8 Herb Remedies for Weight Loss

It’s never as easy to get rid of excess weight as putting it on. Besides adopting a weight loss program, you need to maintain a specific diet, sacrifice eating some favourite foods, and maybe even put up with tasteless dishes. If you are to enjoy your healthy diet, you are going to need some herbs and spices that make things tastier, or at least, don’t come straight from the lab.

Here’s a list of the most effective, readily available natural ingredients that compliment your weight loss journey. They increase metabolism, reduce water weight, and/or suppress appetite, helping you lose the extra weight naturally.

Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is a type of moderately hot chilli in the capsicum genus. It contains a compound called capsaicin, which not only gives the pepper its signature heat but also offers several benefits.

Research has shown that capsaicin significantly raises the body temperature and boosts metabolism. A higher rate of metabolism translates to more calories burnt, hence weight loss. What’s more, taking cayenne pepper before a meal may reduce the levels of the hormone ghrelin, resulting in less hunger.

How do you use cayenne for weight loss? You could consume about a teaspoon of its powder in a glass of water and honey - though that wont be fun for most people. Alternatively, try adding it to your favourite dishes.

Black Pepper

Is it too much heat already? Don’t worry – this is the last pepper on the list. Derived from the dried fruit of Piper nigrum, a plant native to India, this common household spice has been used to manage body weight for a long time now. It contains a compound referred to as piperine, which is responsible for both its unique flavour and lipid-lowering effects. 

It directly prevents the formation of fat cells, helping you to lose or even maintain that weight. Add black pepper powder to your tea, salad, or any other dish. It’s not such a bad idea to use it alongside cayenne pepper, especially if you don’t mind spicy food.

Ginger

Finally – something that you’ve already been using! Even if you don’t cook with ginger, high chances are you’ve consumed it in some of your daily meals. It has been used for centuries in traditional medicines as a natural remedy for a wide variety of ailments, most of which remain untested. 

However, there’s compelling evidence from research to show that ginger can help prevent a spike in your glucose levels, especially after taking lots of carbs or sugar. One study also found that ginger helped with weight loss by increasing metabolism, decreasing fat absorption, and lowering appetite.

Cinnamon

This aromatic spice comes from the inner bark of the Cinnamomum tree. It has been used for ages to combat hunger, control blood sugar levels, and make people feel fuller for longer. It is rich in antioxidants and offers numerous health benefits, including weight loss.

Research (like this one from Cambridge) has unearthed some of its potent compounds, which help transport sugar from the bloodstream to the cells, where the sugar functions as fuel. They also decrease levels of specific digestive enzymes to regulate the breakdown of carbohydrates. These effects could be why cinnamon can reduce appetite and lead to weight loss, although we still need more evidence to pinpoint its effects on the topic.

Gymnema Sylvestre

Often used as a natural way of reducing blood sugar levels, Gymnema has also been linked to loss of weight. Its active ingredient, gymnemic acid, can help reduce the sweetness you taste in foods, warding off sugar cravings. It is now also used to reduce appetite as well as food intake.

However, Gymnema is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and those allergic to milkweed. It also doesn’t pair well with antidepressants, aspirin, and diabetic medication. You might want to consult a doctor before incorporating this one into your diet.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a common spice in many homes, revered for its rich flavour, brilliant colour, and perceived medical benefits. It contains the chemical curcumin, which has been extensively studied to understand better its effects on numerous body mechanisms, including inflammation and weight loss.

Notable is a recent 2019 review of various trials, which pointed out that curcumin intake had a significant influence on weight loss, among other effects. However, it is only safe to keep in mind that most studies use a concentrated amount of curcumin, which is much more than what you would find in a typical dose of turmeric on your plate.

Aloe Vera

Yep! It’s not just for your flawless skin. If you’ve ever tested aloe vera, however, you know that it is one of the bitterest herbs out there. If you can stomach it though - it is linked to weight loss, reducinh inflammation responses, and aids in digestion. 

You could try drinking the juice 2-3 times a day, see how that works. And, resist the urge to sweeten it with sugar!

Oolong Tea

Oolong tea is a Chinese folk beverage obtained from the Camellia sinensis plant and has long been used to boost immunity. Although they come from the same plant, this is not green tea. Unlike green tea, oolong not only undergoes fermentation but is also dried under the sun, where it gets partially oxidised, restoring most of its antioxidant and lipid-reducing benefits. 

Oolong tea may help you shed off some extra fats and maintain the weight. When using it for weight loss, add a teaspoon to hot water in a cup, soak for approximately 7 minutes, strain, let it cool, and add some honey.

Final Word

With all the side effect that comes attached to pharmaceutical weight loss solutions, knowing that there are so many natural remedies can be a breath of fresh air. They might not be perfect, and by no means an overnight cure, but if you are going to put something in your system while on a weight loss program, it might as well complement your goals!