Spicing Up Weight Loss

You’ve likely been hearing about herbal remedies for just about everything that ails you: peppermint for an upset stomach; garlic to help stave off a cold; ginger when you actually catch one, etc. But did you know that there are herbs and spices that can help you in your efforts to effectively lose weight? This is especially true when you’re already taking all of the right healthy efforts to shed some of those extra pounds.

Many common herbs and spices, such as parsley, contain many nutrients and antioxidants that may help weight loss.

If you’re already eating a healthy, nutritious diet and you’re already exercising regularly, then you’re on the right track. By adding the benefits of the right herbs and spices, you’ll be able to accelerate your weight loss and make things just a bit easier on yourself. Not to mention the fact that you’ll be adding a range of wonderful new flavors to your food. You’ll never need to worry about the complaint so many people have that if they cut the unhealthy foods out of their diet, they won’t have anything with flavor left. Nothing can add more flavor to foods than herbs and spices, so when you use the right ones, you’ll have wonderful, tasty meals that will help you to lose the weight as you eat.

Many herbs and spices are naturally high in antioxidants. Not only do antioxidants help to rid the body of potentially harmful free radicals, but they also improve your body’s ability to burn body fat. Herbs and spices that are known for the antioxidant powers include rosemary, mint, nutmeg, parsley, sage, allspice, basil, clove, coriander, dill, and fennel. Herbs and spices have the most nutritional value when they are fresh, but dried will do too.

If you’d like to take advantage of both the flavor and weight loss benefits, you may consider the following herbs and spices as a part of your next shopping list:

• Fennel – You can find this herb in fresh or dried form, as well as in teas, tinctures, lozenges, and capsules. Most supermarkets will at least have this product available in their dried cooking spice section. Fennel helps to improve your digestion so that you will gain your nutrition more effectively (the better your nutrition, the easier you’ll lose weight), as well as reduce mild digestive spasms, bloating, flatulence, and inflammation. It can even help to keep the levels of unwanted bacteria in your system to a minimum.
• Garlic – In both its fresh and dried forms, you’ll not only stimulate your immune system to keep yourself healthier, but you’ll also keep infections down, reduce your blood pressure and decrease your bad cholesterol levels. The healthier you are, the better your metabolism will run and the more efficiently your body will burn calories.
• Cayenne – Also known as hot pepper, Tabasco pepper, or chili pepper, this spice contains capsicum. It is available in ground form, as well as teas and topical creams. Capsicum is well known for its ability to suppress the appetite and speed up the metabolism.
• Cinnamon – Cinnamon is a common spice used in foods around the world. Of its many health benefits, recent research has found that cinnamon helps to lower blood sugar levels, which may help combat insulin resistance – a condition that can make losing weight very difficult.

Other Related Posts and Articles you May Find Interesting: “Zero Calorie Food Flavorings“, “Ginseng for Weight Loss and Health“, “How Antioxidants Enhance Weight Loss“, and “Health Benefits of Curry“.