NATURAL SPICES FOR WEIGHT LOSS

It has long been thought that spicy foods help to speed up your metabolism, Metabolism is the amount of energy or calories needed by your body to maintain itself throughout the day. Spices for weight loss only help fight excess weight more efficiently. This is mainly due to the activation of metabolic processes in the body. Spices break down fat, speed up metabolism, control blood sugar and cravings, reduce inflammation, and increase digestion. Best of all, Spices are safe, cheap, and easily accessible and they make meals delicious. These fat-burning spices not only add flavor to your meals but also help you to reach your weight loss goals!

24 SPICES FOR NATURAL WEIGHT LOSS

1-Star anise

A beautifully stellar spice, Star anise (Badiyan) contains ‘anethole’, which is an antioxidant, disease preventing, and health promoting properties. In addition, Star anise accelerates the process of digestion and improves the entire digestive tract, which is very important when losing weight.

2-Basil leaves

Basil (Tulsi) optimizing digestion and help you burn more calories. This herb helps relax and reduce a stress level which in return helps reduce weight. Basil leaves taken with home-made fresh curd help in reducing excess weight and fight laziness by renewing your energy levels and facilitating new blood cells formation.

3-Fenugreek Seeds

Fenugreek (Methi) to lose weight works because of the seeds, which are rich in a polysaccharide known as galactomannan. This component gives you a feeling of fullness, which helps in weight loss. The research also showed that the fenugreek seeds (Methi Dana) had more than 75 percent soluble fiber. This also helps to increase the feeling of fullness. So, it is important to keep in mind that other foods that have large amounts of soluble fiber, like psyllium husk, gums, pectin, and glucomanan, also help lose weight. Fenugreek seeds which are popularly used in cooking and especially in pickles can help lose weight.   

4-Nigella seeds

Nigella seeds (Kalonji) are warming in nature, and are used medicinally for loss of weight. Moreover the weight loss will be completely healthy and natural, and will not have any side-effects at all. Nigella seeds should be included in your daily diet as it boosts the immune system, increases the metabolic rate of the body, burns fats faster and helps detoxify the body. Another advantage is that Nigella seeds has no known side effects and can be safely consumed by people of all ages and by those who suffer from various medical conditions.

5-Cumin Seeds

Cumin seeds (Zeera) increases the heat of the body. It thus increases the metabolic rate of the body. When metabolism is made more efficient, it can aid in weight loss. Cumin seeds have been shown to improve weight loss when mixed with other herbs and spices such as black pepper, ginger, turmeric powder and fenugreek. It also improves the digestive process which results in better assimilation and absorption of nutrients by the body. This prevents the storage of fat by the body and results in weight loss.

6-Coriander

Coriander (Dhania) has been found to work wonders for obese and diabetic people. It helps in the reduction of fats and thus aids weight loss. When eaten fresh and raw, coriander tremendously reduces sugar level and Lowers bad cholesterol (LDL) and raises good cholesterol (HDL). However, they can easily be used with any kind of food. Chopped cilantro leaves give fresh flavor to any kind of salads, sandwiches and other hot and cold food.  

7-Cardamom

Cardamom (ILichi) contains active compound that appear to treat stomach and intestinal spasms and gas, and increase the movement of food through the intestine. Cardamom boosts appetite in anorexic patients, a disorder characterized by excessive weight loss. Studies have shown that cardamom can aid in lowering blood glucose and regulating insulin, as well as lowering levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol. Sweet and spicy cardamom boosts your metabolism while sweetening desserts and teas. Studies also suggest that cardamom may help your body burn fat more efficiently.

8-Cloves

Like many of the other spices, cloves (Laung) can help you lose weight by speeding up your metabolism and helping your body to burn more calories. Adding Cloves to your everyday diet can improve digestion and helping lowering your cholesterol which in return will help you lose weight.

9-Black Cardamom

Cardamom is the ‘Queen of Spices’ which is also called "grain of paradise!" There is a Green and Black Cardamom (Bari ILichi)for weight loss and both of these species belong to the ginger family. Today people use it as a weight-loss aid (increases metabolism). Black cardamom can positively affect the weight and well-being. Black Cardamom helps in dissolving fats and you will start losing weight. 

10-Turmeric

Turmeric (Haldi) has been known to help reduce inflammation, high levels of which may be a significant cause of obesity and difficulty losing weight. Turmeric also helps your liver heal while helping your body metabolize fats by decreasing the fat storage rate in liver cells.  The active compound curcumin that makes turmeric yellow appears cuts off the blood supply to fat cells to make it hard for them to multiply. So this bright yellow spice you’re most likely to find in curries may help promote weight loss. The recommended doses are 1.5 to 3 grams of turmeric root, 1 to 3 grams of turmeric powder or 400 to 600 milligrams of curcumin extract three times a day.

11-Cinnamon

Cinnamon (Dar chini) is extremely versatile natural herb for weight loss. Research showed that one-quarter of cinnamon per day can boost the body's weight-loss ability by reducing blood sugar and promoting healthier processing of carbohydrates. Excess sugar in the blood can lead to fat storage cinnamon can actually mimic insulin.4 “It stimulates insulin receptors on fat cells in the same way that insulin does, allowing excess sugar to move out of the blood and into the cells.” But before you go on piling the spice by spoonful, note that cinnamon contains a chemical called coumarin, which can lead to liver damage if consumed in very large amounts. Cinnamon is not only good with sweet foods; it is also excellent in savory dishes and can be added to Asian-inspired foods like curries, stir-fries, and stews.

12-Cayenne pepper / Red Chilies

The main compound in Cayenne pepper (Lal Mirch) known as capsaicin, which is also found in other hot peppers has been shown to increase the body’s ability in the form of heat to burn fat when eaten three times per day. Cayenne also shrinks fat cells and lowers blood fat levels. Research has found that cayenne's ability to reduce appetite is equally effective whether ingested as food or in capsule form. Flavor a dish with this spice and it will suppress your appetite for hours after you eat.

13-Ginger

Ginger (Adrak) a trusted fat fighter and a great digestive aid. This flavorful root spices up dishes while it kicks starts metabolic rates. Fresh or powdered ginger may be able to help reduce your appetite and cut cravings. Ginger increases core body temperature, which also helps burn calories. It improves gastric mobility and hinders the absorption of cholesterol.

14-Black Pepper

The active compound  in Black pepper (Seyah Mirch) that gives it that peppery flavor, called piperine, has been shown to help the body burn more calories and can also help your body use nutrients more efficiently. The pepper triggers a metabolic reaction that breaks down fat cells. If you want your pepper to pack the most punch, use freshly ground pepper, which has the most concentrated amounts of piperine. 

15-Mustard

Mustard seed (Sarson / Raie) seems to have a thermogenic effect on the body, causing it to burn more calories as it digests food. Mustard seed is a great source of selenium, manganese, and omega-3 all of which help fight inflammation. Chronic inflammation was a culprit to weight gain. Inflammation stores extra fat, especially visceral fat. So if you reduce inflammation, you reduce fat. Just a teaspoon a day will help you burn an extra 75 calories an hour.

16-Garlic

Garlic (Lehsan) contain phytochemicals that break down fatty deposits in the body while also breaking down cholesterol; kill viruses, bacteria and fungi; and protect against heart disease. Adding garlic to your food in fresh or powdered form might be able to help you metabolize carbohydrates and fats more efficiently.

17-Saffron

Saffron (Zafran) increase Serotonin this is one of the most important hormones in the body when it comes to weight loss, as this has a direct influence on how full you feel. Therefore, if controlled correctly, you can be made to feel much fuller than you really are. This is the main secret through saffron extract, with the supplement renowned as being able to cut down your calorie intake. It will decrease all of your cravings, thus reducing the amount of time you snack during the day and this will all help you lose weight at a gradual, and not dangerous, pace.

18-Carom seeds

Carom seeds (Ajwain) help significantly in reducing weight. And Carom seeds which have been ignored are one of an effective solution to lose and maintain weight.

19-Parsley

The plants have medicinal leansing properties that can help improve your health. If you’re overweight you can take parsley (Jafri) to lose weight. The parsley plant has many medicinal properties, among which are the cleansing properties that can help you lose weight naturally. Those green parsley sprigs that garnish your dinner plate contain fat-burning benefits so find fresh sources of this herb for more lasting benefits.

20-Peppermint

A study found that even smell of peppermint (Podina) can help to decrease appetite. This delicious herb is a natural appetite suppressant. There are diverse ways of taking mint you can take peppermint as salad mix or add it to your favorite dessert to keep from eating too much of it.

21-Fennel Seeds

Fennel seeds (Sounf) have an ancient reputation as a weight loss aid still holds up today. It is also a natural diuretic that gets rid of any extra water weight you may be carrying around. Fennel is great at stopping hunger pangs in their tracks.

22-Flax Seeds

Flax seeds (Alsi) expand in your stomach after you eat them. And while they’re taking up extra real estate, they make you feel fuller longer. You can also sprinkle ground flax seed over your salad, morning cereal, a cup of yogurt or in a smoothie if you want last longer between meals.

23-Curry Leaves

The leaves are widely used to add flavor in the Sub-continent to make vegetables, curries, biryani etc. You can either mix it with buttermilk or add as a flavoring spice in a tea or decoction. Curry leaves, the spice can be effectively used to lose weight. It is believed that chewing or eating 10 to 12 fully grown Curry leaves (Curry Patta) on an empty stomach every morning will help you lose weight. You should do this for three months to see results. The leaves are a spice remedy to improve digestion and cleanse the system. This automatically aids weight loss as there are no chances for fats to deposit in the body. Do not throw the leaves from next time.

24-Bay leaves

Bay leaf (Taiz Patta) is known to enhance fat metabolism, reduces ‘bad’ cholesterol, control blood sugar levels and diminish cravings and is, therefore, used in treating weight loss/ obesity. These aromatic leaves belong to a variety of plants from different genera. Some of the common varieties of bay leaves are Bay laurel, Indian Bay Leaf, California Bay Leaf, Indonesian Bay Leaf, and West Indian Bay Leaf. Reducing your daily sodium intake is an essential step towards healthy eating and weight loss, “Using spices like Bay leaves are a great way to add flavor to soups, sauces, and meat dishes without adding extra salt. Try adding 1-2 leaves to your next pot of soup or spaghetti sauce (just make sure to remove the leaves before eating).”Bay leaf is extensively used in South East Asian cuisines. It is an important spice in Sub-continent dishes, particularly biryani and korma. Roasted and ground bay leaves are added to the Indian mixture of spices called “Garam Masala”.