Forskolin and Fat Loss
We all live fast and furious lifestyles, and on top of that many of us want to stay in shape, lose some weight or get ready for that upcoming wedding, or Christmas party. Or even get shredded to step on stage at a physique show. How does Forskolin work with Fat Loss?
Yes, losing weight isn't as easy as popping supplements and its job done. But there is most certainly some additional supplementation available to support your weight loss goals.
There are a few vitamins and minerals you can take to ensure your body is functioning as efficiently as possible for weight loss. Although, at the heart of your weight loss goals is a well balance diet that fulfills most of your nutrient needs.
However, if you are on a limited diet or struggling to managing your dietary intake then supplementation could provide the extra boost you need to stay on track with your healthy weight loss regime.
The proven ways to lose weight are eating healthful foods, cutting calories, and being physically active. But making these lifestyle changes isn’t easy, so you might wonder if taking a specific ingredient or dietary supplement that’s promoted for weight loss may help.
What Is Forskolin?
Forskolin is produced by members of the mint family and more commonly used as a weight-loss supplement, Forskolin is a popular supplement and is obtained from the dried root of an Indian plant known as Plectranthus barbatus or Coleus forskohlii (1)
Underpinning forskolin is its ability to activate adenylate cyclase, which produces cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). But why does this matter, well cAMP activates several proteins, including protein kinase A, exchange protein activated by cAMP (Epac), and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPKA). Through these proteins, cAMP determines the reaction of the cells to hormones and maintains energy balance (2).
This herbal supplement can be used to support the treatment of obesity, glaucoma, allergies, asthma, hypertension and chest pain. In addition, Theoretically, forskolin aids in weight loss by helping create enzymes called lipase and adenylate cyclase. These two enzymes free fatty acids from the body's cells which enables the fatty acids to be burned as fuel. When the body burns fatty acids, it may reduce body fat without affecting lean muscle mass.
How Does Forskolin Weight Loss
Traditionally, forskolin and the coleus plant were used to promote general health and wellness across Thailand, Nepal and India, where it was also utilised for asthma and breathing disorders.
In its natural habitat, local people boiled the root of the coleus to make tea to drink and to promote wellness. However, the health and fitness industry are investigating its properties and supporting ability for weight loss.
So, while we have found that forskolin may raise fat burning capabilities, the body must be supported by a balanced nutritious diet and appropriate exercise levels to support a calorie deficit and the burning of excessive fat.
Interestingly a clinical trial of 30 obese men found a decrease in body fat, increased testosterone levels and improved bone structure after forskolin use. Furthermore, an additional trial of 32 men found that the fat-burning effect of forskolin was lower in middle-aged compared to younger men, suggesting that men prior to middle age will benefit from forskolin weight loss supplementation too (3).
A further study found that forskohlii extract did prevent weight gain in women as well as not displaying the side effects of other weight-loss supplements (4). While a separate study of a small group of overweight and obese men showed that forskolin reduced their body fat, it had little effect on their body weight. But it did find supporting evidence that the men’s testosterone increased where higher levels of testosterone are linked with lower weight and sustained weight loss over longer periods of time.
Forskolin Fat Loss Summary
Losing weight safely most certainly requires a healthy well-rounded diet, together with regular exercise and appropriate stress busting sleep.
Although limited, evidence suggests that forskolin and weight loss do go hand in hand. However, keep in mind that other measures such as doing more exercise and improving your diet does need to co-exist.
