Trying To Lose Weight? 10 Spices That Just Might Help

So many people swear that this is the year they are going to lose weight – and while nothing can beat exercise and eating healthy, we highlight 10 spices and herbs that can assist in helping you achieve your weight loss goal.

But remember, THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS.

We are not doctors and the only real way to lose weight is through better eating and exercise… but supplementing these with some of the spices below might provide some added help!

Many of the spices below contain “capsaicin,” which is positively correlated with fat loss. The theory behind how it works is that the chemical focuses the bodies digestive process more on fat burning than normal. This shift in focus leads to a decrease in appetite and overall food intake. Capsaicin is found in hot peppers and used to make many of the spices that are supposed to help with weight loss.

Black Pepper

Pepper has been shown to increase the body’s metabolism, aid in digestion, and also has antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

Not to get all “sciency,” but black pepper contains a substance called piperine, which you should care about for a few reasons. It not only gives Pepper its pungent flavor, but also helps block the creation of new fat cells. Plus, when you combine it with with capsaicin (found in many of the spices below), black pepper has been found to burn as many calories as taking a 20-minute walk.

Chili Powder

Chili powder contains capsaicin (told you capsaicin would be in a bunch of these spices), which is thought to increase the bodies fat burning ability and has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels and improve circulation.

Cayenne Pepper

It’s our old friend capsaicin again! Cayenne can be confused for chili powder by some people… and while they contain the same base chemical, Cayenne has much less sodium per 100 grams than Chili powder (1% of daily value vs 68%!).

Capsaicin, the compound that gives peppers their heat, may help fight obesity by decreasing calorie intake, shrinking fat tissue, and lowering blood fat levels, as well as fighting fat buildup by triggering beneficial protein changes in your body.

Part of the benefit may be due to capsaicin’s heat potential, as it is a thermogenic substance that may temporarily increase thermogenesis in your body, where your body burns fuel, such as fat, to create heat (with beneficial impacts on metabolism and fat storage). Research suggests that consuming thermogenic ingredients may boost your metabolism by up to 5 percent, and increase fat burning by up to 16 percent. It may even help counteract the decrease in metabolic rate that often occurs during weight loss.

Mustard

It’s delicious, low in calories, and free of carbs. Just using mustard as your main condiment instead of anything fatty will help you lose weight fast.

Besides being low in calories, it also contains a chemical called selenium. This chemical helps keep your thyroid gland healthy, which in turn assists in the bodies weight management.

Turmeric

If you’re a fan of curry, you probably love turmeric. This yellow-orange spice makes the foundation of many curry dishes – and while scientific evidence does not show that turmeric helps with weight loss exactly, it does show that turmeric may actually help prevent the re-growth of fat after weight loss.

This popular spice, used primarily in Indian cooking, is the highest known source of beta-carotene, the antioxidant that helps protect your liver from free radical damage. Turmeric also helps your liver heal while helping your body metabolize fats by potentially decreasing the fat storage rate in liver cells.

Ginger

Besides wanting to lose weight, do you ever get motion sickness? Many people use Ginger as a natural way to curb car sickness!Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and is thought to help soothe and relax your intestinal tract. Research also suggests that ginger may have an appetite-suppressant effect when consumed, which might make you eat less, as you will feel full more often.

Cinnamon

Using just ¼ to 1 teaspoon of cinnamon a day can improve your body’s ability to handle sugar by stimulating insulin activity.

Researchers at the United States Department of Agriculture showed that this small amount of cinnamon can help metabolize sugar up to 20 times better than without cinnamon. Why is this important? Because excess sugar in the blood can lead to fat storage and a balanced blood sugar level has the added advantage of stabilizing mood and energy levels.

Chiles

What? You thought just because we already mentioned chili powder we’d skip it in its raw form? Chiles have the same weight loss benefits from capsaicin, while having nothing additional added – as can sometimes happen with chili powder spice.

Ginseng

Ginseng has long been valued for its ability to boost energy levels and speed metabolism. Panax ginseng has been linked to weight loss benefits, with one study showing obese diabetic mice improving their insulin sensitivity and losing significant weight. While animal studies don’t always translate into success with humans, it is definitely worth exploring further.