Does verbena make you lose weight?
The French are increasingly fond ofherbal teas: on average each individual drinks 132 cups per year. But among the many plants with recognized virtues, it is sometimes difficult to make a choice. Among the best known and most appreciated is verbena, which would allow you to digest better and sleep well. But does it have other benefits? And above all, could verbena help you lose weight?
Zoom on verbena
We should rather talk aboutverbenas, a genus of plants grouping more than 100 different species. When we talk about verbena, we are referring primarily to:
- Verbena officinalis, namelyverbena officinale, indeed used since antiquity for its medicinal virtues;
- Aloysia citrodora (formerlyLippia citriodora), orfragrant verbena (or lemon verbena), often used in herbalism and perfumery and appreciated for its lemony taste and flavor.
Thus, today, when we drink a verbena tea, it is the secondplantwe consume. But make no mistake, both species have benefits!
What are the benefits of verbena?
Officinal verbena
This type of verbena, due to its high content of terpenes (chemicals specific to plants), has effects on many physiological functions. Thus:
- It is used as anexpectorant and antimicrobial of the respiratory tract. Thus it can be useful in the management of inflammations of thethroatand sinuses, typically colds, asthma, bronchitis and sinusitis(1) ;
- it is a diuretic plant , so it can be used to stimulate urinary excretion from the kidneys, but also to limit the phenomenon of water retention ;
- it is recommended for women , for whom it would relieve menstrual bread , while in Young Mothers , it would promote lactation (hormonal stimulation);
- it would also have benefits on Mental and nervous health and could improve states of stress and anxiety, fight against depression, reduce chronic fatigue syndrome and improve insomnia and migraine (2) ;
- it is best known for its effects on digestion , soothing abdominal pain, bloating , HeartburngoldTransit disorders (3) ;
- finally, its antioxidant activity could be interesting against oxidative stress and, in extenso, in the prevention of diseases associated with oxidation (premature ageing, but also cancer) (5)
Lemon Verbena
The fragrant verbena, which happily accompanies our end of meals, is also rich in beneficial essential oils . Thereby :
- against inflammation
- and boosting the secretion of enzymes(9);
- its molecular structure would work like a benzodiazepine, so it would have antidepressant and sedative effects , beneficial against Sleep and mood disorders (10)
Can we say that verbena makes you lose weight?
This is a bold shortcut. To say that simply consuming a plant can make you lose weight is incorrecttag. To lose weight, you must adopt ahealthy lifestyle , make adequate lifestyle and dietary measures: daily Physical Activity , balanced and varied diet, sufficient and restorative sleep, avoidance of stress.
However, the notable effects of verbena can act as a boost , if you are on a diet or simply concerned about your line:
- the diuretic action of verbena officinalis helps to fight against water retention and, in extenso, cellulitis ;
- verbena officinalis and lemon verbena have positive effects on stress and sleep , directly involved in weight gain;
- the two verbenas are also beneficial for good digestion , which helps to recover and keep a flatter stomach. ;
- the regular consumption of these antioxidant plants helps to put the body in a good position to lose weight ;
- Finally, verbena is mainly consumed in the form of infusions. Butdrinking does not make you lose weight but stimulates the emunctorial organs, drains anddetoxifies the body.
Also, do not hesitate to drink a small verbena tea at the end of each meal!
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.