Do Spices Really Boost Metabolism?

Synopsis: Ever wonder if there are spices that really do help to boost your metabolism and make weight loss easier?  Read on to find out more.

Many people have heard about the studies that have been released in recent months or even the past year about the connection between spicy foods and an increased metabolism.  At first there seemed to be a huge surge of information coming out supporting this position, but do those spices really help?  While there are still some doubters and more tests to be done, most studies so far seem to indicate that yes, certain spices can help to speed up a person's metabolism, which of course helps to cut weight.

The key is to find spices that are "thermogenic."  This means spices that cause the body to heat up in response to processing them.  Most of these spices will be hot, but there are some exceptions.  Examples of spices that will boost your body's metabolism with this thermogenic effect include: red pepper, cinnamon, black pepper, wasabi powder, cumin, or cayenne pepper.  These spices have been shown to give a temporary boost to your metabolism, lasting on average from 20-30 minutes depending on the study.

The benefits of eating spicy foods can even go beyond boosting the metabolism.  Heat fills the stomach, which means adding those spices not only boosts your metabolism, but it is going to make you feel fuller, faster.  This is also a natural way to kick start your metabolic rate, which is far healthier than any kind of drug or supplement which can have adverse side effects.

Other spices are also showing some promising results, such as mustard seed.  Adding a little bit of mustard and a little bit of hot sauce to an afternoon sandwich is very easy to do, and is going to give you that little extra kick in the metabolism to burn the calories, but also process them into energy.

If spicy isn't your thing, the good news is that there are some other options.  Consider using cinnamon in some dishes (pure cinnamon – not the stuff mixed with white sugar), or ginger has also been shown to have some great metabolic effects.  A cup of ginger tea is easy to brew up and doesn't have the same kick as cayenne pepper, making it much easier to enjoy for people with sensitive palates.

While the studies are still going to continue, right now the results look good that if you choose to add just a few of these spices into your every day meals, then your metabolic rate is going to get a nice boost with everything you eat to help those weight loss goals.