Turmeric, the bright orange spice that gives Indian dishes their signature taste, has been used for centuries as a powerful medicine in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. Recently, however, turmeric has gained even more popularity in the health and wellness community for its many potential health benefits . One of these benefits that you might not know about? Turmeric’s ability to aid weight loss efforts! I’ll share with you 4 ways that eating turmeric can transform your fat loss!
1) You burn more fat
Studies have shown that adding curcumin to a low-calorie diet can help you burn fat and lose weight. This is because curcumin leads to increased energy expenditure, improved exercise performance and reduced body fat. In one study from 2011, obese individuals were given either a high-fat or a low-fat diet along with 1 gram of curcumin per day for eight weeks. When researchers measured body composition using DEXA scans, they found that those who took curcumin lost about twice as much body fat as those who were just on a low-fat diet.
2) You reduce inflammation
You’ve probably heard that inflammation is a marker of disease, but it’s also one of your body’s key responses to stress. When you experience a physical injury or emotional distress—say, a blistering run on a hot day—the body kicks into overdrive to repair itself and fight off foreign invaders. It swells tissues with fluid and doles out immune cells to heal wounds and neutralize pathogens. Inflammation plays an equally important role in fat loss. If you’re overweight, inflamed tissue signals your body that more energy is needed for healing than for storing fat—which is why people who are obese actually burn more calories than their thinner counterparts.
3) It boosts your metabolism
A 2012 study published in The Journal of Experimental Biology showed that curcumin and resveratrol (two major substances found in turmeric) increase fat-burning enzymes in your body. The study also notes that curcumin can reduce or prevent obesity, even when consumed alongside a high-fat diet. A different 2014 study showed that when overweight people consumed a tablespoon of ground turmeric daily for eight weeks, they had significantly lower levels of fat cells in their bodies. So don’t be surprised if you shed a few extra pounds—and keep them off—when consuming spicy foods on a regular basis. Curcumin has even been shown to be as effective as certain anti-inflammatory drugs with fewer side effects!
4) Helps with weight loss and digestion
Most Americans don’t eat enough spices and that’s a big problem for their health. The average American consumes about 10 pounds of spices per year, which is roughly half of what should be consumed in order to achieve maximum benefit from these flavorful foods. Garlic and ginger are considered top candidates for helping to burn fat, as they can reduce blood pressure, boost immunity and even promote heart health. When cooked with fatty meats such as beef or chicken, they help to further improve digestion. If you’re trying to lose weight but also improve overall health at the same time, using turmeric may just be your answer! Here are some additional ways that turmeric helps with weight loss
