Is forskolin effective?

If you’ve landed on this article, then by all means it’s probably because your quest for the holy grail of weight loss has led you to the mystical herb known as forskolin. But before we dive into whether or not forskolin is effective, let’s first explore what it is.

What Exactly Is Forskolin?

Forskolin otherwise known as Coleus forskohlii or Plectranthus barbatus, depending on how fancy you are, is a tropical plant that belongs to the mint family. It grows natively in India, Thailand and Nepal and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. The root of Coleus forskohlii produces a chemical compound called forskolin, which has been touted for its potential health benefits ranging from asthma relief to improved heart function.

Where Did All The Hype Around Researching Forskolin Begin?

I’m sure many folks have heard about Dr.Oz’s endorsement of fat-burning supplements that include 250 milligrams (insert magnifying glass emoji) of Coleus Forskohlii – another name for our beloved herb. So like any rational person seeking wisdom from television personalities; we did some digging… Here’s what we found out!

How Does It Work?

Okay so here comes the science-y bit- buckle up! As our dear old friend Dr Oz accurately described: “Forskolin activates something called adenlyate cyclase which plays an important role in many things including producing cyclic AMP (cAMP)!”. Fancy jargon aside, cAMP helps regulate glucose levels/cell energy production which makes it critical when it comes to burning flab! However 🛑 don’t yet underestimate fatty acids’ ability : they can also hijack cAMP AND prevent adipose tissue breakdown (a.k.a “fat burn”) by inhibiting a certain enzyme(s) – specifically which might cause many people to gain extra pounds undesirably over time.

To summarize: Forskolin is shown to work by increasing intracellular levels of cAMP, potentially leading to the activation of fat-burning pathways and inhibition of enzymes that can block these processes.

Wait, There’s More Benefits?

Absolutely! Forskolin has been scientifically proven to have several other potential benefits (this lady’s got the chemical genes for BEN-E-FITS). Let’s take a closer look at some more optional reasons as stated by research:

  • Possibly improving asthma/COPD symptoms
  • Reducing inflammation (General & in Glaucoma)
  • Lowering blood sugar levels
  • Improving heart health

Is Forskolin Effective For Weigh-Loss?

Now let’s get back on track here; The big question: Does forskolin actually help with weight loss? Well… based on scientific studies conducted so far, it seems promising yet not necessarily conclusive. 😕 While anecdotal evidence does exist about individuals who’ve claimed success when taking Forskolin supplements – ultimately results do vary quite widely from person-to-person. Here are a few examples 🤓👇

Study One:

One study involved just 30 obese or overweight men using this extract twice per day for twelve weeks straight gave them negative results’. They reported no significant changes whatsoever in their overall body mass index (BMI) or any related factor such as lean muscle.

Study Two:

Another study conducted within test pools extracted from humans found positive outcomes after labeling forskulin safe [all participants]. In this case, women whose average BMI was slightly above-average were able to reduce weight while retaining lean mass over five weeks.

But Research Studies Usually Point To Some Consistent Findings Based On Results Though Right?

Well…kinda.. It might come off as anti-climatic but in easy words, researchers don’t necessarily have 100% homogenous data collated from their studies. More variability still exists (for instance regarding the quality/type of extract used) which can very much affect overall results.

According to a review published in Obesity, earlier this year 🗓️👇:

“there is no adequate evidence thus far to suggest that Coleus forskohlii or its extracts induce weight loss”.

Thankfully The National Institutes of Health (Takenokas for short) reports findings on human trials saying: “There are a few preliminary trials showing that ingestion of Forskolin may lead to favorable changes in body composition/higher rates of fat loss but often limited by small sample sizes and varying study designs.”

Bottom Line…

Whilst there’s plenty research out there providing hope, definitive conclusions remain elusive despite more than two decades worth scientific investigation. It’s important you’re adequately informed before making any final decisions with respect to what supplements you introduce into your daily routine so incorporate Forskolin only after consulting your doctor
Alternatively focus on proven methods for permanently shedding pounds – eating lots fruit/vegetables, limiting alcohol intake plus HIIT cardio. But hey.. life is too short not also experiment right!

Random Posts