Believe it or not, some of the most powerful fat-burning nutrients come in the smallest packages: the dried herbs and spices in your pantry and the fresh herbs in your garden. You probably already love these seasonings because they make your meals taste great, but you might not know that they are powerful weight-loss superfoods. Use them to flavor bone broth and your meals, and even your shakes. In particular, the following fat-burning herbs and spices can ramp up your fat burning—so go crazy with them!

Fat burning herbs and spices

Basil

Basil is anti-inflammatory, reduces water retention and bloating, and functions as an adaptogen (a substance that helps your body adapt to stress). Basil also helps reduce fat buildup in your liver while detoxifying your body.

Black pepper

Piperine is the compound that gives pepper its pungent flavor. Piperine enhances the effects of curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric—a fat-burning powerhouse I’ll talk about later. One study also suggests that the piperine in black pepper battles fat by blocking the formation of new fat cells.

Cardamom

Cardamom is thermogenic (meaning it increases your body heat and speeds up your metabolism), has anti-inflammatory properties, and acts as an antioxidant, cleaning up rogue molecules called free radicals and resisting cellular aging.

Cayenne

Capsaicin, the compound that gives chile peppers their heat, helps shrink fatty tissue and lower blood-fat levels. It’s also thermogenic.

Cilantro and coriander

Although both names refer to the same plant, cilantro typically refers to the leafy green part of the coriander plant, while coriander is the common name for the seeds of the plant. Both cilantro and coriander are antioxidant-rich and may help reduce LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol levels in your blood. They also contain large quantities of vitamins A and K.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon helps regulate blood glucose levels, reducing your cravings and helping you burn fat faster.

Cloves

Cloves help reduce your blood sugar. They also help improve your digestion and optimize your metabolism.

Cumin

Cumin is a great fat burner that also aids in digestion. One teaspoon can help you burn up to three times more body fat!

Fennel seeds

These are a natural diuretic and a powerful digestive aid.

Garlic

Garlic helps burn belly fat. It also reduces LDL cholesterol, which may lower your risk of heart disease. In addition, it reduces oxidative damage from free radicals, helping fight the aging process.

Ginger

Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties, and it’s a powerful gut soother. It also has thermogenic properties that help boost your metabolism.

Mustard

One teaspoon of prepared mustard can boost your metabolism by up to 25% for several hours after eating. The credit goes to allyl isothiocyanates, which are phytochemicals that give mustard its characteristic flavor.

Parsley

Parsley’s wealth of vitamin C makes it a great immune-system booster. It’s also an excellent source of beta carotene, an antioxidant that helps protect your body against free-radical damage. It has anti-inflammatory properties, relaxes your muscles, and encourages digestion.

Turmeric

Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric. It slows the formation of fatty tissue by affecting the blood vessels needed to form it. Curcumin contributes to lower body fat and weight loss. It is also an anti-inflammatory agent and lowers insulin resistance.

White pepper

Just as in black pepper, piperine is the compound that gives white pepper its pungent flavor. Like black pepper, white pepper increases the effects of curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric.

As you can see, these natural weight-loss herbs and spices have incredible mojo. (It’s true: Good things do come in small packages!) So use a liberal hand when you add them to your meals, put them in your shakes, or stir them into your broth. 

Keep thinking Big and living BOLD!