Herbs provide a range of health benefits beyond making your food taste better. While traditional practitioners have included plants in their remedies for centuries, you can benefit from the use of some herbs for their effect on inflammation and weight loss. You can add herbs and spices into your foods or, in the case of yerba mate, enjoy them as a tea. However, before using any herbal remedies, consult your health-care professional.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon stands out as a popular herb used in many traditional recipes in many cultures. When added to foods, it imparts a slightly sweet taste alongside the spicy flavor. Cinnamon also has a number of effects on metabolism that may aid weight loss. Cinnamon exhibits anti-inflammatory actions and also has a thermogenic effect following consumption. Thermogenesis is the process whereby the body burns additional fat as fuel. Women Fitness also notes that cinnamon has a balancing effect on blood sugar levels that may help reduce insulin resistance. Again, consult your physician before using any herb as therapy.
Cayenne
Cayenne comes in a multitude of different heat units. The higher the number, the hotter the pepper; the heat results from the capsaicin content, which can reach more than one percent of the total weight of the pepper. Dr John Heinermann, a medical anthropologist and the author of "The Healing Benefits of Cayenne," says that the hotter peppers deliver a more therapeutic effect when consumed. Benefits include an increase in circulation all across the body, and a very potent thermogenic effect. Before using cayenne as therapy, speak to your doctor.
Yerba Mate
Rain Tree reports that yerba mate has a long history of use across the globe. Its uses include overcoming physical and mental fatigue, headaches and weight loss. The "British Herbal Pharmacopoeia" indicates the use of this herb for these conditions. Yerba mate exhibits a host of different effects in the human body, including the relief of pain and increased energy. Its active constituents include xanthine alkaloids, chlorogenic acid and plant sterols, with caffeine identified as the active component responsible for the fat-burning properties. Some in the natural health world dispute the presence of caffeine in yerba mate and say that the herb contains mateine instead, however, independent studies have since confirmed the presence of caffeine in this herb. Consult your physician before using yerba mate as therapy.
References
- Rain Tree: Yerba Mate
- "The Healing Benefits of Cayenne"; Dr John Heinermann; 1999.
- Women Fitness: Herbs that Help Shed Pounds
