogenic activity.
Enhancement by increasing the thermal energy sufficient to “power up” the mechanism related to thermogenesis. Resulting in increased metabolic processes that provide a more efficient mode of nutrient (i.e. vitamins, minerals, herbals, amino acids, etc.) transportation into the blood.

Improve Digestion and Promote Intestinal Health

Piper nigrum stimulates the endocrine system and helps increase energy. It is supportive to the digestive glands. It also increases cellular oxygenation.
Piper nigrum stimulates the taste buds that signal an alert to the stomach, then increase of hydrochloric acid secretion. Hydrochloric acid is necessary for the digestion of proteins and other food components, resulting in improving digestion. (Note: Insufficiency of hydrochloric acid, food may sit in the stomach for an extended period of time, leading to heartburn or indigestion, or it may pass into the intestines, where it can be used as a food source for unfriendly gut micro-organism, whose activities produce gas, irritation, and/or diarrhea or constipation.)

Regards

For any more information/advise writer can be reached at:

Irfan Shahid
Awami Laboratories®.
Email: irfan@awami.com