Contents:
Definition | Causes | Nutrients
Herbs | Recommendations | Suggestions | Bibliography
Definition
Abnormal amount of fat on the body. The term is usually not employed unless the individual is from 20% to 30% over average weight for his or her age, sex, and height.
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Causes
Obesity is the result of an imbalance between food eaten and energy expended, but the underlying cause usually is quite complex and difficult to diagnose and treat.
Those who are obese are more likely to experience kidney trouble, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, complications of pregnancy, and psychological problems.
Liver damage is also common in overweight people. Some of the causes of obesity are glandular malfunctions, malnutrition, emotional tension, boredom, habit, and love of food.
Obesity has been linked to food sensitivity or food allergy. Changing your eating habits is important in loosing weight. When there is an inadequate intake of all the essential nutrients, fat is not easily or adequately burned.
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Nutrients
Glucomannan, 3 tablets
Essential fatty acids (primrose oil or linseed oil), taken as directed on the label, is used with a
Kelp,
Lecithin, taken with meals as directed on the label, is a fat emulsifier; helps break down fat.
Protein (free form amino acids), taken as directed on the label.
Spirulina,
Multivitamin and mineral supplement, taken as directed on the label (obesity and nutritional deficiency are parts of the same syndrome).
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Herbs
- Alder, buckthorn
- Aloe
- Angelica
- Apple
- Ash, white
- Allspice
- Balm
- Barberry
- Birch, white
- Bladderwrack
- Buckthorn, common
- Capsicum
- Caraway
- Celery seed
- Centaury, European
- Chaparral
- Chickweed
- Cleavers
- Cloves
- Coltsfoot
- Currant, black
- Curry
- Dandelion
- Dill
- Dropwort
- Elder, black
- Fennel
- Fenugreek
- Gentian
- Ginger
- Goldenrod, European
- Goldenseal
- Grape, Rocky Mountain
- Hops
- Horsetail
- Kale
- Kelp
- Meadowsweet
- Melilot, white or yellow
- Moss, Irish
- Nettle, dwarf
- Oregano
- Paprika
- Pepper, black
- Peppermint, leaves
- Pipsissewa
- Poke root
- Primrose, common evening
- Raspberry, leaves
- Restharrow
- Rhubarb
- Rosemary leaves
- St. John’s wort
- Sage
- Sassafras
- Scurvy grass
- Seaweed
- Seawrack
- Senna, American, leaves
- Sesame, seeds
- Shave grass
- Tarragon
- Valerian
- Watercress
- Willow
Recommendations
Be active. Take a brisk walk before breakfast to burn off fat. Exercise is the best way to rid the body of excess body fat and to maintain good muscle tone.
Check with the doctor. Underactive thyroid, can cause obesity to be a problem. Correcting one problem may help correct the other.
Rotate foods and eat a variety of foods. Drink
Cut down on salt, it makes you thirsty and causes you to retain water.
Make sure bowels are regular. Use extra fiber in the diet every day.
Put less food on your plate. Chew slowly. Undereat and do not chew gum. Gum starts the gastric digestive juices flowing and will make you feel hungry sooner in addition to overworking your digestive system.
Never consume animal fat: butter, cream, ice cream, whole milk, rich dressings, mayonnaise, and fried foods.
Do not eliminate sources of “good” fat, containing unsaturated fatty acids, such as avocados, olive oil, and nuts. Use these foods in moderation, no more than twice a week.
Avoid the use of white flour products, salt, white rice, or processed foods. Avoid fast food restaurants and all junk foods. Do not consume sweets such as soda, pastries, pies, cakes, doughnuts, and candy. Omit all forms of sugar from the diet.
Instead, eat complex carbohydrates that also offer protein: tofu, lentils, plain baked potatoes (no topping), sesame seeds, beans, brown rice, whole grains and whitefish (no shellfish).
Never go grocery shopping on an empty stomach.
Eat fresh fruits and raw vegetables. At least one meal a day should be only fruits and vegetables.
High in carbohydrates and calories: bananas, cherries, corn, hominy, figs, grapes, green peas, pineapple, sweet potatoes, white rice, and yams.
Bake, broil, steam or boil foods instead of fried, etc.
Make lunch the main meal of the day, no later than
Yellow vegetables, chestnuts, corn, white potatoes, brown rice, oatmeal, apples, grapes, and buckwheat all contain a small amount of essential fatty acids and should be part of the diet in moderation. Nuts, seeds, avocados, olives, coconuts, and wheat or corn germ are high in vegetable fatty acids and should not be overused.
The average reducing diet is about
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Suggestions
Consume healthy snacks and desserts:
- celery and carrot sticks.
- Low-fat cottage cheese topped with fresh applesauce and walnuts.
- crackers topped with sesame butter and sesame seeds.
- unsweetened gelatin made with fruit juice in place of sugar and water.
- natural whole grain, sugar-free muffins.
- rich cakes topped with nut butters (but not peanut butter).
- watermelon, fresh fruits, and frozen fruit popsicles.
- unsweetened yogurt topped with granola or nuts and fresh fruit.
Use barley malt sweetener instead of sugar. This is highly concentrated, but is not dangerous. It contains only
Herb teas mixed with unsweetened fruit juice are satisfying
A medical herbalist reported an overweight woman lost
To make an infusion of cleavers, put a tsp. of the herb in a teacup and pour on boiling water. Cover and let stand for
Another example: A lady reports she lost
Prepare fennel seed tea:
A recent study revealed that
Another remedy:
- Dandelion root and leaves (7 parts)
- Peppermint leaves (7 parts)
- Alder buckthorn bark (15 parts)
- American Senna leaves (15 parts)
Steep 1 tbsp. in
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Bibliography
Back to Eden
, by Jethro Kloss; Back to Eden Publishing Co., Loma Linda, CA 92354, Original copyright 1939, revised edition 1994
The Herb Book
, by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974.
Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants
, by Steven Foster and James A. Duke., Houghton Mifflin Company, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10000
The Nature Doctor: A Manual of Traditional and Complementary Medicine
, by Dr. H.C.A. Vogel; Keats Publishing, Inc., 27 Pine Street (Box 876) New Canaan, CT. 06840-0876. Copyright Verlag A. Vogel, Teufen (AR) Switzerland 1952, 1991
Planetary Herbology
, by Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., O.M.D., Lotus Press, PO Box 325, Twin Lakes. WI 53181., Copyright 1988, published 1992
Indian Herbalogy of North America
, by Alma R. Hutchens, Shambala Publications, Inc., Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, 1973
The Old Herb Doctor
, by Joseph E. Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, copyright 1984, sixth printing 1994.
Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Fifth Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements
, by James F. Balch, M.D. and Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C., Avery Publishing Group, Inc., Garden City Park, NY
Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary
, 15th Edition, F. A. Davis Company, 1915 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
The Magic of Herbs
, by David Conway, published by Jonathan Cape, Thirty Bedford Square, London, England. (Out of print)
The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine
, by Dr. David Frawley & Dr. Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, Second edition, 1988.
The Magic of Herbs in Daily Living
, by Richard Lucas, Parker Publishing Co. (1988).
Polygon – Herbalist’s Primer weaves science and fantasy into something more