Boost your body’s ability to shift those pounds with a range of nutritious herbs and superfoods.
Whether you want to lose a substantial amount of weight or just a few pounds, the lucrative diet industry appears to promise the answer. Every week, it seems, a new diet craze hits the media, but it is advisable to think in terms of making healthy food choices which become part of your daily life, rather than quick fixes.
A balanced wholefood diet will provide slowly released sugars to your bloodstream, which decrease cravings and keep mood and energy levels constant. Many a well-intentioned weight loss programme has fallen by the wayside due to exhaustion and feeling low.
Nutrient-dense superfoods, such as seeds, berries, mushrooms, algae and grasses, can boost energy and give you the impetus to stay on track – and crucially, exercise more! Botanicals can also come to the rescue by stimulating the digestive system and metabolism to function more efficiently, which means better assimilation of nutrients and increased expenditure of calories.
Detoxing the body can also help – indeed, at Indigo Herbs we believe this is often the key to long-term weight loss. By opening up the channels of elimination we are able to slough off toxins which slow down the functioning of the body. Combined with dry skin-brushing and massage with detoxifying essential oils, this is a great way to shift cellulite too!
Browse the list of pure, high-quality natural health ingredients below and see what suits your situation best.
This Organic Acai berry powder is freeze dried by not using a heat or chemical treatment, bringing the product to you with maximum nutritional content intact.
Acai is a beautiful rich royal purple coloured berry from the Brazilian Rain Forest in South America. Acai is renowned for its powerful anti-oxidant properties, making it a brilliant herbal weight loss product.
Alfalfa Seeds are a great wholefood to add to nearly anything; lightly roasted or fried these can add great taste to all kinds of dishes. With its range of super healthy oils this seed is a great addition to salads and can help give energy without adding on extra pounds.
Bala is one of the most valued and well used Ayurvedic herbs. It is used for weight loss, and boosting physical endurance and strength, often used by athletes and bodybuilders. It is also known as an Aphrodisiac.
The young leaves of the Barleygrass plant have a tremendous ability to absorb nutrients from the soil, and are harvested at 12 -14 inches high.
Barley grass is known to contain vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, chlorophyll, live enzymes and amino acids. It is thought to include a balanced ratio of protein, fat, and carbohydrate necessary for a balanced diet. Barleygrass is easily assimilated throughout the digestive tract providing the body with optimum nutrition.
There are stories of people in the Middle East surviving on little more than Carob. This is possible through its high fibre content and its ability to lower cholesterol aiding weight loss.
The high percentage of chemical tannins in Carob hinder certain enzymes that contribute to digestion. This in turn lowers cholesterol, helps weight loss and reduces blood sugar and insulin levels.
In the ancient Middle East the seeds of the kharrūb (Carob or locust bean pod) were used to measure the weight and worth of precious metals and stones.
Chamomile is thought of as one of the "Heal all" remedies of the herbal world. It is relaxing, calming, anti-inflammatory, gentle, a natural sedative, and safe for kids. It is good for insomnia, sleep disturbances, and anxiety as it is a natural tranquiliser. However it is also good for wound healing, burns and is generally good for skin and hair. It can be used in a mouthwash and can treat gingivitis. (gum disease) It makes an excellent sore throat gargle and will sooth and calm nasal membranes during coughs and colds where there is catarrh. Chamomile is a classic herbal sleeping remedy, generally made into tea.
Chlorella has a huge nutritional range and has been described as the perfect food.
This plant algae is thought to have an alkaline effect on the body. This effect is key in supporting the body recovering from ill health. Chlorella supports the body in the process of detoxification, this helps the muscles, joints, cells, blood and all the bodily systems recover from their toxic load. It is a high source of vegetable protein and it is also easily digestable. It makes a great food to consume when recovery from illness and it brings an energy boost in physical exhaustion.
Dandelion is known primarily for its action on the kidneys and liver, it is a herbal tonic for both. Dandelion is thought to flush out the renal system (kidneys and bladder), assisting with the release of water retention and toxicity. It also stimulates the flow of bile in the liver, which assists with the breaking down of fats and the removal of toxins. As a liver tonic, it also relieves the congestion of the liver and gall bladder.
Fennel seed is known to be an excellent digestive. It is good for colic in babies, and stomach cramps of all ages. It normalises appetite so therefore can support weight loss. It can treat flatulence, aids recovery from gout and is a cleanser of the liver, helpful for gentle detoxifying. It increases the flow of urine, is a natural diuretic and kidney tonic.
For women, Fennel seed is helpful when breastfeeding, as it stimulates milk production. It is also good for promoting menstruation, and relieving discomfort of menopause.
Ginger is known as a herbal remedy for digestive disorders. It is known to settle the digestive system and promote gastric secretion of bile, it stimulates the gastro-intestinal tract and aids digestion. It is also used in the case of fever, as it promotes perspiration, it also soothes a sore throat so can be a helpful remedy in colds and flu. Applied externally Ginger can treat sore overworked muscles, cramp and poor circulation. And Ginger is an excellent remedy for morning sickness and travel sickness.
Goji berries / Wolf berries are known as the ultimate tonic for longevity, within the Chinese medicine tradition. They are thought to nourish Yin energy in the body, having a cooling and nourishing effect on the whole system. They are the perfect daily tonic for modern living, which is said to create too much heat, fire and Yang energy in the body. Goji berries have been used in traditional Mongolian, Tibetan and Chinese medicine for 1000s of years.
Tribulus is known to increase stamina, libido and sexual function for men and dramatically improve sexual performance and sensitivity for most women. It is widely used by athletes and body builders as it improves muscle building, stamina and endurance. It has also been found to alleviate symptoms of the menopause, such as hot flushes, depression and emotional instability.
This zesty refreshing botanical has many uses. Grapefruit is traditionally used for cleansing and tonifying the bodies systems. This uplifting top note citrus aroma is also known for banishing dark moods and lifting the spirits.
Grapefruit essential oil is cold pressed however some essential oil is extracted from the pulp, this yields an inferior oil, so check extraction method of product.
Sencha green tea is made from the leaves that are directly exposed to sunlight during the growing period. It is a Japanese green tea, and it is made from the Camellia sinensis leaves. Green Tea like Acai is essential for people trying to lose weight due to its anti-oxidant and metabolism boosting properties.
Guarana has been popularised and used in many energy drinks, protein bars and herbal formulas. However it is important to look out for pure unadulterated Guarana and unfortunately sometimes these products are pumped full of chemical caffeine.
Guarana is known as a stimulant it has a nervine action and is known as a calming yet uplifting tonic, boosting energy levels, enhancing memory and increasing physical endurance. It is thought to be more effective than coffee or ginseng at creating instant energy boost to body and mind and it is an anti-oxidant.
This Ayurvedic herb helps balance blood sugar, control cravings and thus aids weight loss. As well as being a well used weight loss remedy its therapeutic use is as an anti-diabetic aid.
Kelp Seaweed is an excellent source of iron, potassium and fluoride but relatively low in sodium. It contains all the trace minerals from sea elements which are needed by humans. Kelp Seaweed contains calcium and magnesium and is a natural source of iodine which is essential for thyroid health and hormone secretion. It contains vitamins C, E and A and is high in vitamins B6 and B12, dietary fibre and protein.
Kola nut is grown in Sierra Leone, Western Africa, as well as Brazil and the West Indies. In Africa it is a symbol of peace, friendship, and hospitality, a bit like the Indian peace pipe. It combines well with Avena sativa, Damiana.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Korean Panax Ginseng is used to promote yang energy, increase the blood supply and improve blood circulation. Panax Ginseng is a stimulant, so it is energizing and can help restore vitality after illness. It is an adaptogen so this means it is indicated as a stress busting herb. Because Panax Ginseng is stimulating and helps buffer the cycle of stress, it stands out as an excellent tonic for the modern lifestyle. In Chinese medicine it is used as a tonic for the whole body system in times of weakness, fatigue and stress.
Lemon verbena is a lovely aromatic plant that is indiginous to South America, it was brought over to Europe by the Spaniards. It has been used traditionally as a culinary herb, a tea, a perfume and for its medicinal properties.
Maca is a popular integral part of the Peruvian way of life, it is a root vegetable that looks a bit like a turnip and it is put into soups, cakes, breads and drinks in Peru. It is grown high in the Andes at 14,000 ft in very rich soils, so its mineral content is especially high.
Kapikachhu / Mucuna pruriens is a well known Ayurvedic herb. It is well documented for its Aphrodisiac qualities as well as for trating Parkinsons Disease and a range of other conditions.
Mucuna / Kapikachhu has an interesting range of unusual phyto-chemicals including l-dopa.
Nettle is a superfood with a wide range of benefits and therapeutic applications.
It is well known as a spring tonic and makes a delicious tea, packed with vitamin C, which helps stimulate and aid digestion. It's high histamine levels mean it can be useful in dealing with food or pollen allergies.
The seed husks of Plantago ovata, known as Psyllium husks are an excellent source of soluble dietary fibre. Psyllium husks are beneficial for both constipation and diarrhoea and can assist in maintaining a normal and healthy bowel function.
They are the major ingredient in a number of the most popular commercial laxatives.
Maca is a popular integral part of the Peruvian way of life, it is a root vegetable that looks a bit like a turnip and it is put into soups, cakes, breads and drinks in Peru. It is grown high in the Andes at 14,000 ft in very rich soils, so its mineral content is especially high. Red Maca is from the red and purple Maca root vegetables. Red Maca has a subtler taste than Maca, the coloured veg is sorted from the crop and Red Maca is known to have some unique qualities. The Red Maca is thought to be the most nutritionally rich of all the Maca types.
Spirulina is a blue-green algae and it contains a wide range of valuable nutrients. Firstly it contains 65% easily digested PROTEIN, and 18 amino acids. It is a unique vegetarian complete source of protein and much of its protein has been pre-digested by the algae itself and these enzymes go on to assist in the human digestive and absorption process. This protein source is superior because it also has lower fat, lower cholesterol and no artificial growth booster chemicals like meat and dairy protein.
Spirulina is the secret to success for vegetarian body-building.
Stevia can be used as a substitute sweetener for cakes and desserts. It can assist in weight loss through suppressing sugar cravings and having no calorie content.
Being extremely sweet, Stevia is best used in very small amounts so be careful if you're using it on your kid’s cereal.
Stevia became popular in the 1930's and is used heavily by the Japanese.
Wakame has healthy levels of; Vitamin A, C, E and K. It also has good levels of Niacin, Pantothenic Acid and Phosphorus, and excellent levels of Riboflavin, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Copper and Manganese.
Wheatgrass is quite possibly the closest thing to the fountain of youth and healing man has ever benefited from. It's nutritional profile is literally stunning. It's good for boosting energy and vitality levels, combating fatigue, detoxification, eliminating unhealthy bacteria, balancing gut and bowel health, balancing ph levels in blood, treating immune system deficiencies, improving clarity of thought Stabilising weight, metabolism and cravings, aiding cell regeneration.
