The Best Natural Stimulants For Increased Energy and Weight Loss

Written by Sarah Cain Tuesday, 02 March 2010 18:50

A Word Of Caution About Stimulants

We strongly recommend caution with taking stimulants for those with heart problems, or high blood pressure.  Be extra careful when combining stimulants.  For people of reasonably good health and common sense, stimulants can be like a God-send; especially for those of us with slowed metabolisms.  Of course, we suggest dealing appropriately with whatever issues might be causing a slowed metabolism, but sometimes a multi-pronged attack is prudent.  Appropriately used stimulants can help a person get into better shape, while providing the necessary energy to do so at the same time.  Again, common sense and responsible usage are absolutely critical to ensure that more good is done than harm.  Those who are interested in weight loss should be certain to read our article, Why Dieting Actually Makes People Fat and How To Do It Right.

You may skip ahead to the stimulant information, if you wish to bypass our rants about the current state of things, but please notice The Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2010.  This bill from McCain is threatening to shut-down alternative medicine and supplementation by giving control of them to the F.D.A..

Natural Super Stimulant Ephedra and The F.D.A.'s Supplement War

The modern medical industry is a business of stifling competition, creating drug dependence, and perpetuating illness to maximize profits.  Very seldom does true science intersect with it.  This industry has transformed doctors from being healers, into treaters, because drugs are designed to perpetuate illness for increased dependence, in much the same way that illegal narcotics are used to foster addictions in users.  All illegal narcotics were once official doctor-prescribed pharmaceuticals.  If this were only the case for one or two illegal narcotics, then we might consider it a coincidence.  It was all of them.

How many times have you been lectured that a person may never stop his medication for high blood pressure, for diabetes, or for epilepsy without suffering the dire consequences of his disease returning far worse than it had been originally?  These pharmaceutical problems are terribly convenient for business, aren't they?  Have they convinced you that these "side-effects" are accidental, in case after case ― you know coincidentally?

The most notorious example of the industry's fear games would be its condemnations of ephedra.  Marketed as a weight loss aid, ephedra is an all-natural stimulant.  It speeds up the metabolism, and thereby helps one to lose weight.  Unfortunately, it was also linked to around 100 deaths.  These deaths occurred when people with blood pressure problems took the stimulant in ultra concentrated doses, so there is an equally high chance that a large portion of the deaths were actually produced as a side-effect of their pharmaceutical hypertension medications, instead of the ephedra.  As far as we know, ephedra is the most "dangerous" herbal product ever recorded.  Of course, if those same people had taken equivalent doses of caffeine, then they would have likely met with the same demise.  Nevertheless, ephedra was made illegal as the F.D.A. marched forward with pitch forks and torches.

Imagine if a herbal supplement started making the skin fall off of people.  A Singapore man who recently came to the U.S. was detained at entry because he had no fingerprints.  Of course, it was no herb that had caused his skin to melt off.  In fact, this is a known side-effect of the cancer drug that he had been taking.  The condition is so common that it has its own official name: hand-foot syndrome.  With time, the drug may actually obliterate a person's fingerprints by destroying his skin tissues, so it is prudent to take a moment to consider what is happening to the victim's internal organs, and perhaps the long-term implications of such F.D.A.-blessed medicines.

The Dirty Politics and The War on Herbs Continue

At the time of writing this article, Senator John McCain has just introduced a new congressional bill titled, The Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2010.  Sounds heart-warming, doesn't it?  After all, the Senator and his Big Pharma sponsors know how dangerous dietary supplements are.  They realize that the emergency rooms of U.S. hospitals are always full of people with bad herb reactions, instead of being filled with people having potentially fatal drug reactions, emm... "side effects".  This is nothing new.  The F.D.A. and its pharmaceutical partners want nothing more than to "regulate" supplements and alternative medicine.  Regulating, in this sense means killing the competition.  Take for instance, the bill, Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994.  The purpose of this law was to forbid the F.D.A. from stifling competition to Big Medica from supplemental products, because legislators had been made aware of an active crusade by the F.D.A. to suppress the methodologies of alternative medicine.  The esteemed House Representative and doctor Ron Paul railed against this murderous corruption in a speech to congress.

 

A Health Wyze Choice of Stimulants
Guarana	This is almost certainly the most well-known of natural stimulants.  We have written about guarana, and described it as 'the new Ritalin'.  A common misconception is that guarana primarily contains "strong caffeine", though it actually contains guaranine.  Modern science has so far been unable to separate guaranine and caffeine, and so some still refer to it as caffeine, despite its unique properties.  The first study testing improvements in cognitive function from the guarana plant concluded, "The effects cannot be attributed to caffeine alone".  The Human Cognitive Neuroscience Unit conducted a study, showing improved memory, concentration, and increased task performance.   Researchers concluded that "the effects are unlikely to be attributable to its caffeine content”.  Guaranine does not cause jitters, and typically lasts for 8 - 10 hours, instead of the usual 2 - 3 for caffeine.  Instead of just stimulating, it enhances all cognitive functions.  Guarana is currently being tested for post-radiation therapy, in an attempt to provide energy and improved cognitive function in those who have been irradiated.   While we appreciate that herbal medicine is finally being tested, and used as alternatives to pharmaceuticals, we do believe that radiation will some day be held in the same light that we currently hold blood-letting (which was not practiced by alternative medicine, by the way).
Ginseng	Before guarana became popular, ginseng was the most common herbal stimulant. Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) is believed to be much more stimulating than American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius). The ingredients label on ginseng supplements will reveal which type it contains.  Along with stimulating, Asian ginseng has also been shown to reduce blood sugar levels and improvecognitive performance. American ginseng has also been shown to lower blood sugar and appears to be useful for the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.), particularly when combined with ginkgo biloba.  Studies have shown that it boosts the immune system, as individuals taking this dietary supplement experience less colds and infections.  According to the University of Maryland, American ginseng is an adaptogen, which means that it helps the body to deal with various types of stress.   Ginseng is also an appetite suppressant, which makes it ideal for dieters.
Tyrosine	Tyrosine is a building block for many neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine and epinephrine.  Neurotransmitters enable communication between nerves, and effect mood.  Tyrosine has been shown to help with alertness, particularly following sleep deprivation.  It can help to provide energy, along with improving focus and concentration.  Successful dosage in studies has been 150mg per kg of body weight.  Do not mix tyrosine with hormone medications, as tyrosine naturally increases the amount of thyroid hormones produced.  The combination of tyrosine and prescription thyroid medications will result in an excess of thyroid hormones.  See our article, How To Cure Hypothyroidism Naturally, if you are suffering with hypothyroidism.
Gotu Kola Fo-Ti	Many botanists believe that Fo-Ti and Gotu Kola are so similar that they are simply geographic variants.   Gotu Kola is found in Africa, whilst Fo-Ti is found in England and North America.   They have very unique properties, and were only known to be relaxing herbs.  They have been shown in a study to have anti-anxiety effects.   However, studies have also shown mild stimulative properties, due to the ability to improve the circulation of the blood.  When taken daily, it has been shown to have accumulative effects which include serving as an aphrodisiac.  In addition, Gotu Kola is a known adaptogen, like ginseng.  Gotu Kola was also found to improve memory.
B Vitamins	Take all of them daily, and be sure to get B12 in the form of methylcobalamin.  Hold it in the mouth or chew until it dissolves.
Chlorophyll	Chlorophyll is responsible for the pigmentation of green plants.   You can purchase chlorophyll extract in health food stores, and it is so concentrated that it will actually look black until diluted.  Chlorophyll provides mental clarity and physical energy by increasing the rate of oxygen into cells.  This is also an important component for the prevention of cancer, as oxygen deprivation is a primary cause of cancer. For more on cancer, read our articles, Budwig Diet and Body pH and Disease.  The Linus Pauling Institute found that chlorophyll can speed the healing of wounds when applied topically.  Warning: Chlorophyll will stain.
Coconut Oil	Organic coconut oil can be purchased from any health food store.  It provides energy in a very short period of time, warms those who have cold-sensitivities, and kills candida.  Coconut oil testifies to the phrase "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food".   You can cook with it, or eat it plain.  In many cases a quarter of a teaspoon is adequate to get a dramatic effect.  An improvement will be felt both mentally and physically. There is a very noticeable difference between organic, cold-pressed coconut oil, and the normal coconut oil that is purchasable in the oils section of some grocery stores.  The organic coconut oil actually tastes and smells like coconut, while other types do not.   Our experience is that the organic coconut oil is also much more effective at providing energy.
Taurine	Taurine is an amino acid which has been shown to improve the athletic performance, energy and stamina.  It is responsible for regulating the mineral salts in the body, along with the pulse rate.  It also protects against damage to the central nervous system.  It is found naturally in all proteins.  In another article, we wrote about how taurine is an antidote for Monosodium Glutamate (MSG).  Taurine has been shown to be depleted in people with diabetes, so supplementation will be particularly helpful in those cases.  One of the most interesting facets of taurine supplementation is that it has been shown to reverse some of the damage caused by smoking, even when smokers continue to smoke during treatment. This actually shows that while smoking is not healthy, it does not have to be as damaging as we have been led to believe if we have the necessary nutrients.  A 2003 study found that damage caused by chronic smoking can be reversed in as little as five days with a dosage of 1.5g taurine.  The inner lining of the blood vessels, along with diameter of blood vessels returned to normal in the study.
DHEA	DHEA has been extensively studied, and has been shown to provide energy, improve mood, reverse aging and improve memory. It has become very popular online for its effects of improving sexual stamina, and serving as a weight-loss aid.  DHEA supplementation should be avoided in those who have adrenal fatigue or male pattern hair loss.
Ginkgo	Ginkgo is known primarily for its beneficial effect on circulation, and it is through this function that it increases the energy of those taking the supplement.  At the same time, it can actually increase the oxygen capacity of the blood, and improve the mood.  According to the National Institutes of Health, ginkgo has been shown in numerous studies to alleviate leg pain caused by clogged arteries.  It has also been shown to be very beneficial for those with early-stage Alzheimer's Disease, and improves the vision of those with normal tension glaucoma (N.T.G.).
Hoodia	Used primarily as a weight loss aid, Hoodia is powerful stimulant that does not cause tremors.  This cactus-like plant from South Africa naturally suppresses the appetite and provides energy.  Always read the ingredients on these supplements, and be sure to avoid chemical additives, or deceptive advertising which is used to trick people into taking minute amounts that are too small to be ineffective.