13 Best Herbs and Spices for Weight Loss
Sometimes, big things come in small packages, and that’s a great thing.
Why?
Because losing weight is hard.
Many of the people reading this will “know” ways to lose weight, but just can’t seem to make it happen for them.
It can be an incredibly frustrating process. And if living a healthy, happy, and fulfilling life is your goal, then you are going to need every useful tool on your side to make it happen.
Why?
Because the food industry is not on your side. They are dedicated and persistent to finding ways to make people eat more and more of their impossibly delicious products.
It’s one of the main reason why obesity rates continue to skyrocket despite everyone trying to fight it.
Think of these herbs and spices like the infantry or ground soldiers in your weight loss army. They fight a small but important battle in your weight loss journey.
The right herbs and spices…
- Improve metabolic rate
- Help fight cravings
- Improve the taste of normally “bland” health foods
- And provide key nutrients for your body.
Remember that if weight loss is something you want, our popular 21-Day Fat Loss Challenge just got an upgrade to a 2.0 version. It’s how real people are getting real results (losing 10-21 pounds in 21 days).
I have compiled the best herbs and spices for weight loss below!
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1. Cinnamon
Especially helpful for type II diabetics, cinnamon is a weight loss spice that has potent effects on blood sugar levels.
Keeping blood sugar levels down is the key to having clean and steady energy throughout the day. Cinnamon helps minimize high spikes of insulin caused by eating too many carbohydrates.
Some great ways to get more cinnamon into your diet is with a whey protein shake, coffee, a bowl of oats, yogurt, or on a lean chicken breast!
2. Cayenne
Cayenne contains a compound called capsaicin, which has two powerful weight loss benefits:
- Burns fat off the body by increasing metabolism
- Helps to suppress appetite and curb cravings
Almost all hot sauces (Sriracha, Lousiana hot sauce, and Tony Chachere’s) contain cayenne pepper in them. You can also opt for 100% cayenne pepper, just make sure you don’t burn your tongue! It’s VERY hot!
3. Ginseng
Ginseng is an herbal root found in Asia and some parts of North America boasting a few powerful benefits:
- Helps prevent heart disease
- Lowers blood sugar levels
- Boosts mood
- Helps with fatigue
- Stimulates weight loss
The most common way to get the root in is an herbal tea. Be careful if you are stimulant sensitive, and start with a “weaker” tea if in the beginning.
4. Peppermint
Peppermint has a curiously potent weight loss effect when it comes to appetite. One study, in particular, showed that those asked to sniff peppermint when feeling hungry ate 1800 fewer calories over the course of one week than those who didn’t.
I don’t talk much about essential oils, but they would be a good source for getting in a highly concentrated dose of peppermint.
Use the oils or make some peppermint tea, and make sure to inhale a few times before drinking.
5. Dandelions
Every part of a dandelion herb is edible and nutritious. They are full of dietary fiber, beta-carotene, vitamin K1, and many other vitamins and minerals.
Dandelion tea has also been shown to help normalize blood sugar, lower cholesterol, and help you feel full after consuming a meal.
6. Turmeric
This yellow-orange spice has several weight loss properties.
Its specialty is in reducing the inflammation of fat tissue by reducing the blood vessels needed to form it. It’s also pretty delicious, and something we enjoy adding to our regular meals.
Add it on top of chicken, eggs, potatoes, or in a delicious tea.
7. Garlic
Adding fresh garlic to food not only enhances the taste, but it also has been shown to help the body better metabolize carbohydrates and fats. Some studies have even shown garlic to prevent the body from creating more fat.
Add it to food fresh (minced) or in powder form.
8. Cloves
Cloves are another spice a healthy kitchen needs because of its ability to speed up metabolism and help the body burn more calories. They are also anti-inflammatory and very nutrient-dense.
They pair very well with turkey and sweet potatoes.
9. Mustard
Mustard seeds have a positive thermogenic effect on the body, causing it to burn more calories naturally.
Skip the common yellow mustard sauce often associated with ketchup (it’s filled with sodium), and try seasoning foods with powdered dry mustard seed instead.
It adds an interesting flavor with a small kick!
10. Cardamom
This is another interesting spice that helps boost metabolism and has been shown to lower blood glucose levels. Keeping blood glucose levels down keeps insulin low and the body’s ability to burn fat HIGH.
Cardamom comes in either whole form or powdered, but I recommend powdered for ease of use. Try adding it to chicken to start with. Some people even add it to coffee!
11. Parsley
Parsley has multiple positive effects on weight loss:
- Helps control appetite and suppress cravings
- Reduces the amount of sugar in the blood
- Helps the body better break down and absorb healthy nutrients
It goes great in salads, green smoothies, and on lean meats like pork and chicken.
12. Cumin
Cumin helps improve the digestive system and boost the immune system. It helps the body process nutrients more efficiently, and therefore gives people more energy and makes them feel less hungry.
Add cumin to vegetable soups, rice, chili, and salsa.
13. Black pepper
Most people have it and never use it! Here are some reasons why you should…
- Contains capsaicin for appetite control and hunger suppression
- Helps the body burn more calories through high amounts of piperine
- Improves digestion
- Helps burn fat at a faster rate
It’s yet another spice that can have big effects when consistently consumed.
See how some of the best solutions for weight loss are hidden in plain sight?
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