Normally, you should treat any supplement or medication marketed as a cure-all or jack-of-all-trades with extreme skepticism. But when there is solid medical evidence backing such claims, you can be confident in that supplement’s benefits. One such supplement is Yohimbine. The supplement is derived from the bark of the Yohimbe tree and has a number of scientifically supported uses.
Fat Burning
Those trying to lose weight often look to Yohimbe for assistance. This is because it is effective at eliminating belly and leg fat.
Yohimbine encourages fat burning by blocking of alpha(2) andrenoreceptors, which prevent the release of a fat-mobilizing hormone, norepinephrine. This has two effects–first, blood flow to fat tissue increases, which discourages fat deposition. And when norepinphrine is blocked, your body also breaks down fat cells for use as energy.
Circulation
But Yohimbine doesn’t just increase blood flow to fat cells. The supplement has a vasodilating effect–it expands blood vessels. Wider blood vessels allow for better circulation and helps blood deliver nutrients such as oxygen to cells more quickly.
Additional circulatory benefits of Yohimbine include lower blood pressure and better blood flow to extremities.
Sexual Health
In addition to extremities such as your hands and feet, Yohimbine can encourage blood flow to your genitals. For this reason, Yohimbine has been used to combat erectile dysfunction and enhance sexual pleasure. In addition, Yohimbe has been shown to slightly increase testosterone levels.
But it’s not just men that can benefit – other studies have indicated that Yohimbine can stimulate sensations of female arousal as well (See References 3).
Appetite Control
Supplement companies often include Yohimbine in their products to act as an appetite suppressant. Yohimbine helps you lose weight by reducing cravings for food.
And Yohimbine may help you fight off urges for junk food. One study found that Yohimbine supplementation resulted in lower intake of carbohydrates and fat, but not protein. This can help you lose even more weight, because digesting protein requires your body to burn more calories than when it digests carbohydrates or fat. Protein also increases feelings of fullness, so you’re less likely to overeat.
