Gymnema Extract fact/fiction?

[Naquittrcu]

Hey, my name is NaQuitta and i'm a 29 years old who never learend how to give up sweets. I have a horriable sweet tooth and i'm always craving junk, and carbs. A friend of mind told me that I should try a natural herb called gymnema, which she claims will elimate my craving for sugar and carbs. I'm avarage built but could stand to lose a few pounds, according to me 25-30 to be exact, but hey who's counting. No matter how hard I work out and try to avoid the junk food, it seems like we have a personal relationship where it knows me on a first name basic, and that is truly my weakness. Weighing in at 163lb standing at 5'5 with a sweet tooth to kill, what would you recommend? Help.

[Warrior]

Hi NaQuitta,

With regard to Gymnema Extract, I think you should speak with your doctor first if you are considering using it. Although it is a natural herb, it is mainly for use with diabetics. Also, there haven't been many quality human trials done, so it's safety and long term effectiveness is not widely known. Much of the research that has been done has been by those affiliated with the manufacturers of the product.

The bottom line is that you want to reduce your excess intake of sweets. Because many of these types of snacks also come with a high fat intake, if you are looking to lose weight (body fat), there is no way around it. Unfortunately, you are in a "catch-22" because the more junk you eat, the more you crave it.

The best way to get out of this situation is to take control of it. It's easier to avoid junk food when you are not hungry, so you may need to structure your eating differently. Do you eat breakfast? How many quality meals do you eat per day? Also, do you exercise? When you are active, that can help eliminate the temptation to eat when you are not hungry. Not to mention it burns extra calories.

I suggest surrounding yourself with food that is not junk. Keep more fruit in the house (it's naturally sweet. Eventually, that will be sweet enough for you). Get rid of the soft drinks, pastries, candy, etc that you are tempted to eat. You can't eat it if it's not there.

Last but not least, you will have some work to do. It will not be easy, but you must get through the beginning stages of not eating the junk when you want it. You want to lose weight and you know that continuing what you are doing is not helping you reach your goal. Even if you find a pill that helps you curb your appetite, unless you plan on staying on it for the rest of your life, at some point you will have to address this and work through it. It's a lifestyle change and you've made the first step by realizing this.

I hope this helps.