5 Spices That Can Help You Lose Weight
by Kaboodle.com, on Wed Sep 22, 2010 9:47am PDT
Although we’re inclined to scour the Web in search of the best diets and meal
plans, the truth is, some of the tools to weight-loss success are already on
your spice rack! Here are five ingredients that not only add flavor to your
favorite dishes but can help in your battle against the bulge.
1. Cinnamon
A 2003 study published in Diabetes Care showed that as little as one teaspoon
of cinnamon per day can boost the body’s weight-loss ability by reducing blood
sugar and promoting healthier processing of carbohydrates. It also lowers LDL
cholesterol (bad cholesterol) by seven to 27% and total cholesterol by 12 to
26%. Plus, cinnamon has been shown to prevent the metabolic syndrome commonly
seen in pre-diabetics. 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.
2. Cayenne
The main ingredient in spicy cayenne—capsaicin, which is also found in other
hot peppers—has long been studied for its fat-burning abilities and thermogenic
properties (the stimulating of the central nervous system to produce heat in
the body, leading to an increase in calorie burning). In fact, Nicholas
Perricone, M.D., cites several of these studies in his wildly popular The
Perricone Weight-Loss Diet and concludes that capsaicin acts as an appetite
suppressant. Many think that cayenne pepper promotes weight loss because it’s
simply difficult to overindulge in spicy food. However, later studies performed
by the Journal of Obesity also found that the spice increases fat oxidation,
“ramps up energy expenditure, and stimulates activity by the sympathetic
nervous system”—all which help the body to shed excess weight. Not a fan of
fiery cuisine? Not to worry! Research has found that cayenne’s ability to
reduce appetite is equally effective whether ingested as food or in capsule
form.
3. Black Pepper
Among the dozens of health benefits of this common household ingredient is its
ability to improve digestion and promote the absorption of nutrients in tissues
all over the body. Plus, its main component—piperine (which gives pepper its
pungent taste)—boosts fat metabolism by as much as 8% for several hours after
ingesting it. If you want your pepper to pack the most punch, use freshly
ground pepper, which has the most concentrated amounts of piperine.
4. Mustard Seed
Like the other hot ingredients on this list, spicy mustard helps boost
metabolism and allows you to burn fat more quickly, thanks in part to its
thermogenic properties. Scientists at England’s Oxford Polytechnic Institute
recently found that eating just one teaspoon of hot mustard can “boost
metabolism 20 to 25% for several hours after eating, resulting in an additional
burn of about 45 calories if a 700-calorie meal is consumed.”
5. Ginger
Long used for its medicinal properties, ginger is also an effective diuretic (a
substance that increases the elimination of urine). It improves gastric
mobility (i.e. it pushes food and waste through the digestive system) and
hinders the absorption of cholesterol. Although according to the Mayo Clinic,
more study is needed, preliminary evidence suggests that this versatile spice
helps to increase metabolism.
