7 Spices for Weight Loss
Have you heard of the trend in which people eat spices for weight loss?
You know, there are a million diets out there (probably more) that claim they’ll be the one eating plan you need to shed your excess pounds.
But I’m going to let you in on a little secret…
There’s not one eating plan that will help you take inches off your waistline.
There are many!
Yes, you heard that right. Today, I’m not going to talk about the pro’s and con’s of every diet out there (that would take FOREVER), but I am going to tell you that many popular diets CAN result in dropping weight…
AND that there’s a way to increase your weight loss tremendously, without breaking any of your chosen diets strict rules.
With spices!
Unlike the foods of other countries, American cuisine typically leaves out the spices that not only make your food taste amazing but also literally pack an enormous boost to your health in a tiny punch.
That’s one of the reasons why Asian restaurants like Thai, Indian, and Chinese are such a hit here – because they bring spices back into the mix and let you try a wide range of new and exciting flavors.
Today, I’m going to tell you about my favorite spices for weight loss from Asia…
And at the end of this email, I’m going to include one of my own personal recipes that brings all these spices together in a single pot!
Let’s take a look at spice #1…
Spices For Weight Loss #1: Cumin
Now, you’re probably familiar with cumin – it’s one of the few Asian spices that has become commonly used in American cooking.
You’ll recognize cumin by its sharp, nutty, and bitter taste. And while the taste is good, the weight loss benefits are truly amazing!
What it does is speed up your weight loss and results from diet studies have been nothing short of extraordinary. In one, dieters that were given a cumin supplement lost 1 POUND PER WEEK more than those without the supplement!
And you’ll probably recognize this next spice as well…
Spices For Weight Loss #2: Cinnamon
But you might not realize that cinnamon isn’t just for desserts.
Coming originally from India, China, and other Asian countries, most people associate cinnamon with cakes, cookies, and other sweets.
However, you’ll find that in those countries where cinnamon was first used, they often included the spice into savory dishes and used it…
As a way to rapidly lose weight!
It works for two reasons. First, it’s an appetite suppressant, so when your dinner dish has a dash of cinnamon, you’ll feel full quicker and thus, eat less.
Second (and more important), cinnamon mimics how insulin transports sugar in your body. That means you can process more sugar and your body will naturally burn it off instead of storing it.
Of course, that doesn’t give you a license to eat a gallon of ice cream, but you will notice the difference!
Spices For Weight Loss #3: Ginger
Coming from Southeast Asia, ginger is more than just a common ingredient there – it’s THE common ingredient.
Seriously, you’ll discover that ginger is heavily used everywhere from India to Korea and all points in between. The aromatic, citrusy, spicy taste is truly unique and you’ll know it’s in a dish from the very first bite.
From a health perspective, ginger is a veritable powerhouse. It speeds up your metabolism, increases your fat-burning capability, and reduces appetite all at the same time.
While we’re on the topic of spicy spices, let’s talk about…
Spices For Weight Loss #4: Cayenne
Nearly all hot peppers deliver health benefits, but cayenne might just be the Porsche of capsicums.
Sleek and balanced, it gives you moderate heat that’s as much flavorful as it is spicy. Along with bird’s eye chilis from Thailand (which I also included in the recipe below), it’s my go-to pepper when I want to kick it up a notch.
In addition to the temperature, cayenne also kicks your weight loss up a notch. Like other ingredients mentioned above, it reduces hunger and raises your metabolism, meaning you power through more calories burned each day.
While I love cayenne, in terms of making pounds disappear, it’s no match for…
Spices For Weight Loss #5: Saffron
Ok, this one’s more from the Middle East than the Far East, but once you hear about its weight-dropping benefits, you’ll understand why I added it to this list.
There’s really no equal to saffron if losing weight is your goal. What it does is control your cravings, meaning you’ll stop reaching for those unhealthy snacks and late-night munchies.
With those urges out of the way, your body will have more time between meals to burn fat, stabilize your blood sugar, and maintain a great metabolic rate.
And the crazy thing is that your health gains don’t stop there with saffron. Your weight loss is accompanied by a boosted mood, better vision, and improved memory.
Really, I can’t recommend saffron enough.
Spices For Weight Loss #6: Fenugreek
To be honest, I’m adding fenugreek to this list almost solely because I like its flavor so much.
As a largely-unused spice, it’s always my pleasure to introduce people both to its nutty, almost sweet taste and to its impressive abilities to enhance your weight loss diet.
When you eat dishes with fenugreek, you’ll feel more full and absorb less fat.
Just keep in mind that cooking with fenugreek seeds can be a bit difficult and they should be ground first unless you have more of a low-and-slow dish.
Spices For Weight Loss #7: Cardamom
Cardamom may be related to ginger, but it’s in its own class altogether.
That’s because it has a very peculiar ability – it fights your belly fat!
Well, not only belly fat (it helps your whole body), but studies have shown that it has a remarkable effect on those pesky love handles, which makes it a no-brainer for any weight loss diet.
Cardamom is also quite versatile – you can use it in savory dishes (like the one below), sweets, or even as an addition to coffee for an interesting twist.
Now, I know that many of these ingredients may seem exotic and you might not know exactly how to use them, so I’ve got an absolute flavor bomb starter recipe to share with you:
Far Out, Far East Asian Chicken Chili
This fat-blasting recipe will leave you feeling full with a single bowl AND give you tons of flavor-packed, weight-healthy benefits from the spices.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. ground chicken
- 2 cans chopped tomatoes
- 2 cans kidney beans
- 2 green bell peppers
- 10 oz. carrots (cut into matchsticks)
- 2 medium onions (chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced or finely diced)
- 1 tsp. ginger (minced or finely diced)
- ½ tsp. fenugreek seeds
- ½ tsp. cumin seeds
- ½ tsp. cayenne powder
- ½ tsp. cinnamon (ground)
- 5-6 threads saffron
- 1 tsp. sweet paprika
- 2 bird’s eye chili peppers
- 2 green cardamom pods (broken slightly open)
- 1 tsp. oregano (dried)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 bunch of cilantro leaves (chopped)
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Using a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat up the oil on medium-high heat.
- Cook the ground chicken with salt and pepper (6-7 mins.) and remove from the pot.
- Add the onions and bay leaves directly into the pot (without removing the rendered chicken fat) and cook 2-3 mins.
- Add the garlic, ginger, chili peppers, and carrots and cook for 2-3 mins.
- Add the bell peppers and cook for 2-3 mins.
- Add the spices (fenugreek, cumin, cayenne, paprika, oregano, cardamom, cinnamon) and cook for 1-2 mins while continuing to stir. You should hear the cumin start to pop.
- Add 3 cups of water and bring to a boil.
- Add the tomatoes and drained kidney beans.
- Turn heat down to medium-low and simmer for 45 mins. adding salt and pepper to taste.
- Remove bay leaves and cardamom pods, garnish with cilantro and serve.
Adding spices into your diet is an excellent way to curb your appetite, increase metabolism, and simply put, to whip your body into a fat-destroying machine.
Not to mention, they taste incredible too!
Here’s hoping you find some favorite spices of your own from my list and start exploring new flavors while dropping weight at the same time!