If you are like me you have created a routine when preparing meals, and week after week you start to find yourself making the same types of foods. This after a while becomes a bland and boring affair but fear no more! The following spices not only add unique flavour they also help you lose weight! The first 5 are my personal favourites.
12) Black Pepper
Black Pepper is a flowering vine, which grows a fruit. Before the fruits are ripe they are cultivated and they are cooked and dried, which then becomes our black pepper. The black pepper is also the most traded spice in all of the world.
The unique flavour of the black pepper is due to a substance called piperine. Piperine was found to block the formation of new fat cells. [1] When piperine is combined with capsaicin (this is the chemical commonly found in the Cayenne Pepper also known as the red pepper.) and caffeine (found in coffee’s and tea) this trio burns as many calories as if you were to go on a 20 min walk! [2]
11) Cayenne Pepper
The Cayenne Pepper is a capsicum annuum which is a species of the plant genus capsicum which is native to southern North America and northern South America. By weight the Cayenne Pepper is high in vitamin A. It also contains vitamin B6, vitamin E, vitamin C, riboflavin, potassium, and manganese. This is informative only, since most of the time the pepper is consumed in very small amounts, the amount of nutritional value you will get from the pepper is negligible.
The Cayenne Pepper contains capsaicin which gives the pepper its spicy kick, that we all know and love 🙂 I mean I know I have to have this on all my dishes. Capsaicin helps reduce calorie intake, reduce fat tissue, and fight fat buildup because it triggers a protein change in your body. [3]
10) Ginseng
Ginseng typically found in cooler climates is a plant with a carrot like root. Ginseng has been used in traditional Chinese medication for many hundreds of years but no scientific studies have been able to confirm clinical benefits as medication.
Ginseng has the ability to boost energy levels and speed metabolism. Panax ginseng is used in many weight loss supplements has specifically been linked to weight loss. One study showing in obese mice, which were given panax ginseng had improvements in insulin sensitivity and lost significant weight after 12 days. [4]
9) Garlic
Garlic has a history of being used by humans for thousands of years! Its a bulbous plant which has a flower that can grow up to 4ft tall! It’s been regarded as a sacred item for both good and evil. It contains phytochemicals that break down fatty deposits, breaks down cholesterol, kills viruses, bacteria and fungi.
8) Onions
The Onion is another bulbous plant. Onions are unknown to have been found in the wild, selectively grown for thousands of years. Most Onions are 89% water. Like the garlic it contains phytochemicals that break down fatty deposits, breaks down cholesterol, kills viruses, bacteria and fungi.
7) Cinnamon
Cinnamon comes from the inner bark of several different types of trees. Cinnamon helps wake up the hormone insulin, which is used to regulate your glucose metabolism. This helps reduce fat in the blood and may have the potential to delay or prevent adult-onset, or type 2 diabetes.
6) Dandelions
You may have seen these in your lawn, the dandelion is common in many places in the northern hemisphere. You can eat every part of the dandelion, and all contains nutritional value. They help slow digestion and they help make you feel full longer.
5) Turmeric
Turmeric is a plant of the ginger family, native to southwest India. Commonly used in Indian dishes and delicious! The most important ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. It reduces fat formation by preventing the blood vessels needed to create fat by doing this it may lower body fat which would reduce weight gain.
4) Cumin
Cumin another plant native to India. Its a flowering plant, in which its seeds are used to spice many different types of dishes. Cumin increases energy levels and helps with digestion. It was also found to enhance your memory.
3) Mustard
Who doesn’t love mustard? I mean seriously… if you don’t love mustard, stop reading go home. Unless you are already home… in which case please keep reading 🙂 Mustard comes from the seeds of the mustard plant, the seeds are used as a spice, but most of us know the mustard seed in its yellow mustard form. The Mustard seeds can increase your metabolic rate by up to 25%! Infact 3/5 of a teaspoon daily may help burn an extra 45 calories per hour! [5]
2) Cardamom
Cardamon is a spice created from seeds of a few different plants. This plant is also native to India. Cardamon increases your metabolism which in turn allows your body to burn fat more efficiently.
1) Ginger
Ginger is a flowering plant, where its root is used in many drinks, and different meals. I am not the biggest fan of ginger but it has a lot of health benefits. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties commonly used to help treat an upset stomach. It also can be appetite-suppressant when consumed which helps with the common issue of over eating.
