Herbs for Weight Loss

Dr Kahlil Shillingford practices obesity surgery (gastric bypass, lap band and gastric sleeve) in Boca Raton, South Florida.  We have found our patients are always wanting to learn about diet, nutrition and weight loss.  In many non western countries, India in particular herbs are used for weight loss.  We wished to share the following with you:

Cayenne pepper

Cayenne peppers have an ingredient called capsaicin, which may help fight obesity by decreasing calorie intake, shrinking fat tissue, and lowering blood fat levels. It can also help break down fat buildup.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon can be used to help boost your metabolism along with blood sugar regulation.  It is great for use in obesity and diabetic patients. This spice is actually has a numerous amount of benefits including significant reduction in triglycerides, LDL levels, and total cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes, and increase glucose metabolism by about 20 times

Black pepper

Black pepper contains a substance called piperine, which blocks the formation of new fat cells. When combined with capsaicin and other substances, black pepper was also found to burn as many calories as taking a 20-minute walk! It has also been found to increase the bioavailability of just about all other foods.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a spice found in just about every Indian dish along with all curry dishes.  It contains the ingredient, Curcumin, which reduces the formation of fat tissue by suppressing the blood vessels needed to form it, and therefore may contribute to lower body fat and body weight gain.

Ginger

Ginger is another warming spice that has anti-inflammatory properties and is known to help soothe and relax your intestinal tract. Research also suggests that ginger may have thermogenic properties that help boost your metabolism, as well as have an appetite-suppressant effect