Herbal Weight Loss Course_Lesson 6, Spices
Thursday, June 23rd 2011 @ 12:24 PM (not yet rated)
Using spices on a regular basis is a wonderful way to aid in losing weight.
That's because spices have chemical components that do a variety of things such as boosting metabolism and balancing blood sugar.
Cinnamon
This spice has a reputation for helping diabetics to reduce blood sugar levels.
But you don't have to be diabetic to benefit from this. According to a 2003 study published in Diabetes Care. "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."
This spice lowers the bad cholesterol (LDL) by as much as 27% and can help revent the metabolic syndrome that is commonly seen in pre-diabetics.
One caveat - cinnamon contains a chemical known as coumarin, which can lead to liver damage if it is consumed in large amounts. Though these amounts would be quite a bit more than what is normally consumed for culinary use.
Cayenne
This spice is known for its thermogenic properties for speeding up the metabolism to help the body burn fat faster.
Its main ingredient - capsaicin, has been cited as an appetitie suppressant by Nicolas Perricone, M.D. in his weight loss diet.
Studies done by the Journal of Obesity also found the spice helps the body lose excess weight by increasing fat oxidation that "ramps up energy expenditure, and stimulates activity by the sympathetic nervous system."
A study done on rats by Kawada Hagihara (1986) showed that capsaicin affects lipid metabolism. The results showed that capsaicin could stimulate how fast fat is burned.
Cayenne does not have to be consumed in food only to be effective. For those who are wary of eating spicy foods, cayenne can be taken in capsule form for the best results.
Black Pepper
This common household ingredient that is sprinkled on food for its taste can also help with weight loss. The main ingredient - piperine (which gives pepper its pungent taste) will boost the metabolism of fat by as much as as 8% fo several hours after it has been consumed.
Black pepper can also improve digestion and promote the body's ability to absorb nutrients in tissues. Use freshly ground black pepper as it has the most concentrated amounts of piperine.
Mustard Seed
This is another thermogenic spice that boosts metabolism to burn fat faster. 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,” according to scientists as England's Oxford Polytechnic Institute.
Mustard has a good amount of selenium, the amino acid tryptophan and Omega 3 fatty acids, as well as phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, iron, calcium, niacin and zinc. Mustard has a little protein, fiber and contains just 35 calories in two teaspoons.
