Spicing up Weight Loss Programs

Source: Sheknows.com

Herbs and spices do much more than add some flavor to your meals—many of them actually provide wide-ranging benefits that improve your health and optimize weight loss programs.

Spicing up your food can make up for the flavor you take away by cutting out the fattening ingredients like sugar and salt that wreak havoc on weight loss programs. They can boost your metabolism while improving cardiovascular health and increasing resistance to illnesses and diseases. Check out some of the spices that pack the most benefits in their punch—many are even included in some of the weight loss products available in the marketplace.

Cinnamon is not only delicious, it helps to stabilize blood sugar, keep your arteries healthy and lower cholesterol. Many patients of our medical weight loss centers add it to coffee and other beverages, as well as oatmeal, vegetables and fruit. Grilling an apple or peach with cinnamon makes for a scrumptious dessert.

Chili peppers add heat to just about any meal while revving your metabolism.  They’re regularly recommended in recipes that are popular among patients from our medical weight loss centers due to their high content of capsaicin, which has been shown to offer an array of a health benefits including stopping ulcers, relieving pain, fighting prostate cancer and improving heart health. Studies show that capsaicin may stimulate chemicals in the brain that decrease feelings of hunger.

Ginger is another great spice that boasts myriad health benefits and is often a primary ingredient in many weight loss productsand teas. It’s well-known for soothing an upset stomach and relieving digestive issues; studies show it can quell nausea caused by everything from morning sickness to chemotherapy. It’s rich in compounds called gingerols, which fight inflammation and the pain associated with arthritis.

Other spices that pack a serious healthy punch (and which we’ll cover in another post) include turmeric, rosemary, sage, saffron and parsley. Others to keep an eye out for include cumin and cilantro, which have been shown to boost memory and are being evaluated in new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.