Top 10 Herbs And Spices For A Flatter Belly

With the government-imposed lockdown in place our lives have literally overturned overnight. While the inability to access gyms may certainly have saddened the fitness enthusiast, there’s nothing that you can’t do at home! Take this isolation as a blessing in disguise and give your daily diet a healthy upgrade. Herbs and spices hold centre stage when it comes to whipping up some delicious and aromatic Indian food. However, were you aware that these very herbs and spices also propel weight loss and can give you a toned belly?

While you process this new piece of information, Dr Shikha Sharma- Nutri-Health Systems Pvt. Ltd, Harshita Dilawri- Nutritionist and Diabetic Educator and Ambika Tyagi- Nutritionist Healthy Souls, tell us the top 10 herbs and spices to instantly achieve a flatter belly!

PEPPERCORN

Black pepper is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit known as a peppercorn, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. Peppercorn is rich in ‘piperine’ which helps burn the unwanted fat from the body.

MUSTARD SEEDS

Besides being a rich source of essential oils, minerals, and Vitamins, this compound speeds up metabolism, disintegrates fat cells and reduces cravings, all resulting in increased weight loss.

TURMERIC

A spice that has been used in India for thousands of years as a medicinal herb, turmeric is a powerhouse of anti-oxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties, making it excellent for digestion. It helps the body release the ‘leptin hormone’ which leads to the burning body fat.

CHILI POWDER

Chili power contains ‘capsaicin’, which is responsible for making it spicy and is also proven to be excellent for weight loss. By improving ones metabolism, it helps burn fat instantly.

PARSLEY

Parsley is popular amongst those who wish to drop a bit of water-weight, since this herb helps reduce water retention and bloating. A natural diuretic, it helps eliminate excess fluid without depleting the body of potassium.

ROSEMARY

Full of anti-oxidants and having anti-inflammatory properties that prevent free radical damage, rosemary is also rich in ‘carnosic acid’ which makes it ideal for weight loss.

CINNAMON

A spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species, cinnamon fills the cells with glucose and reduces insulin, as a result of which the body fat is disintegrated.

FENUGREEK

Fenugreek seeds and leaves are common ingredients in Indian dishes. This spice helps control ones appetite and curbs excess food consumption, thereby reducing the daily calorie intake and leading to weight loss.

GINGER

Ginger is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used as a spice and a folk medicine. It contains oils which are healthy for the intestine and digestive system and keep them running smoothly.

OREGANO

The herb oregano contains ‘carvacrol’ which is a powerful compound for weight loss. Carvacrol directly impact specific genes and protein in the body which are responsible for fat synthesis.

Besides the above mentioned herbs and spices, garlic, cumin, cardamom, cayenne pepper and carom seeds are also said to have weight-loss properties.