Are you tired of dieting and seeing no satisfying results? It’s time to spice up your weight loss plan a little with a plant known for its remarkable health properties – ginger!
It’s extremely popular in Asia thanks to the traditional Chinese medicine – it’s often used there for various purposes, like boosting the immune system or even fighting menstrual cramps. Let’s focus on how it can help you lose that stubborn fat. Experts like Peter Burnski who are in the health nitch agree on what you are about to learn. Read on to discover the inside scoop about ginger and weight loss!
What Is Ginger?
Ginger is a plant which has an underground rhizome with yellow, red or white flesh. The skin of the rhizome is light brown and it can be thick if the plant was harvested when it was mature or thin if it was harvested while it was still young. Ginger has a distinctive, spicy taste and is very aromatic which makes it perfect for culinary use. It’s most commonly used in Asian and Indian cuisine.
How Can Ginger Aid in Weight Loss?
Here’s the deal: ginger impacts your body in many different manners which work in your favor if you’re struggling with some extra pounds. Below, you’ll find a list of all of the ways that ginger can help you lose weight:
- Makes you feel full quicker
A 2012 study conducted by the scientists at the Institute for Human Nutrition at Columbia University concluded that consuming ginger increases the feeling of satiety. The study involved ten obese men divided into two groups. One group was consuming ginger in a form of a hot beverage with 2 grams of dissolved ginger powder in each portion. The men who consumed a ginger drink during breakfast felt significantly fuller and consumed fewer calories during the rest of the day compared to the control group.
The researchers noted that ‘The results, showing enhanced thermogenesis and reduced feelings of hunger with ginger consumption, suggest a potential role of ginger in weight management.’ Although additional studies are needed to confirm these findings, it’s definitely worth to give ginger a chance! Feeling full for longer will help you banish the urge to snack constantly or to seek so-called comfort foods – the common culprits that cause consuming more calories than actually needed.
Bottom line:
Ginger increases the satiety which causes you to consume fewer calories overall.
- Helps you keep your blood sugar levels in check
Ginger may improve fasting blood sugar levels, according to a 2013 study conducted by a group of scientists from Iran. During the 12 weeks of study, one group of type 2 diabetic participants was receiving 2 grams of ginger powder every day. Compared to the control group, these diabetic patients showed significantly lower levels of fasting blood sugar. Keeping your blood sugar stable is crucial for weight loss. But as ginger can also boost the effect of blood thinning medication, be sure to steer clear of this spice while taking such drugs.
Bottom line:
Keeping stable blood sugar levels is crucial for weight loss and ginger plays an important role in lowering fasting blood sugar levels.
- Speeds up metabolism
Ginger, known for its fat-burning properties is a popular ingredient of many supplements designed to help you lose weight. Just think about it: ginger can speed up your metabolism rates by a whopping 20%! If you add ginger to your diet and combine it with an active lifestyle, your chances for losing some major weight will literally skyrocket!
Bottom line:
Ginger can speed up your metabolism rates by as much as 20%.
- Banishes stubborn belly fat
If you’re a dieting veteran, you’ve probably noticed that belly fat is usually the hardest to get rid of. Feeling hopeless? Don’t give up just yet as ginger can help you target belly fat and finally banish it once and for all.
If you’re dreaming of a flat tummy, you’ll not only need to eat clean but also work out to burn calories and tone your abs. Hitting the gym is not always an easy thing to do, especially if you’re feeling fatigued. But here’s the kicker: ginger acts like an energetic drink, minus the harmful side effects. It will help you stick to your training routine and melt belly fat.
With our hectic lives, many of us suffer from chronic stress which raises the levels of cortisol, the hormone which makes your body store fat around your midsection as well as throws your metabolism out of balance. If your cortisol levels are sky high, you can do your best at the gym, eat only healthy foods and still be unable to lose belly fat!
Want to know the best part? It turns out that ginger can significantly reduce the cortisol levels, according to a 2004 study conducted by Japanese scientists. And with cortisol levels under control, it’s so much easier to get rid of abdominal fat.
Bottom line:
Ginger helps you lose belly fat by giving you the energy needed for working out and reducing the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone which makes it very hard to lose belly fat.
- Improves digestion
Ginger is extremely helpful in curing many gastric ailments like constipation, indigestion, bloating and many more. And guess what, without proper digestion, it’s really hard to lose weight.
What’s more, ginger has the power to optimize the pH levels in the stomach which means that it creates the best possible conditions for absorbing all the nutrients from your meals. It’s extremely important for keeping you healthy and energized.
Bottom line:
Ginger helps you digest your food properly which makes it easier to stay healthy and banish fat.
How to Eat Ginger for Weight Loss?
You may be wondering what are the best ways to include ginger in your diet. If you’re a fan of Asian or Indian cuisine, it will be really easy for you – all you have to do is to add generous amounts of ginger powder to your meals. You can also get your daily ginger fix by drinking beverages that contain it. Check out the two delicious recipes below.
Lose weight with ginger and lemon tea
This recipe is both quick and simple. For one serving, boil a cup of water and remove it from the heat. Once you do that, add a small piece of fresh ginger, cover it and leave for 5 minutes. When the time is up, add the juice from one lemon. Why lemon? Lemon will aid digestion and boost the slimming effect of ginger. It’s best to drink this tea first thing in the morning.
Banish fat with lemon and ginger lemonade
Fear not, preparing this lemonade won’t take too much of your time. All you need to do is prepare a regular lemonade (but try to limit the amount of sugar as much as you can or skip it altogether) and add a teaspoon of grated ginger. You’ll have the best results if you drink this lemonade before breakfast.
Here’s a tip: wondering how to store ginger? It’s simple – fresh ginger can last a few weeks if stored in the refrigerator. Just be sure to wrap it in a paper towel or a dry cloth so that it retains its firm structure for longer. If you want, you can also freeze it but it will be more comfortable to use if you grate it first.
Final Thoughts
Ginger is known for the amazing health benefits that it offers. It’s a powerful antioxidant as well as a natural way to lower your cholesterol, to name just a few. And when it comes to weight loss, ginger has a tremendous impact on the most common obstacles that make it hard to burn fat – hormonal imbalances, slow metabolism, and overeating. So instead of spending your money on countless fat-burners at the pharmacy, head to your local farmer’s market and give ginger a chance to change your life!
