Herbs for Weight Loss… Really??
Yes really! You might remember another post I wrote entitled your BFF – Belly Fat Freedom. Didn’t read it? Might I suggest you check it out. As mentioned in that article when we are dealing with the battle of the bulge its not just exercise that we need to focus on, but our nutrition is just at important.
The following herbs have been know to help reach weight loss goals and they have other great properties you might benefit from. They aren’t written in any particular order.
#1 Turmeric
Most commonly associated with Indian food, turmeric has been shown to help reduce inflammation, high levels of which may be a significant cause of obesity and difficulty losing weight. Not to mention inflammation is a huge factor in Arthritis, so if you can help reduce the inflammation you can help reduce the pain! Sounds like a win -win to me. You can take Tumeric pills or mix the powder into your smoothie. It’s bitter so you might not be able to just drink it down. But if you can, I’m impressed. *Caution turmeric will stain stuff yellow including your hands. But it does come out over time.
#2 Cinnamon
Liberally sprinkling cinnamon on your oatmeal can help to control your blood sugar and insulin levels, protecting you from diabetes while simultaneously managing your hunger. Here’s another trick…. drop a cinnamon stick in your tea and allow it to become a natural sweetener. Some have been known to add cinnamon to their coffee also…hey try it anywhere you might like it. But remember don’t go extreme like doing the cinnamon test trying to rapidly increase weight loss. You will increase something and it won’t be a loss of fat, more like a loss of feeling and / tears.
#3 Cayenne pepper
A compound in hot peppers has been shown to increase the body’s ability to burn fat when eaten three times per day. Many of you have probably heard of the Master Cleanse or Lemonade diet which uses cayenne pepper and has been done by many such as myself and Beyonce. Personally I am not a fan of Cayenne pepper, because I don’t like spicy stuff. But I will tell you I definitely got a kick out of drinking this and I swear I sweat more.
#4 Black Pepper
Similar to cayenne, black pepper has been shown to help the body burn more calories through the process of thermogenesis. And it may can also help your body use nutrients more efficiently. It is a rich source of manganese, iron, potassium, vitamin-C, vitamin K, and dietary fiber. Black pepper is also a very good anti-inflammatory agent.
#5 Peppermint
A study published in 2009 found that the smell of peppermint can help to decrease appetite. Well I think I am going to try this… but I do know peppermint is great to use to uplift you during that low point in the day. As a matter of fact I am typing this around 3pm after being up at 530am and yup tiredness is creeping up on me. So I just dabbed a bit on the back of my neck and put a drop in my water for a pick me. I also drink peppermint water to hep with sugar cravings. I keep Peppermint Oil in my bag and I grow fresh mint in my yard. Its great for headaches, tummy aches and it makes my banana chocolate smoothies taste AWESOME.
#6 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. Clove oil is considered to have antimicrobial, antifungal, antiseptic, antiviral, aphrodisiac and stimulating properties. The oil is used for treating a variety of health disorders including toothaches, indigestion, cough, asthma, headache, stress and blood impurities. The most important and common use of clove oil is in dental care. Did you know Several toothpastes, mouth wash and oral care medications contain clove oil as an important ingredient. And here I thought it was just what my grandma used to make Sweet Potato Pie.
#7 Mustard Seed
Mustard seed seems to have a thermogenic effect on the body, causing it to burn more calories as it digests food. Beyond the mustard you might associate with hot dogs, try seasoning your food with powdered dry mustard seed for an extra kick!
#8 Garlic
Adding garlic to your food in fresh or powdered form might be able to help you metabolize carbohydrates and fats more efficiently. Animal studies have shown, too, that garlic may prevent the body from creating more fat. Well I do know a few healthy Italians who live by and use Garlic in just about everything… so of course not matter what you are using to help with your weight loss goals you have to pay attention to the entire process of what you are eating (input) and doing (output) for all this to make sense.
#9 Green Tea
Green tea is well-proven to have a number of health benefits: such as immunity boosting, reducing cholesterol, stamina and endurance booster to name a few. In addition to helping prevent cancer and diabetes, green tea can also speed up your metabolism and help you lose weight.
#10 Ginger
Fresh or powdered ginger may be able to help reduce your appetite and cut cravings. Its also been known to help with inflammation in the body. Not to mention it helps with stomach aches and adds great flavor to your food. Oh and wait a minute what does this say:
A known aphrodisiac, ginger has been used for years to arouse desire and enhance sexual activity. Ginger’s scent has a unique allure that helps in establishing the sexual connection. Not to mention, ginger also helps increase blood circulation, hence blood flows more easily to the mid-section of the body, an important area for sexual performance! Personally I like to add fresh ginger to my morning smoothie. But maybe I should have a little hot ginger toddy before bedtime and let the sparks fly!
What are your go to herbs? And what/how do you use them? Share with us!
