However, only in the last few years has Western science confirmed what some herbalists and Eastern medicine doctors have known for centuries, that in fact, some of these gifts from nature can help maintain your ideal weight and burn excess fats.
Every time you flavor your meals with spices and herbs, you supercharge your food without adding any calories. You are able to add great flavor and reach your weight loss goals!
Boost your food’s flavor up a notch and increase its fat-burning influence with these powerful and delightful spices:
Turmeric
It is mostly used in the Indian cuisine. This spice helps reduce inflammation, high levels of which may be a significant cause of obesity and difficulty in losing weight. Turmeric has the added advantage of protecting the brain against damage, including diseases like Alzheimer and Parkinson’s.
Turmeric is a known source of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that helps protect the liver from free radical damage and also heals it while helping your body metabolize fats by decreasing the fat storage rate in liver cells.
Coriander
Another common ingredient in the Indian spice mixes, it helps increase metabolic function and improve weight loss in animal studies. Coriander contains a unique blend of oils such as linalool and geranyl acetate that helps relax digestive muscles and ease an overactive gut.
A study published in the journal Digestive Diseases and Science found that patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) benefited from taking coriander for eight weeks as opposed to placebo.
Cayenne pepper
The compound in hot peppers is called dihydrocapsiate and studies show that Cayenne pepper helps increase the body’s ability to burn fat when eaten three times per day. Capsaicin is an active ingredient in chile peppers that improves fat burning. Many celebrities use the lemon juice diet, which contains lemon juice, water and cayenne pepper. Additionally, chiles help boost energy levels as well.
Black pepper
The substance in this spice that gives it that peppery flavor is actually called piperine, which can also help your body use nutrients more efficiently. It has been used for centuries in Eastern medicine to treat multiple health conditions including inflammation and tummy troubles. Recent animal studies show that this spice is able to help your body burn more calories over the process of thermogenesis. Piperine can interfere with the formation of new fat cells, this reaction is knows as adipogensis, which results in decreasing the size of the waist, cholesterol levels and body fat.
Cumin
Cumin is useful for digestion and energy production, and may improve glycemic control in people with type two diabetes. Even though this spice has not been studied by itself, it has been shown to help improve weight loss when it is mixed with other herbs and spices. The spice has a long history of medicinal use, and has also been found to enhance memory and provide potent anti-stress benefits.
Cinnamon
Researchers at the United States Department of Agriculture showed that a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon with food helps you metabolize sugar up to 20 times better than food without cinnamon. It is known that this sweet spice can help control your insulin levels and blood sugar just by sprinkling some on your oatmeal or coffee in the morning. Cinnamon has the ability to protect you from diabetes while simultaneously controlling your hunger. Because cinnamon balances blood sugar levels it has the added advantage of stabilizing mood and energy levels.
Ginger
Fresh or powdered ginger may be able to help reduce your appetite and cut cravings. It is also great for your immune system. Ginger can improve a number of gastrointestinal symptoms as well as cure bellyache. A study printed in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hematology suggests ginger may have a unique ability to accelerate gastric emptying. Just add some to any dish you cook or have it fresh with your green tea.
Parsley
Studies that observed rats have shown that parsley can help to reduce the amount of glucose existing in the blood. This also applies to humans. Parsley is able to control appetite and promote healthy processing of food and turn it into energy.
Garlic
Fresh or powdered garlic can help you metabolize carbohydrates and fats more efficiently by just adding them to your daily diet. Garlic contains phytochemicals that break down fatty deposits in the body while also breaking down cholesterol; kill viruses, bacteria and fungi; and protect against heart diseases. Some animal studies have shown that garlic may prevent the body from creating more fat. It is also great for high blood pressure.
Green Tea
Green tea has a number of great health benefits. It helps prevent cancer and diabetes; it can also speed up your metabolism and help burn your fat. These same compounds have also been recognized as metabolism boosters.
Researchers have only recently discovered its high antioxidant levels could possibility aid in the prevention or treatment of a range of illnesses, including heart disease, Alzheimer’s and some forms of cancer.
Cloves
Like many of the other spices on this list, cloves can help you lose weight by speeding up your metabolism and helping your body to burn more calories faster.
Ginseng
Many studies on animals have shown that the herb panax ginseng can help aid in weight reduction and in slow weight gain resulting from diets high in fat. Panax ginseng has been connected to weight loss benefits, with a study that shows obese and diabetic mice that were given panax ginseng extracts not only had improvements in insulin sensitivity, but also lost a significant amount of weight after 12 days. It is also valued for its ability to boost energy levels and speed metabolism.
Peppermint
A 2009 study shoes that peppermint scent is able to decrease appetite. The study also showed that the participants who spent a week smelling peppermint before they ate generally consumed 1,800 fewer calories throughout the week than other people.
Cardamom
Medical studies on rats have shown that cardamom can aid in lowering blood glucose and regulating insulin, as well as lowering levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol. This spice is great for diabetic people. It is highly recommended to add it to coffee and tea to get your caffeine buzz with less guilt. It is best to buy fresh whole organic cardamom seeds and grind them into a fine powder as used for different recipes.
Mustard
Scientists at England’s Oxford Polytechnic Institute found that a tablespoon of mustard (about 5 calories) can boost the metabolism by up to 25 percent for several hours after eating. Mustard seeds seem to have a thermogenic effect on the human body, causing it to burn more calories as it digests food better. Another study that was published in the Asian Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that visceral adipose tissue of rats fed a diet of pure lard was lowered when the diet was supplemented with mustard oil. It will be perfect if you use organic mustard as a seasoning for your salad as well as a marinade for your chicken, it is not only tasty but also very beneficial.
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