Losing weight with the help of herbs and spices

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Losing weight with the help of herbs and spices
Published: 12/04/2011 at 12:00 AM
Bangkok Post: Newspaper section: Life
 
In my many years of working with obese patients, the best solutions are usually the simplest: eat right and burn calories efficiently. Though it sounds simple, sticking to a healthy diet can be very difficult. To help keep diets going smoothly, I often recommend my patients try to spice up their meals. Many herbs and spices - especially the hottest, spiciest ones - are known to enhance the body's metabolism processes and help promote fat loss. And most of these herbs and spices are inexpensive and easy to find.


BLACK PEPPER
Benefit: enhances energy usage

Though it used to be worth more than gold during ancient times, black pepper can be found in nearly every restaurant and home. Black pepper gets its spiciness from piperine, a sharp taste component which enhances a food's thermogenic effect - it causes your body to use more energy to digest food, which burns more calories. The most effective way to consume piperine is from freshly ground black pepper.

GINGER
Benefit: enhances energy usage

A popular staple in Chinese cooking, ginger offers a range of healthful benefits. It's especially popular for treating joint conditions and as an cure for nausea caused by motion sickness, pregnancy or from chemotherapy. But ginger's benefits for obesity stem from the fact that it causes tissues to consume more energy and burn more calories. Ginger can be eaten fresh or in dried form to achieve the desired effect.

CINNAMON
Benefit: lowers blood sugar level

Cinnamon is a popular spice, especially for baked goods and desserts. Aside from its distinctive aroma, cinnamon is believed to help lower the blood sugar level, making it suitable for obese patients who are at higher risk of diabetes. However, consumption should be limited to one teaspoon per day, as excessive amounts can result in liver problems.

TURMERIC
Benefit: reduce fat absorption

One reason Indian food tends to be more oily is the widespread use of the yellowish spice called turmeric. Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin which is believed to limit the body's absorption of fat. Curcumin is also believed by its fans to be helpful in treating a number of ailments ranging from indigestion and inflammation to certain types of cancer. So the next time you spot that distinctive turmeric shade of yellow in your food, rest assured there are some benefits to be enjoyed.

CHILLI PEPPER
Benefit: burns fat

The burning sensation one gets while enjoying some spicy Thai cuisine comes from capsaicin, a component found in chilli peppers that can boost metabolism and promote fat burning. Fiery capsaicin also helps curb the appetite and reduces the severity of after-meal insulin spikes which can produce cravings for sweet, sugary foods. Among the many varieties of chilli, I usually recommended cayenne as it doesn't irritate the digestive tract and it also is believed to boost blood circulation.

CAMELLIA SINENSIS
Benefit: promotes fat burning
 
Camellia sinensis is the complicated Latin name for... green tea, a staple in Asia that has become popular around the world. As a commercial product, green tea boasts antioxidant, cancer prevention and various healthy properties. As for obesity, catechin found in the drink is an efficient fat burner, a vital asset in weight loss.

However, remember that tea contains caffeine, so it's wise to limit consumption of this beverage to about two or three cups per day.

GARCINIA
Benefit: suppresses appetite

Some fruits in the garcinia group, namely garcinia cambogia (gambooge) and purple mangosteen, feature an outer rind from which the compound hydroxycitric acid (HCA) can be extracted. This compound is used in some nutritional supplements for its appetite suppressant quality - it works by preventing carbohydrates from being converted into fat, making one eat less and gain less fat.

HOODIA
Benefit: appetite suppressant

Hoodia is a cactus-like plant that grows in South Africa. A number of studies published in medical journals have reported that hoodia works as a natural appetite suppressant with few reported side effects. Hoodia's popularity continues to grow, and it is sold under a number of brand names. I recommend patients choose one of the trusted brand names if purchasing hoodia supplements.

YERBA MATE
Benefit: fat burning

Yerba mate is an herb similar to green tea, except it originated from South America, where it has long been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of health problems. More recent studies uncovered yerba mate's fat-burning properties, so it is often recommended throughout South America by doctors treating obese patients.