Recently, one of the most popular weight loss supplement ingredients to be marketed with weight loss and fat burning supplements is something called tejocote root, and many people are wondering what it is, how it works if there are any risks, and more.
It has enjoyed a very diverse existence in the Mexican and South American lifestyle, with the crabapple-like fruit being consumed raw or cooked and canned.
The fruit itself is the main ingredient in a ceremonial punch that is made to celebrate both Christmas and New Year’s eve, with the fruit also being used for candy and offerings during the day of the dead celebration.
The leaves are frequently used to feed livestock, as well as for a wide range of cosmetic, dietary, textile, pharmaceutical, traditional medicinal, and ritual uses.
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There is a long history of tejocote root being used to help treat a wide variety of conditions, illnesses, and symptoms of aging in traditional herbal healing treatments.
But even with an extensive history of being used to help people with varying debilitating illnesses, there is still a significant gap in our scientific knowledge of the tejocote root plant and how it interacts with the human body.
We’re going to do a deep dive into tejocote root, and answer many of these questions and more so that you can make an informed and educated decision on whether tejocote root is right for you, and whether or not you may want to include it in your dietary supplement regimen.
Table of Contents
1. What is Tejocote Root?
Tejocote root is one of the common names for Crataegus Mexicana, or mexican hawthorn root, and is also known as texocotl, raiz de tejocote, manzanita, tejocotera, and manzana de indias.
It is a moderately sized tree that grows natively in many areas of both Central America as well as Mexico, and nearly all parts of the tree are used in medicinal or traditional preparations, including the leaves, bark, fruit, and root tubers.
Despite the name, many parts of the Crataegus Mexicana plant are used in the preparation of the “tejocote root” ingredient or supplement, and are often included in the ingredients as simply “tejocote root”.
It has been used for generations in traditional herbal medicine and healing ceremonies to achieve a variety of healing effects ranging from treatment for persistent coughing to being leveraged as a powerful diuretic, even being used to help treat symptoms of respiratory distress.
In recent years tejocote root has enjoyed a surge in popularity due to its newfound popularity as a supplement that aids weight loss and is only claimed to have such benefits when consumed as a tea and not taken as a dried powdered concentrate.
Other claimed benefits of Crataegus Mexicana, in addition to the purported weight-loss benefits, include pain relief, anti-inflammatory effects, an increase in overall heart health, reduced cholesterol, “cleansing and detoxifying” effects, collagen protection, boosted gut health, and a reduction in the chances of colon cancer occurrence.
Additional benefits that tejocote root is said to grant include a reduction in anxiety, lowering high blood pressure, helping to modulate blood sugar levels, and helping to reduce the symptoms and discomfort associated with constipation, though none of this is able to be substantiated by research or FDA endorsement.
2. What Are The Benefits?
The purported benefits of tejocote root make it an ideal supplement for those that may be suffering from obesity or other disorders related to being overweight.
A large amount of dietary fiber in the supplement ingredient’s structure makes it particularly adept at reducing hunger and helping to regulate and modulate the user’s hunger and diet, which in turn can be secondary catalysts for weight loss and fat reduction.
It is routinely used in a traditional and herbal capacity to treat heart rhythm disorders such as arrhythmia and tachycardia, even atherosclerosis and other disorders of the cardiovascular system.
The compounds in the fruit, leaves, and pulp of the tejocote root are used as a medicine to treat congestion and coughing illnesses, helping to heal the respiratory system in general.
The tejocote root is high in calcium, which is used in a supplemental manner to help boost general bone health and prevent degenerative bone disorders like osteoporosis.
Not only does it contain lots of calcium, but it also has a significant vitamin C content, meaning it can help increase the function and effectiveness of the immune system.
Sometimes it is used to help mitigate symptoms of liquid retention by acting as a potent diuretic, facilitating easier urine elimination, which can also help improve kidney and liver function indirectly.
One additional benefit seen in those who use tejocote root in their dietary supplement is the high levels of vitamin B help to maintain healthy levels of red blood cells and hemoglobin, which can provide benefits to both men and women and can help fight anemia. (Source)
3. Tejocote Root Side Effects
The tejocote root compounds are considered to be highly toxic if they are ingested incorrectly or in incorrect dosages, though this should be regarded as a rare occurrence and the
One of the most significant side effects of tejocote root is its potential to be toxic to the heart in certain concentrations.
Since the tejocote root is frequently marketed as a weight loss aid, it is available in many different forms from countless vendors and suppliers both in a pure concentrated form as well as in supplement blends as an ingredient or component of the supplement.
The baseline potassium levels can be depressed enough that those who use tejocote root may want to consider supplementing their potassium in proportion to their dosage of tejocote root to avoid any potential issues from low potassium levels.
There is a case of a teenage girl that had consumed a dangerous amount of a family member’s weight loss supplement that had high levels of tejocote root that had a severely adverse effect on the girl.
She had developed excessive drowsiness, vomiting, diarrhea, and a pulse of only 57, but it was determined that she had an acute elevation of the compound digoxin.
Eventually developing bradycardia and hypopnea, it was determined to transfer her to a larger institution where it was determined that she had developed cardiotoxicity which was eventually able to be fully treated, allowing the release of the patient. (Source)
When tejocote root is taken by mouth in a supplement form the most commonly reported side effects include gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and intestinal discomfort, all of which are noted as more likely to be serious and even painful if taken on an empty stomach.
These potentially adverse symptoms can also extend to more immediately life-threatening complications such as severe dizziness and constant severe diarrhea leading to dehydration. (Source)
4. Tejocote Root Reviews
Some reviews show incredibly positive opinions toward tejocote root and its effects on weight loss, with only a few minor drawbacks to taking it as a supplement.
Even though the claimed benefits of taking tejocote root can seem relatively far-fetched, it is clear that it does work substantially well for many people, even though it can have some relatively serious side effects on some users.
It is able to help increase or speed up the rate at which the body is able to lose weight or reduce body fat content, and so it may be a valuable supplement for those looking to improve their body composition by measurable amounts.
Other users report a drastically different experience when using tejocote root supplements, with some reporting intense bodily aches and pains that were nearly incapacitating, as well as uncomfortable and possibly painful swelling incidents.
While some adverse effects are to be expected in many cases, they are often expected to be relatively mild, with some users reporting side effects that are mild, but some reporting effects that are more serious and uncomfortable.
However, like all dietary supplements, whether it works or not will depend on many factors, not the least of which include your particular body chemistry, metabolism, body composition, age, sex, weight, medical condition, any illnesses that may affect your weight, and medication that you may be on.
5. Tejocote Root Deaths
Even ith tejocote being regarded as mostly safe when taken in supplement dosages and in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, there is still the potential for side effects, and sometimes those side effects can be fatal or nearly fatal.
While there are no deaths directly attributed to tejocote root use, it is no surprise that it can increase the likelihood of cardiac events or increase the chances of a medical complication due to the effects it has on the heart rate and rhythm.
It may also present a danger of death for those who are sensitive to reduced potassium levels in the body since tejocote root is capable of reducing them even further, which can be fatal in its own right and can also interfere with medication administration and metabolism.
6. Where to Buy It
One of the great things about using tejocote root as a weight loss supplement is that it is widely available in several forms from a large number of trusted distributors and retailers.
Pill or capsule forms of tejocote root can be obtained through nutritional supplement suppliers, both online and in brick and mortar outlets, such as Walmart, GNC, and more.
I the digital marketplace, there are even more options, with additional capsule forms as well as teas and other extracts can be found through sources like Amazon, eBay, Walmart, GNC, and numerous other digital vendors, retailers, and distributors.
One of the caveats that go along with purchasing your tejocote root supplement is to do everything possible to ensure you are buying from a reputable and trustworthy source.
By making sure you are obtaining your tejocote root from legitimate sources, you can verify that you are receiving tejocote root and not some other substitute or counterfeit substance.
Sometimes unscrupulous vendors will package other lower-quality supplement ingredients and label them as tejocote root, so be sure you are looking at the reviews and customer ratings for the specific source you choose for your tejocote root.
Is Tejocote Root Worth Buying?
We hope that this guide has given you all the information you need to make an educated and well-informed decision about an ingredient that may very well be next on your supplement list.
The benefits will always be the first things that the manufacturer will show you, so by keeping in mind the crucial information that we have covered here, you should be able to effectively weigh the benefits against the potential risks.
Just as with any other new dietary regimen or supplement, be sure you consult with your doctor or preferred medical professional before starting with the administration of the supplement on a consistent basis.
Only your doctor or medical professional will be able to accurately evaluate the potential for medical complications based on your unique body chemistry, medical history, and any medications that you may be prescribed, as well as to check for any potential allergic reactions.
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