Here are some herbs and spices you should think about adding liberally to your food to help you achieve your weight loss goal: certain herbs and spices can help you maintain a healthy body weight by boosting your metabolism, decreasing fat tissue, and suppressing your appetite.
1. Cayenne Pepper
Capsaicin, the compound that gives peppers that burning sensation
can also help fight obesity by decreasing your calorie intake, shrinking
your fat tissue, and lowering your blood fat levels, as well as fight
fat buildup by triggering beneficial protein changes in your body.
Due to capsaicin’s heat potential, it can temporarily increase
thermogenesis in your body, where your body burns fuel such as fat to
create heat, with beneficial impacts on your metabolism and fat storage.
Try sprinkling ground cayenne on roasted nuts or in soups, scrambled eggs, or homemade dressings or dips for an extra kick.
2. Cinnamon
This spice can help to boost your metabolism; it also has impressive
benefits for blood sugar regulation, making it an ideal seasoning if
you’re diabetic or pre-diabetic.
Cinnamon has been found to significantly reduce blood sugar levels,
triglycerides, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and total cholesterol levels in
people with type 2 diabetes, as well as increase glucose metabolism by
about 20 times, which would significantly improve your ability to
regulate your blood sugar.
You can sprinkle some cinnamon in oatmeal or increase your daily
intake by mixing the spice in cottage cheese, plain yogurt, or your
favorite brew to make a more fragrant tea. Cinnamon also makes a great
addition to savory spice rubs and marinades for meat.
3. Black Pepper
Black pepper contains a substance called piperine, which not only
gives it its pungent flavor, but also blocks the formation of new fat
cells.
Studies have shown that black pepper when combined with capsaicin and
other substances can help you burn as many calories as taking a
20-minute walk .
4. Dandelions
Every part of the dandelion is edible and full of nutrition, and
because they help slow your digestion, they can make you feel full
longer, helping you maintain a healthy weight.
Dandelions have antioxidant properties and contain bitter crystalline
compounds called Taraxacin and Taracerin, along with inulin and
levulin, compounds which explains some of its therapeutic properties.
Along with being full of dietary fiber, dandelions also contain beta
carotene, vitamin K1, vitamins and minerals, and are known for being
beneficial for normalizing blood sugar and cholesterol, as well as
cleansing your liver.
5. Mustard
The mustard plant is actually in the cruciferous family of vegetables along with broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts.
Mustard seeds have been shown to boost metabolic rate by 25%. Thus
you’ll burn calories more efficiently- in fact, just 3/5 teaspoon of
mustard seeds daily can significantly help you burn an extra 45 calories
an hour.
6. Turmeric
This yellow-orange spice makes the foundation of many curry dishes.
Curcumin, one of turmeric’s most thoroughly studied active ingredients,
reduces the formation of fat tissue by suppressing the blood vessels
needed to form it. Thus, it can contribute to lower your body fat .
Curcumin can also be useful for the treatment and prevention of
obesity-related chronic diseases, as the interactions of curcumin with
several key signal transduction pathways in the body result in
improvements in insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and
other inflammatory symptoms associated with obesity and metabolic
disorders.
Try adding turmeric to soups or stews or sprinkle over roasted veggies or nuts.
7. Ginger
Ginger is another warming spice that has anti-inflammatory properties
and is known to help soothe and relax your intestinal tract.
Ginger also has thermogenic properties that help boost your
metabolism, as well as have an appetite-suppressant effect when
consumed.
Grate fresh ginger into stir-fries, over baked fish or into fruit salad or tea.
