Curb Hunger to Lose Weight

Nearly 75% of U.S. adults are overweight or obese.¹

That’s a major health problem.

Being overweight or obese, and having excess body fat, increases the risk of chronic diseases, including metabolic disorders, heart disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes.²

The good news is that losing as little as 5% of body weight can slightly lower blood pressure, improve blood sugar, and raise good cholesterol.^3,4

In a clinical trial in overweight adults, taking a blend of lemon verbena leaf and hibiscus flower extracts, along with a modest diet and exercise program, led to close to 5% weight loss in just two months.⁵

That was nearly 70% more weight loss than those who received placebo.

Additional clinical trials show that this blend can help boost feelings of fullness (satiety),^6,7 improve body weight,^7-9 and lower blood pressure.^8,10

The Problem with Weight Loss

A nagging appetite can make it difficult to lose weight.¹¹

People who go on diets frequently gain the weight back.¹²

When calories are restricted, metabolism and the hormones that control hunger are altered. These changes can make it harder to lose more weight and keep it off.^13,14

After weight loss, the body makes more ghrelin, a hormone that increases hunger. It may also produce less GLP-1, a hormone that helps you feel full.¹⁴

Fortunately, extracts of two plants, hibiscus and lemon verbena, are effective non-drug options for appetite control and weight loss.

Help Shedding Pounds

In a clinical trial, 46 overweight or obese women were given either a standardized 500 mg blend of lemon verbena leaf and hibiscus flower extracts or a placebo 20-30 minutes before breakfast daily for 60 days.⁸

They were also encouraged to follow a moderate 2,200-calorie diet and walk 30 minutes per day.

The extract group showed enhanced satiety and lost over 8-10 pounds, over 5% of their weight, in just two months. This was roughly twice the weight loss of the placebo group.⁸

Curbing Appetite

In an earlier clinical trial, overweight and obese adult women took 500 mg of the lemon verbena-hibiscus extract blend or a placebo daily before breakfast. Participants were advised to consume 2,200 calories and walk at least half an hour daily during the two-month study.⁵

Compared to placebo, the extract group showed higher levels of the appetite-suppressing GLP-1 hormone.

Ghrelin levels increased in the placebo group but remained stable in the extract-supplemented group. These two hormonal changes were associated with greater satiety and reduced hunger, as measured by validated scales throughout the intervention.⁵

In another randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, similar results were observed. Participants who took the extract reported greater fullness and consumed about 9% fewer calories during an unrestricted meal.⁶

This lower-calorie intake coincided with a 12% increase in satiety-promoting GLP-1 after breakfast and a 22% increase in GLP-1 after lunch.⁶

In a randomized controlled trial published in 2024, 61 healthy overweight adults took a lemon verbena-hibiscus extract blend or a placebo 30 minutes before breakfast for three months.⁷

By the end of the study, the extract group reported 12% improvement in hunger satisfaction one hour after breakfast. Satiety did not improve in the placebo group.⁷

Researchers attributed the weight loss to the extract blend’s ability to improve appetite regulation.^5,6

Better Body Composition

There’s a common problem with weight reduction: it can result in the loss of both fat and lean tissue, including muscle.¹⁵ This is a potential concern with GLP-1 agonist drugs.¹⁶

In a 12-week trial, healthy but sedentary overweight adults took 500 mg of the combined lemon verbena-hibiscus extracts or a placebo daily while maintaining their usual eating and lifestyle habits.^9,17

The extract group achieved a 6.9% decrease in body fat compared to the baseline, while maintaining their muscle mass. The placebo group had little change.

What You Need To Know

A Fat-Burning Blend

• Many people have tried prescription GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic^® to curb hunger. But these drugs can come with gastrointestinal and other side effects.
• A blend of lemon verbena leaf and hibiscus flower extracts works in a similar way, with evidence that it may boost levels of the appetite-suppressant hormone GLP-1 without side effects. These extracts also promote fat burning.
• In clinical trials, this extract blend reduced body weight by about 5% within two months (70%-100% more weight loss than placebo), trimmed belly size by 2.3-2.5 inches, and reduced blood pressure.

The extract group also had a decrease in abdominal fat.⁹ This kind of fat, also called visceral fat, is closely associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease.¹⁸

In the 2024 study, those taking the extracts had a 5.7% reduction in body fat over three months and an 8.2% reduction in abdominal fat. Again, no significant muscle loss occurred.⁷

Burning Fat

The boost in fat loss by the lemon verbena-hibiscus blend may be explained, in part, by its ability to activate an enzyme called AMPK (activated monophosphate protein kinase).^6,19

AMPK signals cells to burn fat for energy and store less fat.¹⁹ With age, AMPK activity drops significantly.^20,21

Other preclinical research suggests polyphenols in the extracts support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria in ways that may promote AMPK activity and weight control.²²

Lower Blood Pressure

The benefits of the lemon verbena leaf-hibiscus flower blend extend to metabolic health.

As discussed above, in one randomized controlled trial, overweight or obese women took 500 mg of the extracts or a placebo before breakfast for two months, while following a 2200 calorie diet and walking 30 minutes daily.⁸

While the placebo group experienced little change, the extract blend-supplemented groups experienced the following:

• In overweight women, a drop of 16% (over 20 mmHg) in systolic blood pressure (top number) from baseline, while obese women saw their systolic blood pressure go down by more than 14% (over 18 mmHg).⁸
• Reduction in abdominal circumference (belly size) on average of about 2.5 inches in the overweight group, and over 2.33 inches in the obese group.⁸
• Decrease in resting heart rate of over 8.5 beats per minute in the overweight group, and eight beats per minute in the obese group.⁸ An elevated resting heart rate is a key predictor of mortality.²³

The extract was well-tolerated with no side effects.⁸

This weight loss and improved metabolic health can support overall healthy aging.

Summary

A blend of extracts of lemon verbena leaf and hibiscus flower has demonstrated weight loss and metabolic benefits.

The blend has been clinically shown to result in an amount of weight loss known to reduce chronic disease risk in just two months when supported by moderate dietary changes and light physical activity.

The extract blend helps with weight loss by promoting fat burning and a feeling of fullness.

If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please call a Life Extension Wellness Specialist at 1-866-864-3027.

References

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