What is Guggul?
A plant native to central Asia as well as northern Africa, Guggul has been popular for centuries for it’s medicinal uses, which include weight loss. It’s been so popular in fact, that the plant itself has become an endangered species!
Guggul is believed to help stimulate the thyroid, which in turn may help out with weight loss. Because of this it has been a popular ingredient in diet pills. So is it’s popularity founded on reality? Or are these just hollow claims, that amount to nothing more than a placebo effect? We decided to find out.
Who makes it?
How (and) does it work?
Guggul is known to stimulate the thyroid, which in turn effects the metabolic rate of the body. It does this through substances within it called guggelsterones E and Z, which are plant steroids.
These guggulsterones are also known to help lower Low Lipoprotien (LDL ) “bad” cholesterol levels. At the same time, the guggulsterones are also known to increase the levels of High Density Lipoproteins (HDL ) “good” cholesterol. In addition to this Guggul is known to reduce the absorption of cholesterol and fats into the intestines, which helps out with overall body fat reduction.
To see weight loss results, it is recommended to take 30-60mg of Guggul three times a day. 3 doses of 25mg of Guggul daily is enough to see a reduction in triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
In the face of all this however, there hasn’t been enough scientific evidence available to say that this is all 100% fool proof. This may all just be a theory, not proven fact, and the actual results may be less impressive.
What’s inside of it and are there side effects?
Inside Guggul are two different types of guggulsterone; E-guggulsterone and Z-guggulsterone. In addition to this there are 3 types of guggulsterol, as well as myrecene and it’s derivatives. These substances are known to help improve metabolism, lower bad cholesterol levels and help the immune system.
There are also other benefits of Guggul, some of which include acting as an anti-inflammatory agent, having anti-bacterial properties as well as suppressing appetite and having antioxidants within it.
Adverse effects from use of this substance may include the following:
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loose stool, stomach discomfort, headache, belching and allergic skin rashes.
What’s good about it?
There are many positive aspects from use of this substance. It may not only help with weight loss, but boost the immune system, help prevent inflammation and bacteria infections as well as having antioxidants to name a few benefits.
What’s bad about it?
It is important to remember that with this plant, there is such thing as too much of a good thing. In large doses, Guggul may cause adverse effects in users. In regards to pregnant or breast feeding women this substance may be unsafe as well, as not much is known about the reactions that may be caused. People who already have thyroid issues may want to talk to a doctor before using this, as this substance may interfere with these conditions.
Because of this plant’s popularity, Guggul is now on the endangered species list. Regardless of how many positive effects there are for this substance, if it is used too much, we as humans will not be able to benefit from it’s qualities. It’s important to remember the rules of conservation.
Wrap Up
The health benefits of this plant are undeniable. But being an endangered species, we need to figure out if it’s continued use is really worth it’s extinction.
Bottom Line:
There are definite positive health benefits to this substance to be sure. But just how healthy it is, has yet to be determined. As an endangered species, we must decide how much use of this plant is really needed, because if we use it too much, we will no longer have it. There are other dietary supplements that may be just as beneficial to health, and are more plentiful. It’s not good to ruin a good thing by using it too much. If you need to use it, remember to think in terms of moderation, if not finding other, similar substances.