Most of us can’t imagine food without spices, especially if you’re Indian! However, those little miniscule-looking things don’t just add loads of color and flavor to food – they also pack in quite a nutritious punch. While spices are known to have healing benefits, what isn’t so well known is that they can also help you along on your weight loss journey. Here are the top 12 spices that help you lose weight in a healthy manner.
12 Spices that Help you Lose Weight
1. Fenugreek
One of the main causes of weight gain is overeating, and fenugreek helps to curb that by controlling the appetite. Fenugreek has been shown to increase satiety and reduce hunger pangs. Fenugreek seed extract has also been linked to lower fat intake, leading to a reduction in overall calorie intake.
Besides these, fenugreek may also help prevent lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. Fenugreek is also in high demand among lactating women.
2. Cumin
Cumin seeds are a part of many cuisines, and are popular for keeping you full for longer. Studies show that a single teaspoon a day can burn up to three times more body fat. Cumin is also known to improve digestion.
Along with these, cumin seeds also improve glycemic control, lower cholesterol and reduce stress.
3. Ginger
Ginger doesn’t just add a lot of flavor, it also has fat burning properties. It helps to prevent sudden spikes in blood sugar and helps to decrease belly fat along with body weight.
Ginger has many important health benefits like fighting inflammation and relaxing the intestinal tract. Many people opt to use ginger in natural medicines as well.
4. Turmeric
Turmeric is a favorite among everyone resorting to natural remedies for common ailments. It contains curcumin, which reduces blood supply necessary for the formation of fat tissues.
Weight loss is just one of the many health benefits of turmeric. Others include fighting inflammation, promoting healing and boosting immunity.
5. Garlic
This spice has fat reducing properties to match its pungent taste. Garlic helps to reduce fat stores in the body, and it triggers fat loss by raising the body’s temperature.
Garlic has several other health benefits too, like reducing blood pressure, protecting against inflammation, as well as keeping away illnesses like heart disease and osteoarthritis.
6. Black Pepper
Black Pepper is rich in piperine, a compound that increases metabolism. When combined with other fat burning substances, black pepper can burn as many calories as a 20 minute walk. It also blocks the creation of new fat cells.
Besides weight loss, black pepper also increases the bioavailability of foods, which means nutrients are more readily absorbed by the body. absorption of nutrients in the body.
7. Cinnamon
Cinnamon contains a compound that can mimic the effects of insulin in the human body, increasing glucose metabolism by 20 times. It also prevents overeating by curbing cravings.
This compound also gives cinnamon the ability to regulate blood sugar and also reduce triglycerides and bad cholesterol.
8. Mustard
Mustard seeds are ideal for weight watchers, with studies showing that having 3/5 of a teaspoon a day helps to burn 45 calories an hour, just 3 hours after consumption. It has also shown to boost metabolic by 25%.
Mustard seeds are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids and selenium which helps to eliminate heavy metals from the body.
9. Rosemary
Rosemary has a substance called carnosic acid which blocks the formation of fat cells and aids digestion. It also helps the muscles absorb glucose, which in turn stabilizes blood sugar and controls hunger.
Rosemary also contains anti oxidants that help to improve memory and fight against macular degeneration.
10. Cayenne Pepper
The active ingredient of cayenne pepper is Capsaicin, which contains thermogenic effects – it raises the body temperature, thus increasing metabolism. Studies show that adding this spice can burn up to 100 calories per meal. It also reduces ghrelin, the hormone responsible for stimulating hunger.
Cayenne pepper also lowers blood pressure and controls bad cholesterol, thus improving heart health.
All spices have several health benefits. For effective and long term weight loss results, it’s important to have these spices along with a low calorie, nutrient rich, balanced diet and sufficient activity. In case of any existing medical conditions, it is important to get the doctor’s approval before starting out on any new diet.
This post was originally written for Quint Fit. You can read the rest of the post here.
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