Weight Loss Tip #99 — Eat more spices

The next time you want to eat a spicy dish, remember that it is going to do all the right things if you are on a weight loss plan. The spices will not only add a unique flavour to your food but will also fasten the fat-burning process. How is this possible you ask?

Certain compounds in spicy foods have the dual benefit of increasing your metabolism while making you eat less. Apart for boosting your metabolism, the spices can leave you satisfied while encouraging you to eat slowly. One of the most beneficial spices that aid in weight loss is lal mirch or red pepper. It contains the compound capsaicin that can raise your temperature, causing you to burn more calories after your meal[1].

If you are not a fan of pepper, you can also add some cumin seeds or jeera to your dishes. Cumin has carminative properties that aid in digestion and boosts the fat-burning process in your body[2].If you are someone who is struggling to lose belly fat, you should add some cinnamon to your diet. The compound cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon can boost your metabolism and reduce the visceral fat[3]. (Read: Lose weight with this Indian diet plan)

Turmeric contains the compound curcumin that can help prevent the deposit of fat in the body[4]. Remember that only adding spices to your dishes will not help you lose weight. You still have to exercise and watch your calories to lose weight. (Read: How to lose weight in 15 days)

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Disclaimer text TheHealthSite.com does not guarantee any weight loss through this method as the results may vary from person to person. We recommend you consult your nutritionist and physician before following any of the tips suggested here.

References:

[1] Yoshioka M, St-Pierre S, Suzuki M, Tremblay A. Effects of red pepper added to high-fat and high carbohydrate meals on energy metabolism and substrate utilization in Japanese women. Br J Nutr. 1998 Dec;80(6):503-10. PubMed PMID: 10211048.

[2] Zare R, Heshmati F, Fallahzadeh H, Nadjarzadeh A. Effect of cumin powder on body composition and lipid profile in overweight and obese women. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2014 Nov;20(4):297-301. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2014.10.001. Epub 2014 Oct 13. PubMed PMID: 25456022.

[3] Qin, B., Panickar, K. S., & Anderson, R. A. (2010). Cinnamon: Potential Role in the Prevention of Insulin Resistance, Metabolic Syndrome. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, 4(3), 685–693.

[4] radford PG. Curcumin and obesity. Biofactors. 2013 Jan-Feb;39(1):78-87. doi: 10.1002/biof.1074. Epub 2013 Jan 22. Review. PubMed PMID: 23339049.

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