Forskolin for Weight Loss

 
For many people, weight loss is a battle that never ends.

Because of the challenges that come with trying to lose weight, most people need help to win the fight.

Today, researchers are recommending substances that support you in your quest to obtain a healthy Body Mass Index, also known as BMI.

Forskolin is a natural product said to provide a number of health benefits including helping you burn fat and lose weight to reach your preferred BMI. While recent attention to this supplement from the mainstream media will have you believe it is something brand new, people have actually been using it for hundreds of years.

But does pure forskolin for weight loss really work? Let’s delve in and see what the research says.

What is Forskolin? The Technical Details.

 
This section of our forskolin review is for those who have an interest in the scientific basis behind the substance. Forskolin extract works by triggering the body’s enzyme adenylate cyclase, which causes additional cyclic adenosine monophosphate, or cAMP, in cells (1). Researchers categorize the reaction as a second messenger substance class. It is also a major cell-maintaining compound. Enhanced cAMP may result in a wide range of positive biochemical and physiological effects.

To put it simply, forskolin works at a cellular level to burn fat and enhance a person’s lean muscle mass (2).

What are the Benefits of Forskolin?

 
According to research, pure forskolin can help you unload those extra pounds. The substance may also treat:

• Asthma
• Allergies
• Cardiovascular conditions
• Glaucoma
• Depression
• Psoriasis
• Cancer
• Hypothyroidism

Several studies show the weight loss potential of using forskolin. Scholars from the Penn State University College of Medicine determined that in many cases, obese individuals have a lower than average rate of cAMP production (3). A few years ago, a research team completed a small study involving 30 overweight men and forskolin extract. During the test, the men who used the substance lowered their body fat amount and increased their lean body mass by a higher percentage than the placebo group.

Researchers didn’t overlook the ladies in weight loss tests involving forskolin. Six overweight women tested the substance’s ability to aid weight loss. For the study, the women took 25 milligrams of pure forskolin twice a day for eight weeks. At the end of the trial, the research team found that the study’s participants lost an average of 10 pounds and lowered their body fat percentage by about 8 percent. During the study, the participants also saw their blood pressure levels drop.

Does Forskolin Cause Side Effects?

 
Forskolin can cause several side effects. These include headaches, an irregular or rapid heart rate and hypotension, which is unusually low blood pressure. The substance can also increase a person’s stomach acid levels. If you’re taking blood-thinning drugs or have been diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease, then avoid the substance. Because forskolin can increase bleeding, stop taking it two weeks prior to surgery. Also, women should not take forskolin while they are pregnant or nursing.

Dosage Details

 
For weight loss, experts recommend taking 50 milligrams to 100 milligrams of forskolin in divided doses daily. Research shows that these doses are generally safe and effective. Some people report that the substance makes them feel tired, so consider taking one of your doses before going to bed.

Advice About Forskolin from Dr. Oz

 
A few years ago, Dr. Oz called forskolin “lightning in a bottle.” He also said, “It’s a miracle flower to fight fats.” Last June, he faced a Senate subcommittee that was accusing him of making false claims. However, he countered their accusations by saying, “I actually do personally believe in the items I talk about on the show. I passionately study them. I recognize that oftentimes they don’t have the scientific muster to present as fact. Nevertheless, I would give my audience the same advice I give my family, and I have given my family these products.” Dr. Oz has agreed that some of the products he recommends are “controversial,” but he also reminds people that many obese individuals need a “crutch” that provides short-term assistance.

To support his belief in forskolin’s weight loss potential, Dr. Oz asked a weight loss expert to be on his show. She reported that the substance was responsible for increasing weight loss results of her clients. She also said that it could perk up a person’s metabolism. Dr. Oz’s weight loss professional did advise people to use it in tandem with an exercise routine and a healthy diet.

Historical Uses of Forskolin

 
Forskolin is a compound that comes from the roots of the Coleus forskohlii plant. It belongs to the mint family, and it is classified under the technical name Plectranthus barbatus. The plant is a native of the tropical and subtropical regions of India and the east region of Africa.

People have long used the plant as an herbal remedy. Along with treating high blood pressure and depression, the substance has been used to treat urinary tract infections and eczema. For hundreds of years, Indian healthcare practitioners used forskolin during Ayurvedic treatments. This treatment technique doesn’t focus on a specific ailment.

Instead, practitioners use it to improve a person’s overall health and wellness. Ayurveda is considered the oldest healthcare system in the world.

Other Uses

 
Once western healthcare specialists caught wind of the potential medical benefits of forskolin, they began using it to treat conditions like asthma. The science behind using the substance for asthma is based on the development of other asthma drugs, which are formulated to increase the patient’s cAMP levels. Since forskolin increases them, those who have asthma can treat the ailment by inhaling one dose of the herbal remedy. The substance effectively relaxes muscles, and this decreases airway constrictions. It can also improve expiratory volume.

Because a cell division imbalance causes psoriasis, forskolin may relieve the condition through regulation. The substance can also increase the thyroid’s hormone production and trigger its release.

Forskolin is able to relieve intestinal colic, painful urination and uterine cramps. The substance is often used to treat hypertension along with angina and even congestive heart failure.

Forskolin’s most basic cardiovascular action is to decrease blood pressure while increasing the heart’s ability to contract. During a study featuring seven heart patients, the administration of forskolin improved the cardiovascular performance of each participant. Even more specifically, the substance vastly improved the functionality of the left ventricle.

The Bottom Line on Forskolin

 
Initial testing shows that forskolin is likely a safe and effective substance for weight loss. It may also help people maintain a normal body weight.

Forskolin has been used to treat conditions such as asthma, cardiovascular ailments, psoriasis, and obesity.

Be sure to check with your doctor before beginning a weight loss program.

Always use the proper dosing, and keep an eye on your results to share your weight reduction successes with others. Forskolin can help you jump start your weight loss and get you into a new health and fitness routine.