Is weight loss a never-ending battle with you? If you’ve wisely steered clear of pills and potions promising all manner of inch loss or pound loss, good for you! But then, are you left wondering how to jump-start that journey to a slimmer you? That’s where these quick and easy remedies – easy dietary additions or changes, or simple things you can try at home – can help make a world of difference. Go on and give them a test drive!
Losing excess fat on your body is never easy. Do you steer clear of weight loss supplements and products that promise miracles in weeks? That’s probably wise. But then, where does that leave your weight-loss goals? If you need to give your fitness and diet regimen an extra edge, these simple home remedies and natural alternatives might be a welcome addition!
1. Pucker Up With Some Lime Water
Some rather tart ingredients can be fat-loss agents. The juice of half a lemon or lime stirred into half a cup of warm water sans sweeteners can get your liver jump-started and help digestion. The polyphenolic compounds called flavonoids found in lemons and limes are especially potent and can help with lipid metabolism. Their role in treating dyslipidemia, obesity, and atherosclerosis, among other things, is getting a lot of attention. So why not get a head start with a refreshing glass of the tangy juice when you wake up?
2. Swap Some Meats For Soy
The US Food and Drug Administration says that consuming about 25 gm of soybean protein could help lower blood cholesterol levels if you swap it for the animal protein you normally consume. Simply trade in that steak for some tempeh or tofu, or go Japanese with miso. Alternatively, try acquiring a taste for soy milk, soy cheese, or soy yogurt.
3. Down Some ACV
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is good for more than your salad dressing. Pure unfiltered organic ACV consumed plain (a couple of spoons) or stirred into some warm water and drunk before your main meals of the day can boost digestion, lower appetite, and reduce fat accumulation. A great weight-loss aid, it helped participants in one study improve their BMI, body weight, and waist circumference numbers.
4. Spice Up Your Life
You may only need to turn to your larder for some fat-burning help. If hot and spicy isn’t a challenge, try adding more chillies to your meals. Capsinoids in red peppers can increase fat metabolism and help you lose that excess abdominal fat too.
5. Cardamom Kickstart
According to Ayurveda, the fragrant cardamom can help kickstart your metabolism and lower cholesterol levels, helping the body burn fat. Just 3 gm of cardamom powder could help, as one study showed. In this case, the cardamom was split into two doses and consumed daily over a 12-week period and resulted in an improved lipid profile.
6. Turn To Ayurveda All-Rounder Ashwagandha
Ayurvedic remedies like ashwagandha can help you beat the bulge naturally. The herbal remedy improves your metabolism, cuts inflammation associated with being overweight, and lowers stress and anxiety too, helping you keep those cortisol levels in check. The leaves or roots can be crushed, mixed with water, and consumed. You can also get it as a powder (churna) or as a supplement from an Ayurvedic practitioner.
Guggulu, another remedy, is also useful for battling obesity and hyperlipidemia. A herbal remedy combining ashwagandha powder and guggulu has also been found to reduce cholesterol and weight, apart from helping balance the lipid profile.
7. Get Exotic!
Unusual Eastern ingredients like curry leaves can cut cholesterol in the body, and others like fenugreek seeds prevent the accumulation of lipids in the liver. The former can be added to green smoothies or as a garnish to meals, while a spoonful of fenugreek seeds can be soaked overnight in warm water and then just munched plain or consumed powdered and mixed into warm water.