Did you know that one of the most searched phrases on the internet today is weight loss? That’s why everything is packaged as a weight loss super diet, pill or exercise routine and they also sell like hot cakes.
With our unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical activity and search for convenience in every situation, our waistlines are expanding more than ever. And while you or your body is clearly not benefiting one bit from these so-called ‘practical’ habits, many are making a living out of it.
Those expensive gym routines, unhealthy crash diets, and miracle pills are nothing but a product of your weight loss fetish. One such product which entered the market with the promise of making your tummy flatter and your booty cuter is forskolin. However, this popular weight loss drug can benefit you and your health in other ways, too.
Forskolin: A Natural Supplement
A natural extract obtained from the plant Plectranthus barbatus (Coleus forskohli), forskolin is a member of the mint family native to mountain slopes in parts of Asia, including Nepal and India. Traditional medicine finds several uses of this plant extract in treating:
- Allergies
- Skin troubles (wounds, psoriasis, eczema)
- Digestive issues
- Bladder infections
- Cancer
How Forskolin Helps Your Heart
This herbal extract works by activating an enzyme, adenylate cyclase, which increases the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the cells. Also known as cyclic AMP, this compound is biologically recognized as a “secondary messenger” and is involved in a broad range of physiological and biochemical activities in the body.
This property is known to have a significant impact on your blood pressure levels. It relaxes the blood vessels and increases the rate of heart muscle contraction. Forskolin also improves progesterone levels, a hormone which helps stabilize blood clotting mechanisms and reduces the risk of platelet aggregation. This prevents blood clot formations, which also helps your heart to function well.
Dosage
Commonly sold as capsules, it is recommended to start with 10 t0 20mg of forskolin per day. However, it is best to speak to your doctor before you start taking it.
For more interesting stories, visit our Health page. Read more about Natural Remedies here.
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References:
1. Lindner E, Dohadwalla AN, Bhattacharya BK. Positive inotropic and blood pressure lowering activity of a diterpene derivative isolated from Coleus forskohli: Forskolin. Arzneimittelforschung. 1978;28(2):284-9. PubMed PMID:580393.
2. Kolwicz SC, Kubo H, MacDonnell SM, Houser SR, Libonati JR. Effects of forskolin on inotropic performance and phospholamban phosphorylation in exercise-trained hypertensive myocardium. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2007 Feb;102(2):628-33. Epub 2006 Nov 2. PubMed PMID: 17082376.
3. Baumann G, Felix S, Sattelberger U, Klein G. Cardiovascular effects of forskolin (HL 362) in patients with idiopathic congestive cardiomyopathy–a comparative study with dobutamine and sodium nitroprusside. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 1990 Jul;16(1):93-100. PubMed PMID: 1696672.
4. g-Teh K, Shigematsu A. A forskolin derivative, colforsin daropate hydrochloride, inhibits the decrease in cortical renal blood flow induced by noradrenaline or angiotensin II in anesthetized rats. Nephron Physiol.2004;96(2):p59-64. PubMed PMID: 14988663.
5. Jagtap M, Chandola HM, Ravishankar B. Clinical efficacy of Coleus forskohlii (Willd.) Briq. (Makandi) in hypertension of geriatric population. Ayu. 2011 Jan;32(1):59-65. doi: 10.4103/0974-8520.85729. PubMed PMID: 22131759; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3215419.
