If you’re trying to lose weight, your metabolism is one important factor to consider. Boosting your metabolism will help you burn calories and lose fat at a faster rate, and there are several things you can do to achieve this, from getting enough sleep to curating a killer workout routine. One of the best steps you can take to kick your metabolic rate into gear is to incorporate the right foods into your diet, including a few helpful spices.
To discover some of the best metabolism-boosting spices you can sprinkle onto your meals, we spoke to Joanna Wen, health coach and founder of Spices & Greens; Dr. Ben Schuff, ND, LDN, Director of Naturopathy & Nutrition at BIÂN; Dr. Gretchen San Miguel, MD and Chief Medical Officer for Medi-Weightloss; and Dr. Nancy Lin, PhD and XPRO for YogaSix GO.
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1. Ginger
Ginger is one of the best spices for your overall health for many reasons and can be especially beneficial when it comes to weight loss. It can even impact your metabolism. Wen explains that this tasty, versatile ingredient "increases your body's thermogenesis, which causes a higher rate of calorie burning." In addition to a higher metabolism, other benefits include ginger's blood sugar-regulating, appetite-suppressing and anti-inflammatory properties, which Wen says can "speed up the process of weight loss naturally."
2. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is another great spice to sprinkle onto your meals (or into your cup of coffee) if you're looking to slim down. Schuff says this tasty spice can "help support metabolism, especially in those with metabolic risk factors determined by a doctor." He goes onto say that "Cinnamon is a versatile ingredient that has been used successfully as an adjunctive treatment of type 2 diabetes and metabolic disease by improving blood sugar management," which is also great for anyone who wants to shed some pounds.
3. Turmeric
As far as metabolism-boosting, anti-inflammatory spices go, turmeric is one of the best options out there. That's mainly thanks to curcumin, which is the active ingredient from where it gets its famous yellow color. As it turns out, curcumin is also a metabolic stimulant that works to fight inflammation and increase the rate at which your body can burn fat. "Spices such as these have a thermogenic effect on the body and cause the body to generate more heat, thus burning more calories," Lin says. San Miguel adds that "The antioxidant property of turmeric can help decrease insulin resistance, blood sugar, cholesterol levels, and other metabolic conditions resulting from obesity."
Of course, at the end of the day, losing weight is all about incorporating healthy habits into your daily routine, from fitting 30 minutes of exercise into your day to swapping sugary breakfasts with high-protein options. No spice can be a miracle worker—but adding some of these metabolism-boosting options to your meals definitely won't hurt.
