Research has shown that consuming green plant membrane supplements once a day encourages weight loss, improves obesity-related risk factors and reduces the urge to eat.
The research is published in the October, 2014 edition of the journal Appetite as “Body weight loss, reduced urge for palatable food and increased release of GLP-1 through daily supplementation with green-plant membranes for three months in overweight women.”
The study examined 38 women between 40 and 65 years of age who were randomized to dietary supplementation with either green-plant membranes (5 g) or placebo. The women consumed the supplement before breakfast for 12 weeks.
All individuals were instructed to follow a three-meal paradigm without any snacking between the meals and to increase their physical activity.
The subject’s body weight change, glucose and lipid parameters were measured every third week for 90 days. On days 1 and 90, following intake of a standardized breakfast, glucose, insulin and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) in plasma were measured, as well as subjective ratings of hunger, satiety and urge for different palatable foods, using visual analogue scales.
Those taking green-plant membranes lost significantly more body weight and reduced LDL-cholesterol than did those on placebo. Additionally, single-meal tests performed on day 1 and day 90 demonstrated an increased postprandial release of GLP-1 and decreased urge for sweet and chocolate on both occasions in individuals supplemented with green-plant membranes compared to control.
The study concludes that the dietary supplementation of green-plant membranes induces weight loss, improves obesity-related risk-factors, and reduces the urge for palatable food.
Dr. Adam Graves ND, LAc, who practices at Colorado Natural Medicine, in Castle Rock, Co and specializes in Hormones, Digestion, Pain and Fatigue said this study helps us know how to control appetite and our weight loss.
He said “Green plants have chlorophyll in them, especially spinach extract, which is what was used in this study (and) was shown in this study to help participants lose weight and decrease appetite. So eating more spinach or adding a green plan supplement to your diet and weight loss routine may help control your appetite and your health.”