A lot of people these days, mostly women actually, strive to get those thin thighs and flat stomach that models, singers, actresses and other celebrities show off on the cover of magazines around the world. Getting slim is mostly associated with having a faster metabolism, that’s why people look for foods that improve their metabolism. Many spices are known for their cleansing properties, that is, they can help detoxify the body. But apart from this, some spices included in a healthy diet can boost metabolism and keep fat off. But let’s take a look at several spices that boost metabolism.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is one of these healthy ingredients that everyone should eat every now and then. It is not only aromatic, but also very good for health. From improving the brain function to boosting the metabolism, cinnamon is the perfect addition to the meal. It is important to know that its effect will be much stronger if it is eaten on an empty stomach or with other nutritional food. Cinnamon also helps cleanse the body. It improves the function of the liver a great deal. It assists in blood sugar regulation and protects against heart disease. Cinnamon aids weight loss in the following ways:
Controls insulin levels: Cinnamon has the unique ability to imitate the activity of insulin. Increased blood sugar levels can be problematic because they cause excess fat to be stored, making it harder for people to maintain or lose weight. Cinnamon helps regulate the sugar levels so that this excess fat does not build up.
Speeds metabolism: Cinnamon helps control insulin levels, the spice has the ability to alter the metabolism of not only sugar, but of carbohydrates as well. The body is better able to use the carbohydrate storage, so that they don’t turn into excess fat. The cinnamon also allows the metabolism to speed up in the body just because it takes a little extra energy to metabolize.
Lowers LDL cholesterol: Cinnamon can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, which is great for heart health. This in turn also helps in losing weight and maintaining BMI.
Helps to burn belly fat: The consumption of Cinnamon is said to impact abdominal fat more so than fat found in other parts of the body. In fact less belly fat is good for overall health.
Suppresses appetite: Cinnamon can actually slow down the process of moving food into the stomach. This is a good thing for losing weight because this activity will help one feel full for a longer period of time. In addition, the sweet nature of cinnamon can help avoid a sweet craving.
Turmeric
This medicinal herb and spice is very beneficial and healthy for human beings. In the first place, it helps dissolve fat, which is why it is a good idea to include sufficient amounts of the herb in the daily meals, especially if they include lots of fat. The main active ingredient is curcumin. It is the reason that the herb turmeric is so healthy. Apart from boosting the immune system, turmeric also has a number of other medicinal properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It can also repair damage.
Blocks fat: Turmeric Cucurmin has an effect on the body inhibiting cell division of fat cells. Cucurmin inhibits the formation of fatty tissue by blocking the formation mechanism, by suppressing the blood vessels necessary for its formation. Thus it makes it harder to gain weight or putting on unwanted pounds of fat.
Lower Cholesterol: Turmeric increases the excretion of bile in the body. Bile found in the gall bladder is produced by cholesterol in the bloodstream. By increasing the excretion of bile, the amount of cholesterol used by the body increases, which results in a reduction of cholesterol in the body.
Cayenne
Cayenne is very hot and peppery, which makes it a fat-burner. Since it’s pungent, it raises the body’s temperature and fights extra fat. The “magical” substance is used against fever, sore throat, tremors, heartburn and other ailments. Cayenne is included in many detoxifying and cleansing diet programs.
Curbs calories: Red cayenne pepper either mixed with food or swallowed in a capsule helped normal-weight young adults burn about 10 more calories over a four-hour period, compared to eating the same meal without the red pepper.
Decreases Appetite: Pepper also decreases appetite, especially in people who said they didn’t already eat spicy foods.
Ginger
Apart from being in ingredient to the meals, it also helps the body break down the minerals and nutrients eaten per meal. Apart from its cleansing effect, ginger can also boost metabolism. There are two compounds that help do the trick and they are called capsaicin and gingerols. They are responsible for increasing the body’s metabolism. In addition, ginger is high in antioxidants, which makes it a must-have for every kitchen.
Energy: It has an effect similar to caffeine. Increased energy makes it easier to exercise and put more efforts to burn calories which will flatten the tummy.
Cortisol reduction: Ginger suppresses cortisol production. Cortisol is a steroid hormone necessary for energy regulation and mobilization. But chronic stress can cause cortisol levels to rise too high. Adipose fat moves to the visceral area where it receives an increased blood supply that encourages tissues to produce an excess amount of cortisol. High cortisol levels may increase excess belly fat ad weight gain.
Regulates Blood sugar and cholesterol: Raw ginger is found to have a stabilizing effect on blood sugar, glucose and lipids. It also stimulates digestion.
Spices don’t just add flavor to the foods, they also boost metabolism. The increase in metabolism means increase in burning of calories. This in turn helps reduce or lose weight easily by including these wonderful tasty and health boosting spices into one’s diet. As we have noticed, the spices mentioned above don’t just help boost metabolism, they also have a number of other health benefits worth mentioning. They also have other benefits which are indeed amazing to maintain the overall health.
