7 Natural Ingredients to Help You Lose Weight The Green Way

Let’s get one thing straight. We’re by no means going to shout that you can lose weight by just relying on a few herbs – unfortunately, life isn’t quite as simple.

Lose Weight The Green Way

If we were to hand you any equation in your weight loss journey it would be to simply expend more calories than you consume.

However, that’s not to say that there aren’t little extra things in life which can give you a helping hand. We’re not talking about suspect supplements here either. On the contrary, there are umpteen green ingredients out there that can propel your weight loss journey and fuel your progress easier than ever before.

Some might not taste the best, but that’s beside the point. If you want to add a bit of spice to your progress, here are the natural ingredients that you should be targeting.

 

Korean ginseng

Korean ginseng

Something that you might notice about a lot of these options is that they are regularly contained in supplements. This is for a good reason as well; they are working examples and Korean ginseng falls straight into this category.

The beauty about Korean ginseng is that it comes in the form of tea. Ultimately, you don’t have to mess around trying to incorporate into meals – you can comfortably drink it without any questions asked.

The way it works is simple; it’s an ingredient which has been found to boost your metabolism. As we all know, those people with faster metabolisms are able to burn fat at a much faster rate. As well as this, the ingredient has been found to boost energy levels and suffice to say, this means that you’ll draw more from each day and again burn more calories.

There are a couple of caveats before you turn to this ingredient though. Firstly, you should seek your doctor’s approval, while secondly anyone who has any hormone-related conditions should probably avoid. This is because some people use Korean ginseng as a method of stress management as well, meaning it can affect that area of your body.

 

Ginger

Ginger

Next on the list is an ingredient which is slightly more known to most of us. In fact, some of you may even consume ginger as part of your standard diet.

If you fall into said category then congratulations – you are doing your waistline the world of good. This is something that has been verified by studies, with one in 2012 showing that ginger has thermic effects.

The upshot of this is significant. Any food which can promote thermogenesis is one which will gradually increase your body’s temperature. This means that your body has to work that little bit harder, and you’ll burn more calories as a result. It’s a completely tried and tested and safe method of weight loss – hence the official studies behind it.

As well as the above, there is evidence to suggest that ginger can make you feel fuller for longer, which obviously has its own benefits.

In terms of consumption, little needs to be said here. Most people will struggle to consume ginger in its raw form but if you are part of the minority, then by all means opt for this approach and grate it into your food. Alternatively, ginger tea will suffice, as will ginger capsules (although again, make sure you speak with your doctor before opting for the ginger supplement approach).

 

Tumeric

Tumeric

This is one of those natural ingredients that has gained immense popularity over the last few years. While this guide is focused on helping you lose weight the green way, if you were to perform any sort of research on Turmeric you would quickly find that it is responsible for helping you with all sorts of conditions.

However, let’s keep things simple and stick to weight loss. Tumeric has been found to help you produce more bile and as this is a key component when it comes to the breakdown of fat, this is particularly important.

As this is by no means a standard ingredient, our advice is to turn to turmeric in the form of a drink. You can either add the powder to a cup of boiling water (and add lemon to compliment nicely), or even make your own detox concoction with water and raw honey.

 

Oregano

Oregano

If you are someone who suffers with weight management problems and bloat, oregano might be right up your street.

The beauty about this herb is that it is found in most of our kitchens. In other words, you don’t have to devise weird and wonderful methods to consume it – it can all come with a sprinkle across your food.

Of course, if you’re not overly familiar with oregano, there are several suggestions on hand. Like with most of the green ingredients we cover, you can turn to oregano tea by simply mixing three teaspoons with hot water. Some people will also purchase it in oil-form and add to a fruit juice.

So, why is oregano so sacred when it comes to weight loss? It’s all about the carvacrol. This is a component within oregano that has been found to dissolve fat. The upshot is that you’ll have a much better digestive system and as we’ve already covered, it will also help the bloaters amongst you.

 

Peppermint

Peppermint

On the subject of avoiding bloating, peppermint is another prime contender. This isn’t its principle weight loss power though; instead peppermint is regarded as one of the best appetite suppressants around. As we’ve already covered, this means that you’ll be much less inclined to chomp on the calories and ultimately, your waistline will start to tumble.

Some people might be able to experience other, less-direct benefits of peppermint as well. This is seen as one of the most calming ingredients around and as such, it can reduce stress levels. Considering the fact that stress has been found as one of the biggest causes of people piling on the pounds – this is pretty significant.

This time, we won’t go into too much detail on how to consume peppermint. Most people will adore peppermint tea – which just involves one heaped tablespoon of the leaves being left in warm water for a few minutes.

 

Green tea

Green tea

We’ve touched on weight loss supplements through this guide and another ingredient which is commonly found in them is green tea.

There are countless studies behind this substance, with many confirming that green tea is very successful in helping people shed the pounds. To be precise, it’s something that will super-charge your metabolism, which allows you to burn more calories through the day in the process. It also contains catechins (a form of antioxidant), and this is something that can also help you burn more fat.

As the name may suggest, the easiest way to consume green tea is as a beverage. Simply pouring some hot water with a couple of teaspoons of this ingredient is sufficient – and experts believe that you can safely get away with up to four cups of it per day to really see the benefits.

 

Hibiscus

Hibiscus

We’ll conclude our guide with something that most of you probably haven’t heard of. However, while hibiscus might not be quite as prevalent as some of the other natural ingredients, its power as a green weight loss component should not be understated.

The make-up of hibiscus means that your body is much less able to absorb fats and carbohydrates after consuming it. This was verified in a 2014 study, which showed that people taking extracts of the ingredient reported lower body fat and waist circumference.

Once again, tea is the best method of consumption, and you’ll just need a couple of tablespoons of the petals along with some hot water. Most people like to add extra flavor with the likes of honey and lemon juice.

Who is Jordan Keller

Senior Writer, Jordan is a certified personal trainer (ACE). He is a former contributor to The Green Parent (UK).