10 Herbs & Spices That Boost Weight Loss

When you start eating healthier to lose weight, without the dressings, added salt and sugar, some foods can seem very bland compared to the tastes you were used to.

However, reduced-fat meals do not have to be less appealing than their full-fat counterparts—just start experimenting with herbs and spices, and your brain will give them as high a taste rating as it would give a regular full-fat meal.

Adding herbs and spices to your food gives your meals an ‘upgrade’ in more ways than one.

Firstly, there is the extra flavor enhancement; a taste-test study comparing full-fat meals (around 650 calories) and reduced-fat meals (around 395 calories), some infused with spices such as paprika, oregano, and garlic, found that the spiced-up reduced-fat versions scored higher than some full-fat versions. This shows how the spices really made all the difference when trying to lose weight.

Then, there are many additional health benefits, as herbs and spices contain many antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins.

Last but not least, certain herbs and spices can actually promote weight loss. Here are the top 10 herbs and spices that can also help you lose weight and achieve even greater success on your weight loss journey.

1. Ginseng

This herb is valued for its ability to boost energy levels and speed up metabolism. Studies with panax ginseng, in particular, have shown that when obese diabetic mice were given panax ginseng extracts, they showed improvements in insulin sensitivity. More importantly, they were able to lose weight fast, with significant weight loss in just 12 days.

2. Cinnamon

As well as helping to boost your metabolism, cinnamon has also been found to significantly reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels, in addition to helping metabolize sugar up to 20 times better. This means that your body is much less likely to store sugar as fat, plus balanced sugar levels will also stabilize your mood and energy levels, and your sugar cravings will be satisfied for the day.

3. Cayenne Pepper

This spice contains the compound capsaicin, which gives peppers their heat and may also help fight obesity by decreasing calorie intake, shrinking fat tissue, and lowering blood fat levels.

These benefits are thought to be due to capsaicin’s heat potential, whereby your metabolic rate is increased, and there is more potential for fat-burning. Capsaicin has also been found to lead to a decrease in appetite and an increased feeling of fullness, meaning you will eat less and lose more weight.

4. Turmeric

Turmeric is the best-known source of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that helps protect the liver from damage. This popular spice, used primarily in Indian cooking, also helps the body metabolize fats by decreasing the fat storage rate in liver cells.

Therefore, by making your liver more effective in its functioning, turmeric helps your body burn more fat and lose weight.

5. Cardamom

This aromatic spicy-sweet flavored spice has heating properties, boosting your metabolism and, therefore, your body’s ability to burn fat and lose weight. Studies have also shown that cardamom can aid in lowering blood sugar levels and regulating insulin, as well as lowering levels of cholesterol.

6. Garlic

Garlic is widely used around the world for its pungent flavor as a seasoning or condiment. It contains phytochemicals, which break down cholesterol and fatty deposits in the body, so adding garlic to your food in fresh or powdered form may help your body metabolize carbohydrates and fats more efficiently.

Through this, garlic can also help you to lose weight as it has the ability to stop the body from creating more fat.

7. Ginger

Ginger is another warming spice. With its anti-inflammatory properties, it is known to help soothe and relax your intestinal tract, making food digestion easier. Its heating properties also boost your metabolism and have an appetite-suppressing effect when consumed, suggesting its potential to help you lose weight.

8. Mustard

The mustard plant is actually in the same vegetable family as broccoli and Brussels sprouts, both good sources of vegetable-based proteins to help you fill up and lose weight. Mustard seeds have been shown to boost metabolic rate by 25 percent, and in fact, just 3/5 of a teaspoon of mustard seeds daily may help you burn an extra 45 calories an hour.

9. Black Pepper

Black pepper contains a substance called piperine, which blocks the formation of new fat cells. When combined with capsaicin (found in cayenne pepper and chilies), black pepper was also found to burn as many calories as a 20-minute walk.

10. Peppermint

A 2009 study found that just the smell of peppermint can help to decrease appetite. Participants who spent a week smelling peppermint before they ate consumed an average of 1,800 fewer calories throughout the week than the control group.

It’s easy to benefit from the weight-loss assisting properties of herbs and spices; simply start by adding more garlic and pepper to your vegetable dishes, soups, and stews, as well as antioxidant-rich oregano.

Spices such as turmeric, mustard seeds, and cardamom add authentic Indian flavors to curries. Ginger works really well with fish to add a spicy flavor, and ginseng root can be thinly sliced and added to stir-fries, meat dishes, or soups.

Peppermint flavor green tea combines the tea’s fat-burning properties with the peppermint’s appetite-suppressing aromas. While cinnamon can be sprinkled onto fiber-rich oatmeal to add sweetness to your breakfast without sugar, it works just as well with savory recipes to add an unexpected subtle heat.