How to Lose Weight With Yam Extract

Laboratories use yam as a source of DHEA, a steroid produced in humans by the adrenal glands.

Marketers of yam extract claim wild yam can be used as a natural alternative to hormone therapy, that it lowers the risk of breast cancer, enhances sex drive, increases energy and stamina and helps women lose weight. These claims are based on yam being a natural source of dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA. DHEA is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. which is involved in various biological processes. DHEA is extracted from yam in laboratories but there is no evidence this happens naturally in the human body. According to the National Institute of Health's website MedlinePlus, there is insufficient proof to substantiate the health claims associated with yam extract, and taking it will not increase DHEA levels in your body. However, if you do chose to use yam extract to lose weight, there are some simple instructions that will increase your chances of success.

Instructions

1. Choose a reputable source of yam extract. Natural remedies are often not regulated and actual ingredients may differ from those advertised.

2. Stick to the dosage suggested by the yam extract supplier and consult with a pharmacist or physician before using it. Although it is possibly safe for the majority of adults, it can cause vomiting if you consume large amounts.

3. Combine your use of diet enhancement substances with regular exercise. Thirty minutes a day, five to seven days a week will go a long way toward helping you lose weight.

4. Cut down on fatty foods. Swap your regular serving of high-calorie fatty foods for an extra serving of starchy foods, such as yams, pasta and bread.

Tips & Warnings

• Studies on rats have also shown yam extracts can aggravate diabetic nephropathy. This could explain the high ratio of people with diabetes mellitus in the Caribbean regions where yam is a staple.

References

• Shaffer Vitamins: Nutritional Information on DHEA from Mexican Yam Extract
• Cognitive Enhancement Research Institure: DHEA
• National Insititute of Health: Wild Yam
• University of Massachusetts: How to Lose Weight
• U.S. National Library of Medicine: Effect of Yam on the Kidney of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Resources

• Diet Spotlight: Body Sculpture for Women Review
• Cancer: Wild Yam