Borage Oil Review – Is it Good for Weight Loss?

What is Borage Oil?

While known to be used for skin and hair care, borage oil has also been getting attention in the diet pill world as an ingredient that can help with weight loss. Borage oil contains gamma linoleic acid, also known as GLA, which is known to help people keep weight off that was once lost.

On the surface, borage oil seems to be a panacea of sorts. Use of this product is claimed to help people lose weight, and also help keep skin and hair healthy as well! So is this substance a bit of an elixir, or is it just overblown to be more effective than it actually is? We decided to do some research and find out.

Who makes it?

Borage oil comes from the borage plant, which is native to North America and Europe. It’s made by crushing the seeds of the plant. There is no one company that manufactures borage oil.  Borage oil can be purchased from either online retailers such as Amazon.com, or from stores such as CVS and Walgreens.

How (and) does it work?

The theory behind borage oil is that the GLA helps stop inflammation. GLA is also known to help stimulate the thyroid, which is the regulator of metabolism. The gamma linoleic acid is believed to activate “brown fat” cells, which otherwise would not be burned at all. So instead of storing fat, the body is burning fat. Borage oil usually comes in capsule form, and it is recommended to take 1-2 capsules everyday with meals.

Despite sounding to be an elixir, there is no scientific evidence that borage oil is actually effective in helping people lose weight.

What’s inside of it and are there side effects?

The main ingredient in borage oil is gamma linoleic acid (GLA). GLA can be found in various foods, such as nuts, vegetable oils and olives. Borage oil is known to have the highest levels of GLA, with it generally ranging in 20-25%. GLA is known to help reduce inflammation, as well as being rich in antioxidants. GLA is known to help treat a variety of skin disorders, some of which include ezcema and seborrheic dermatits. In addition to this, GLA is also known to help treat depression, anxiety, heart conditions and even stroke.

Side effects from use of this product may include the following:

Gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea and headaches. Borage oil is unsafe when it is included with products that contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA). People with liver or blood disorders should avoid use of this product.

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What’s good about it?

Borage oil is a natural substance that is widely available. If you don’t feel comfortable taking supplements that were made in a laboratory, this oil may be just the thing for you. In terms of availability, it is not hard at all to find, as opposed to some dietary supplements that can only be found on a company’s website.

What’s bad about it?

Currently there are no scientific studies available that can confirm that borage oil is actually effective in helping people lose weight. Inflammation is one thing, but having less of it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s going to have you losing a few pounds.

With this lack of evidence, another problem with borage oil is that there is no recommended dosage. Anywhere from 500-3000 mg seems to be safe in trials, but there is currently no information available that says how much of this you really should be taking. Because of this we would not recommend that you try this substance out on a whim, but should consult with a doctor before.

Borage oil may also cause problems with people that have bleeding or liver disorders. It is also important to watch out for products that contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, as these may be hazardous to your health.

Wrap Up

Borage oil is known to help with inflammation and may also help keep the skin and hair healthy. In regards to weight loss however, it’s effectiveness has not been proven.

Bottom Line:

The problem with borage oil is that it sounds like it would work in theory. But that’s just where it stops, “in theory”. There are no scientific articles available to prove that borage oil can actually help with weight loss. It may help stop inflammation, but that’s about as far as this oil goes. There are other dietary supplements available that can actually help you lose weight. Sure borage oil may be healthy for you, but if you are looking to lose weight, you might as well look elsewhere.

We recommend looking into other dietary supplements for your weight loss needs.

Check top 10 weight loss pills