5 Everyday Spices That Can Help You Lose Weight

Growing up Indian American, my mom didn't know how to make any of the "traditional" American food—we usually ate foods like lentils, curries, rice, and rotis.

For traditional holidays, we would order a meal already prepared from the grocery store, but we would never eat it as-is.

No way! That was too bland. We would sprinkle red chili powder, turmeric powder, salt, and pepper and chop up little jalapeños and cilantro and sprinkle it over everything. Then, we would make a huge pot of rice and serve it right next to the roasted chicken.

Finally, we could eat!

After I had two kids, I worked really hard to lose weight, but my stubborn love handles and bloated belly stuck to me. That is, until I went back to the warm spices I used in my childhood and started sprinkling them on my food.

With just a sprinkle a day of spices, I lost 10 pounds in one month and 40 pounds in nine months! The spices accelerated my metabolism, helped me burn fat, and even decreased my appetite.

Stomp out your sugar cravings and relieve PMS with a pinch of this spice.

Did you know saffron can help reduce sugar cravings and relieves PMS symptoms, such as mood swings and depression?

Saffron is the world’s most expensive spice. The plant comes from flowers that bloom for only one week a year. At a price of $2,000 to $10,000 a pound, saffron can cost up to $40 for a few teaspoons. But the good news is just a small pinch will get you far.

A pinch of saffron can be steeped into a tea or used with light meat and vegetables, such as chicken, cauliflower, and onions, so the beautiful bright color can stand out.

Add a pinch of this ancient wonder spice to your tea to lose double the fat.

Turmeric is packed with cancer-fighting antioxidants, helps decrease inflammation, and stimulates our fat-burning systems to help with weight loss.

Turmeric is a beautiful golden color and smells earthy, with a soft scent of orange peel and ginger.

A great way to enjoy turmeric is with turmeric tea.

This spice is actually an aphrodisiac (ask my husband). Nutmeg stimulates the circulatory system and increases blood flow, which can lead to more, and more enjoyable, sex. It is also thought to be a digestive aid in traditional cuisines.

Nutmeg has a nutty smell and tastes slightly sweet and mellow. It’s very powerful, so you don’t need a lot.

Spicy peppers may help boost metabolism and increase calorie burn.

Pepper has been precious forever. It was even used as currency 1,000 years ago to pay rent to landlords in Rome. Now that’s a powerful spice!

Sichuan peppercorns were banned from being imported into the United States until just 10 years ago, and now top gourmet chefs can’t get enough of them!

Lightly toast these peppercorns in a pan, crush them, and add them to tofu, fish, or an Asian stir-fry!