Three Spices That Help With Weight Loss
Can spices help with weight control? While the addition of spices to your food is unlikely to cause significant weight loss in the absence of a healthy diet and exercise, there's growing evidence that certain herbs and spices may tip the scales in your favor, so to speak. Which spices are good for weight loss?
Spices good for weight loss: Cayenne
It seems that the hot spicy flavor of cayenne pepper may heat up your metabolism as well. The primary ingredient in cayenne pepper is capsaicin, a natural compound that gives hot peppers their fiery heat. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that supplementing men and women with capsaicin resulted in increased fat breakdown as well as a loss of abdominal fat. Although the capsaicin found in cayenne pepper is believed to increase the rate of thermogenesis, it also appears to promote a sense of fullness so you'll consume fewer calories overall. A recent study showed that capsaicin was more effective at increasing fat loss when it was consumed with green tea. It's thought that the combination helps to promote satiety so fewer calories are taken in.
The Health Benefits of Cayenne
Spices good for weight loss: Tumeric
Tumeric is a spice frequently used in Indian cooking and is one of the many spices that gives curry its distinctive flavor. Tumeric gets its deep yellow-orange color from a pigment called curcumin, a compound which may help to fight the battle with weight control. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition showed that when curcumin supplements were given to mice on a high fat diet, they lost both fat and body weight despite taking in the same amount of food. Human research is needed to confirm these results, but tumeric offers a variety of other health benefits which make it a good choice of spice.
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Spices good for weight loss: Ginseng
Although ginseng is more of a herb than a spice, it's shown potential for helping with weight control. In a study where mice were given ginseng extract for twelve days, they showed a decrease in body weight along with lower blood glucose levels. Although ginseng is generally considered to be safe, it does have stimulant properties similar to caffeine which means it should be used with caution in people with high blood pressure or heart disease. Although ginseng holds potential for weight control, it may be best to avoid supplementing with this herb until more definitive human data becomes available.