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Forskolin Review: Miraculous Weight Loss Supplement - Or Hoax?

Forskolin Review: Miraculous Weight Loss Supplement - Or Hoax?

Forskolin is a supplement that also has a place in the group of miraculous weight loss supplements, along with garcinia cambodia and many similar wonders of nature.

The main strength behind forskolin is that it melts away fat and leave the lean muscle mass unaffected. But does it truly live up to these expectations? In other words, does forskolin work for weight loss?

Related - The Best Workout for Weight Loss

Obviously, the best way to find this out is to test forskolin on your skin. However, if you don't have the time to test and try weight loss supplements and just want to see what works and what doesn't, today's review on forskolin is definitely for you.

Even though there are thousands of Google results when you type 'forskolin' in, this natural supplement comes in many forms. It is manufactured and used in different supplements, produced by different companies and is therefore hard to see the best way to make weight loss work.

Powerful Forskolin - The Herbal Compound We Haven't Heard Of

The popularity of pure forskolin spiked over the past year or two. It's true that this supplement is a novelty of the marketplace - and that not many people in the Western cultures know about it or know how to explain the way it works when digested into the body.

The truth is, there are so many weight loss formulas, pills and extracts in the supplement market, leaving no to little space for new discoveries and formulas out there. However, forskolin is not a new discovery - it is only an extract the Western world has never been introduced to before. In the traditional Ayurvedic medicine in India, it has been among the leading herbal compounds for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and fighting off many diseases.

Many people actually mix the effects of forskolin with the benefits of garcinia cambogia, which are two similar supplements and products of nature. Since they both aim at weight loss, their effects are slightly identical. However, forskolin is different in many other aspects.

What is important for everyone is to understand what forskolin actually is - and what effects can it have on weight loss. For that matter, we are starting with its background and roots.

Roots Of Forskolin, One of Nature's Best Kept Secrets

Weight LossForskolin is a relatively new weight loss supplement to the Western world. We can certainly say that the hype about it has just started - which is why a lot of people claim that it is one of nature's best kept secrets and true specialties.

Thanks to mainstream media, we get to be introduced to forskolin, an ingredient that is one of the leaders when it comes to natural weight loss products that truly work. In nature, forskolin occurs in the roots of the Indian coleus - a tropical plant with vivid colors of purple and yellow and an exotic appeal.

The most important part here is that pure forskolin comes as an extract from this plant and a multipurpose aromatic herbal ingredient (known as bioactive labdane diterpene). In the (Indian) Ayurvedic medicine, this extract has been very important over the years, helping people not only lose weight but fight off diseases and prevent serious disorders, all thanks to its anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties and of course, the great pharmacological benefits that were discovered from this extract.

The deeply rooted origins of forskolin place it along with numerous supplements in the mint family. Location-wise, forskolin is found in the eastern hemisphere locations which include the countries of India, Thailand, and Burma as well as Brazil and some parts of Africa on the other side of the globe.

In the past, forskolin has been known to be one of the most powerful herbal tonic extracts that treats various sorts of diseases, disorders and conditions including:
  • Cardiovascular and circulative conditions
  • Respiratory diseases and disorders
  • Gastrointestinal and digestive disorders
  • Skin problems, allergies, infections, boils and eczema
  • Rheumatism and body pain and stiffness
  • Central nervous system functions
At this point, you are probably wondering how it is possible for a natural supplement to have all of these superpowers and be able to fight off so many disorders and diseases of different types. According to science, that is all because of one ingredient that is found in forskolin - cyclic AMP.

Cyclic AMP, #1 Natural Activator, Controller & Regulator of Enzyme-Related Processes

There is a lot to write about cyclic AMP. In our case, it is most important that forskolin contains it as part of its structure. What this enzyme actually does is stimulating the production of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), which leads to a series of benefits when it comes to health and fighting off disorders.

Some of the most eye-opening effects of cyclic AMP include reducing inflammation, blood pressure, anti-glaucoma, preventing platelet aggregation, stabilizing the lung health and establishing a positive intropic action in the heart.

However, one of the most important benefits from this enzyme is the fact that cyclic AMP stabilizes and stimulates hormones that activate all the fat burning mechanisms within the body - hence, its link to the amazing weight loss benefits.

So, this is why pure forskolin is used in many weight loss formulas. With its structured cyclic AMP, not only it helps the body defend itself against so many mechanisms - it also kick-starts the weight loss process and activates all possible fat burning mechanisms inside the body.

Forskolin & Weight Loss: Uses, Benefits and Actual Results

One thing that you should know when it comes to forskolin and weight loss is that the extract does not cause weight loss. Instead, it raises the testosterone levels, triggers all fat burning structures and improves the body composition - which are all ways in which your body loses fat while increasing its muscle mass.

If you have been reading a lot about natural supplements and weight loss formulas - and tested them yourself - you probably know that what the manufacturers promote is not really the same to what can be felt from consuming the health supplements. In other words, the marketing materials behind many magic weight loss or natural formulas can be deceiving - which is why you need to trust the actual facts and results.

Hence, a lot of people wonder if the entire forskolin weight loss thing is real - or another marketing hoax. After all, the weight loss supplement industry is projected to generate at least $60 billion a year - and we all know that for that kind of money, not every pill lives up to its promises.

So, it is safe to say that the only way to explore the benefits of forskolin when it comes to weight loss - is to test them on our skin or look at the actual research that people have done on the supplement itself.

Wait, But How Does Forskolin Trigger Weight Loss?

If you are still not certain about the effects of forskolin on weight loss, it is important to note that there have been tons of studies on animals that found out the actual way forskolin works when helping you lose weight fast.

The results were the following.

According to studies, forskolin stimulates the release of stored fat from fat cells, whenever our body needs to use body fat for energy. However, this release of stored fat is usually not enough to promote weight loss. For that reason, it has to be accompanied by a calorie deficit.

The takeaway is simple - forskolin makes weight loss happen only when your energy expenditure (the calories you burn) exceeds your energy intake (the calories you store).

Now, the most important part.

Forskolin actually supports the calorie deficit - and therefore makes burning fat and losing weight possible. It simply does that in three ways:
  1. It suppresses the appetite which results in lesser food cravings
  2. It reduces the efficiency of digestion
  3. It increases the metabolic rate and burns more fat
When backed with studies and clinical trials, these effects were found to be true and the results of using forskolin as a weight loss supplement have really been promising. It basically promoted fat loss while preserving muscle mass and therefore lived up to its expectations and main marketing formulas.

Still, a lot of people doubt the effects of forskolin when it comes to weight loss, which makes us list another study with forskolin - this time on two groups of people.
Beer Belly

The Forskolin Formula Study on Two Groups of People

In order to provide even more accurate results, there has been a study that had two groups of people participating. The groups were the following:
  1. Forskolin group, which had 15 men participating and supplemented with 250mg of Coleus forskohlii extract (with 10% forskolin) twice a day for 12 weeks
  2. Placebo group, which had 15 men taking the same amount of pills that did not have any formula or extract inside them
The results were really incredible - the 15 men in the forskolin group lost significantly more fat. However, their total body weight did not change. In other words, just like the promising results of forskolin - they got leaner and lost more fat.

The increase in free testosterone was another thing that was present in the forskolin group. According to facts, testosterone stimulates the release of fat from fat cells which is another way to describe the fat loss observed in the study. Additionally, the rise in testosterone promotes an increase in muscle mass - however not statistically significant in this case.

The study was repeated on women as well, and it was once again found that...

Forskolin supplementation is good for weight loss, but not critical to overall body weight loss. Overall, it is a great supplement for three things: to prevent additional weight gain, lose fat mass and increase the lean body (muscle) mass.

Other Studies on Forskolin for Weight Loss and Fat Burning

There have been even more studies on the effects of forskolin for weight loss. In fact, a whole list conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology (NCBI) for all of you interested in reading:
  • Study 1: Body composition and hormonal adaptations in obese men
  • Study 2: Effects of Coleus Forskohlii supplementation in mildly overweight women
  • Study 3: Effects of forskolin on cAMP, cGMP and free fatty acid levels
  • Study 4: Topical rescue and skin protection with forskolin-based tanning lotion
  • Study 5: Coleus forskohlii's clinical efficacy for hypertension
  • Study 6: Chronic Forskolin administration for glycemia and oxidative stress
  • Study 7: The insulin releasing activity and effects on blood glucose levels for diabetics (1991)
However, if you want to skip reading and get the actual point of forskolin supplementation, the above mentioned conclusion definitely sticks. Especially when seen through the perspective of a recent university study on 6 overweight women.

In it, all of the six women took 250mg of 10% pure and natural forskolin extract twice a day for 9 weeks. The results were astonishing - all of the women lost around 10 pounds and burned over 8% of body fat per person.

In the meantime, their blood pressure levels stabilized and lowered and their body digestion improved. This has definitely shown that forskolin is great for weight loss, but even greater for removing layers of body fat.

This is actually how the Forskolin diet was born, a jargon that basically focuses on forskolin supplementation in men and women for clear results.

The Forskolin Diet For Body Fat Loss (And Other Benefits)

Fat LossWe already said that in the supplement industry, forskolin is known to support fat burning and energy levels. The studies confirmed that and led to amazing results in both obese and overweight men and women.

However, the supporting benefits of using the forskolin formula for weight loss include:
  • Stable digestion
  • Lowered (and stabilized) blood pressure
  • Increased testosterone levels which lead to greater results
  • Increased cyclic AMP levels (the enzyme related to a series of benefits as described above)
This is basically what the forskolin diet for weight loss is all about. Centered on fat loss, it also stabilizes the digestive system and gives the body the shield it needs to fight off disorders, conditions and diseases of many kinds.

What really makes forskolin so effective in all of these processes is its ability to stimulate all known forms of the enzyme adenylyl cyclase and therefore affect the concentration of the messenger molecule cAMP - which results in a compound that triggers all enzymes within a range of cells and tissues and is indirectly involved in many cellular functions.

The simplicity and dependability of the cAMP levels that focus on weight loss without the use of other cellular receptors (such as beta adrenoreceptors) make the forskolin diet an easy way to body fat loss and most importantly, a healthy formula for clean results.

10 Groundbreaking Benefits of the Forskolin Formula - Revealed

Now that we know how forskolin works when taken as a diet, we pretty much now all the benefits out there. So, to sum it up - in the following part, we are talking about all of the benefits of forskolin in every way possible, including:

#1 - Body Fat Loss

As we said many times above, studies have confirmed that forskolin is great for body fat loss in obese and overweight men and women. However, the forskolin formula is definitely applicable in athletes and bodybuilders who want to max out on their results and lose body fat while keeping their muscle mass lean.

Also, people with normal weight can take the forskolin supplement while working out to increase the results and burn more body fat.

#2 - Relaxation of Arteries and Other Smooth Muscles (Including the Heart)

The cellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) is increased with the supplementation of forskolin. This leads to a broad range of effects - one of which is the relaxation of all the arteries that leads to stable blood flow and smooth muscles. So, the forskolin formula definitely affects the muscles and aside from keeping them lean, the cyclic AMP found inside actually makes them healthy and promotes a stable function.

#3 - Asthma and Allergies

There are a lot of drugs out there that are used to treat allergies and asthma. Most of them are designed to increase the cAMP levels - something that forskolin does naturally and acts directly with. Therefore, forskolin can be used by itself to prevent and treat many different types of allergies including asthma.

Along with the fact that the forskolin formula is effective for relaxing the arteries, these benefits result in bronchodilation - which is a process that extends the respiratory capacity of the lungs, making them healthier and preventing many disorders from occurring.

#4 - Cardiovascular Health

Forskolin has been used to treat cardiovascular disorders for long. From hypertension to congestive heart failure and even angina, forskolin lowers the blood pressure while increasing the contractility of the heart, which results in relaxation of all the arteries and an increased force of contraction of the heart as a muscle. The blood flow is also improved and the post-stroke recovery is enhanced.

#5 - Glaucoma and Increased Intraocular Pressure

Increased intraocular pressure is a condition that affects many people, which happens in the eyes and may result in complete blindness if left untreated. On the other hand, glaucoma is a cause of visual loss which is characterized by nerve damage and results in loss of visual field, glare and even pain in the eyes. It is very common and one of the leading causes of blindness in the elderly.

What forskolin does is prevent and treat both of these condition. The Forskolin eye drops which include 1% Forskolin have been proven to be effective for both of these eye disorders for years.

#6 - Psoriasis

This disorder begins when there is a decrease of the cAMP molecule enzymes, compared to another messenger known as guanine monophosphate (cGMP). What forskolin does here is alleviate the psoriasis by normalizing these level and balancing the cAMP level to the cGMP ratio.

#7 - Depression

The Forskolin formula also helps one of the leading disorders in the world - depression. It basically prevents this disorder by balancing the neurotransmitters in the brain - either the serotogenic (inhibitory) or the dopaminergic (stimulatory). Basically, forskolin has been found to affect the neurotransmitter system in a positive way and produce the hormones needed to treat depression and imitate the antidepressant activity.

#8 - Hypothyroidism

People suffering from excess thyroid hormone production can also practice the Forskolin diet in order to stimulate their thyroid hormone release and bring it to the standard levels. Basically, this mechanism enhances the metabolism and additionally promote weight loss. On top of that, the effects may also contribute to its antidepressant effects and treat the depression (which is commonly a feature of hypothyroidism).

#9 - Cancer Metastases

According to a study at Brown University, it was confirmed that forskolin is a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation and also a potent inhibitor of tumor colonization. The studies were conducted on mice, and resulted in positive effects, making forskolin an effective way to prevent tumor metastases.

#10 - Immune Enhancement

The antioxidant feature found in forskolin promises stronger immunity and a shield from all the contagious pathogens. The forskolin extract actually activates the macrophages and lymphocytes and that is how it exhibits potent immune system enhancement. On top of that, it makes the skin stronger and healthier - hence making it the natural shield that protects the organism from many diseases and conditions.

As part of traditional herbal medicine for ages, forskolin has been found to alleviate asthma, increase bone density, help with natural weight loss, relax the arteries and smoothen the muscles as well as stimulate the testosterone formation.

Should I Try Forskolin? - Who Is It For, How to Take, Side Effects

If you want to try the Forskolin extract on your skin, you should know that you are not the first one. However, like most supplements out there, the forskolin supplementation is not recommended for mothers during pregnancy or nursing or kids under 18. Even though it is natural, it stimulates the production of certain hormones and actions that affects babies or children.

How safe is forskolin?

Generally speaking, there haven't been any contraindications, interactions or known cases where forskolin was found to be unsafe. The only toxicity that has been reported was embryo-related toxicity, which is why we definitely do not recommend this supplement for mothers during pregnancy or nursing.

What benefit will I see from forskolin supplementation?

As we said above, forskolin does not cause weight loss. However, it stabilizes the organism to start burning fat and raises the testosterone levels while improving the body composition. The only reason why there is not much weight lost is because of the bone density and composition that the forskolin extract affects. However, there have been a lot of success stories from supplementation regarding losing fat.

On top of that, there are numerous other benefits of using forskolin as a supplement - and the best way to sum them up is the fact that it shields your organism from potential disorders, stabilizes your blood flow and promotes a healthy heart.

Are there any forskolin side effects?

According to many studies (especially one made by the International Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Research), forskolin is partially toxic - but in a good way. In other words, the forskolin toxicity is non-significant.

However, forskolin is effective in lowering the blood pressure in adults who are taking at least 150mg per day - which is why it is of utmost importance to consult with an expert or doctor before taking it yourself. Additionally, any use of forskolin along with other medications should be consulted with a doctor.

Therefore, the bottom line is that forskolin is generally safe to consume. Still, there is always a possibility for some extremely severe cases where the potentially harmful side effects may be present, including slight dizziness and nausea.

What is the right forskolin dosage?

If you want to start using Forskolin because of its perceived benefits, the best way to start is with 25mg to 60mg per day. This way, your body will adjust to the dosage an adapt to it, so that you will be able to increase it over time.

Most of the Forskolin supplements are in the form of 124mg or 250mg capsules or tablets on the market. However, the majority of them has the pure natural extract in a small percentage (up to 10%) and many other ingredients combined within the capsule or tablet. Therefore, it goes without saying that you should be careful when choosing a forskolin supplement and always consider ones without any extra additives, fillers or chemicals.

Who can take forskolin?

Aside from women that are breastfeeding or pregnant and children below 18, forskolin is recommended for any average adult without serious health conditions.

Mainly, it is a great fat burner that burns fat and keeps lean muscle mass while helping you shred a few pounds. However, it is also a great promoter of stable health and a product of nature, introduced to us by the Indian Ayurvedic medicine that has been using it for centuries.

Although forskolin is not a magic bullet that can get you the shredded, muscular body in just a few weeks - it is definitely a natural and great way to put yourself on a path to the body you want to have. Therefore, you can either start taking it during a trial period - or combine it with other supplements.

What should you combine forskolin with?

Forskolin has an ability to amplify the cellular receptor activity. That way, it can help other types of fat burning ingredients to work more effectively. According to some experts in the bodybuilding field, forskolin works good in combination with tribulus terrestris, D-aspartic acid, vitamin D3, phosphatidyl serine - and if you are over 35 - DHEA to support elevated testosterone and hormone response.

A lot of people that have tried forskolin claim that they have seen positive results from the revolutionary weight loss extract - but even better results when it is pure and combined with some other ingredients.

That brings us to the final part, where we sum up the key takeaways about the forskolin formula.

The Bottom Line

In the end, we can definitely conclude that forskolin is a great body fat catalyst. However, when linked with weight loss, it doesn't actually show miraculous results. Due to its side benefits and positive effects, it also helps you shield your body from a lot of disorders and treat several ones like asthma, allergies, cardiovascular issues, respiratory disorders etc.

Therefore, the conclusion is that the forskolin formula is great - but not miraculous enough to be used as a separate supplement. That is why forskolin is found with at least 10% presence in many supplements, along with other ingredients.

At TigerFitness.com, we pride ourselves on having a variety of different supplements that contain pure forskolin in their structure, from reputable brands like PES, Muscletech, MAN Sports, Advanced Molecular Labs etc.

Drop FactorClick here to order Drop Factor featuring forskolin.

Below, you can find a list of products that contain the forskolin extract in its natural form:
...and many others.

We hope this guide on forskolin helped you understand what this natural extract is all about, and how it helps people lose weight while balancing their organism and preventing them from being captured by many disorders and conditions.
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