How to Lose Weight : Natural Remedies That Truly Work
Obesity is a commonly heard of term nowadays. But, there are many uncommon facts attached to this word. Obesity is not only a matter of physical appearance, but it is a necessary medical condition that can give birth to several diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart diseases, etc. Even significant diseases such as cancer and arthritis can be developed as a consequence of obesity.
39% of adults aged 18 years and over were overweight in 2016, and 13% were obese. Also, 41 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2016. The fact of the matter is that many more people die from overweight and obesity than from underweight. Obesity throughout the world almost tripled between 1975 and 2016, which is, of course, a matter of significant concern(1).
Obesity is defined as a state of being extremely fat or overweight than the actual BMI parameter. BMI is the relation between a person’s body weight and height.
To calculate your BMI, height squared(in meters) body weight (in kilograms).
A BMI between 25 and 29.9 indicates a person may be overweight. A BMI over 30 may suggest you might be obese. Hence, you can calculate if you fall under the category of being ‘obese’ or overweight(2).
There are several causes of obesity. The primary reasons include one’s genetics, consumption of junk foods, food addiction, excessive food availability, higher insulin levels, etc. Some people also face obesity as a consequence of pregnancy or medications. Excessive intake of sugar serves as another significant reason for increasing obesity.
Obesity lasts longer for the reason of its negligence and non-consideration as a severe problem. Moreover, obesity persists because people generally fail to workout due to laziness or a busy schedule hence allowing the calories to stay back in the body and getting no space to be burnt.
Such problems demand attention, and people should consider regular walking or running or exercising in their daily routine.
The only aim of combating obesity is to lose weight. Weight loss and avoiding further putting on of excessive weight has to be a significant concern towards riddance to this disease.
Table of Contents
How to Lose Weight Effectively?
When it comes to weight loss, there are several remedies in every field around us. You can adapt to any methods, which are entirely natural, hence harmless and involving minimal costs.
The best part about healing disorders through naturopathy is that it enhances the body’s healing abilities and thus restores the body’s natural functioning. Not only this, but it also protects the body from further illnesses by immunizing the body against them for future mishappenings.
A person has to understand how certain natural elements suit his/her body and then adopt those elements to eliminate the disease because natural substances depend entirely upon the individual’s own body’s personalized requirements.
The biggest boon of using natural products for fighting disorders like obesity is that they are almost wholly light on the pocket and can be easily obtained around you. You do not need to worry about hefty medical bills which act as a deterrent to your motivation for fighting diseases.
Moreover, they do not have any side effects on your body. Once you get to know the exact need of your body to fight obesity, you are free to adopt them without fear of having adverse effects on your body.
Remedies for Weight Loss
- Foods
- Herbs
- Essential Oils
- Supplements
- Drinks
CURE 1: Foods for Weight Loss
Though reducing food consumption is the first remedy that generally comes to a person’s mind when it comes to losing weight, however, it is also true that certain natural foods are immensely helpful in burning of calories of body and such foods do not contribute to increasing your body weight.
Instead, dieticians suggest that intake of fibers, proteins, and carbohydrates is necessary for physical metabolism. This need of body can be fulfilled through consuming nuts, veggies, grains, and other foods.
The fact of the matter is, different foods have different abilities to burn a different number of calories.
Here are some most weight loss friendly foods according to science.
1. Leafy Greens for Weight Loss
Leafy Greens are the green leaves of vegetables that are fit for consumption. They have high nutrients amounts, which are very important for the body. More than one thousand types of plants with edible leaves are known today.
How Does It Work?
When it comes to weight loss, leafy green vegetables are the best food. They are rich in fiber which completes the necessity of wholeness of food and does not contain any calories. Reducing weight through consumption of such natural fibers has no harms but only excessive advantages of fibers, vitamins, and calcium.
How to Use?
Leafy green vegetables include spinach, cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, etc. These vegetables taste best when cooked in your favorite curry or stewed. Kale also serves as a good option with its advantage of consuming raw, since it loses its nutrients when cooked.
How Much to Use?
Leafy vegetables can be consumed from 1-2 servings each day during meals. Vegetables are generally a right stabilizer of blood pressure, hence eliminating the risk of obesity.
2. Lemon Water for Weight Loss
Lemon is a type of vegetable that is a small evergreen tree with flowering plants native to South Asia. The pulp and zest of lemon are used in cooking and baking. They are known for its acidic property and adding a sour flavor to food.
How Does It Work?
Lemons, the best citrus food, have excellent body fat accumulation suppressing qualities. Not only this, but lemons are also believed to increase metabolism by high rates.
With these qualities of lemons, they act as a significant aid in losing weight. Lemons are also helpful in better digestive mechanisms of the body, thus preventing any risk of gaining extra weight when consumed with a fixed healthy diet.
How to Use?
Lemons show their best effects when consumed with water. Water, with its detoxification abilities, works towards weight reduction while lemon mixed with water acts as the best body purifier while also benefiting the body through its digestive properties.
So mix lemon juice in a glass of lukewarm water and consume it during the morning and even sometimes throughout the day. It is to be noted that you shouldn’t add any artificial sweetener or sugar to the solution.
How Much to Use?
Lemons do not have any harmful exhibition of its properties. Hence they can be used 3-4 times each day. One can also take 14 days lemon water challenge through which all you need to do is intaking water mixed with lemon and honey each morning, thereby increasing the amount of water and lemon slightly each day.
Also Read: 14 Day Lemon Water Challenge To Lose Weight
3. Apple Cider Vinegar for Weight Loss
Apple cider vinegar is a type of vinegar made from fermented apple juice. It is made after crushing the common fruit apple and extracting juice by squeezing it. The fermentation process is done by adding bacteria and yeast, which converts sugars to alcohol.
How Does It Work?
When you are losing weight, you are likely to have cravings for certain foods that are pleasant to the taste buds. This craving, if healthy, can fulfill both criteria of reducing cravings and losing weight. Hence, smoothies have rich fiber content, healthy fats, and proteins which are suitable for weight loss.
How to Use?
There are several recipes for preparing delicious smoothies. They involve the addition of unsweetened milk, certain fruits for specific flavors, like blueberries, figs, cherries, raspberries, cocoa powder, chia seeds, vanilla extract, cashew butter, etc. Everything can be added according to the taste of an individual.
How Much to Use?:
Though excessive intake of smoothies can shoot sugar levels in the body, it is wise to consume them at short spans and smaller doses or quantities in a day.
4. Fruits for Weight Loss:
Fruits are nature’s ready-made package of vitamins, fibers, and other nutrients that support a complete healthy diet.
Fruits help in losing weight since they are low in calories and high in fiber. They lower the risk of major diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, etc.
Generally, fruits are the fleshy seed-associated structures of a plant that are edible in their raw state.
How Does It Work?
Fruits help in weight reduction by reducing fat levels of your body and providing fiber content, which is essential for your body while you are on a diet. They also help to reduce the stubborn belly fat, which is the problem area for millions of people. Fruits are known to be part of a healthy and well-balanced eating plan, which directly helps in losing weight.
How to Use?
There are several varieties of fruits that need to be consumed under the weight loss plan. Fruits like watermelons, blueberries, apples, pears, bananas, berries, avocados, kiwis, grapefruits, melons, oranges, bananas should be consumed daily. Some of the stone fruits like peaches, nectarines, and plums are called to be of great help when it comes to fighting obesity.
How Much to Use?
Fruits are almost of no harm even if consumed in larger quantities unless a person is personally allergic to some specific fruit. They only provide the right amounts of fibers and nutrients.
A plate of fruits can be consumed in replacement to a whole heavy meal to keep you fuller and also provide you all the benefits required to lose weight. They can also be consumed between meals for a fuller appetite. Starting the day with anyone fruit is also a good idea to lose obesity.
These foods help reduce body weight by providing required nutrients, fats, carbohydrates, and proteins to the body, which make the body fuller while decreasing the intake of other foods. These foods are easy to get foods in the market and are easily cooked according to one’s taste at home by the addition of certain spices etc.according to one’s personal preference.
CURE 2: Herbs for Weight Loss
Though it is vital for weight loss about what you put on your plate. However, it is equally important that what your spices shelf comprises off.
Natural herbs and spices act as an extremely important ingredient to your diet chart, which is aimed towards losing weight instead of gaining more weight. Thus, this choice of herbs comes from correct knowledge and information.
Several herbs are believed to fight regular food cravings and keep you fuller. They are also known for increasing human body metabolism, which is an important factor in reducing body weight.
1. Fenugreek for Weight Loss
Fenugreek is an annual plant which is grown worldwide under the category of the semiarid crop. The seeds and leaves the part of its plant are edible and mostly used in South and Central Asia. The seeds are generally used after roasting to remove its bitterness.
How Does It Work?
It is one of the common spices used in households. They are said to control appetite, thus reducing food intake and thereby helping in weight loss. They also help in the reduction of daily fat consumption by individuals.
How to Use?
Sprouted fenugreek seeds are a rich source of weight loss while also eliminating the factor of unpleasant taste buds. They can also be chewed raw after soaking them in water overnight. Another method of consuming seeds is by drinking fenugreek tea over an empty stomach in the morning.
How Much to Use?
The quantity of consuming fenugreek depends upon the form in which you are consuming the herb. It is suggested to consume them up to 8grams per day.
2. Ginger for Weight Loss
Ginger is a flowering plant and is a natural flavoring Indian spice used for food fragrance and taste enhancement. Ginger also acts as an Ayurvedic medicine used to treat several diseases.
How Does It Work?
Ginger is another common spice which is good in curing several diseases. It is also believed to be a useful ingredient in weight loss. It is good at fat absorption and increasing metabolism thus helping in reducing weight.
How to Use?
Ginger lemonade and ginger tea are the best recipes for the consumption of ginger. While lemonade can be prepared through mixing lemon, ginger and water, ginger tea is prepared by adding lemon, honey, and raw ginger pieces to boiling water.
How Much to Use?
Consuming a cup of ginger lemonade or tea in a day is recommended. But, it is also noticed that ginger can sometimes cause flatulence and constipation to some people. Hence, it is recommended to analyze the suitability of ginger to one’s body.
3. Turmeric for Weight Loss
Turmeric is a flowering plant, and its roots are used in cooking. It is a major flavoring ingredient in many Asian cuisines.
How Does It Work?
Turmeric is a famous and commonly used spice in Indian kitchen known for its medicinal properties as well as flavors and addition of color to food.
It is a lesser known fact that turmeric also helps in fat burning and increase weight loss.
How to Use?
You can use turmeric milk everyday for weight loss. It is highly known for burning high levels of calories in the body. You can also use turmeric in vegetables, salads, etc. You can even add turmeric to smoothies for flavor.
How Much to Use?
Turmeric can be used according to the consumption method and the flavor preference.
4. Black Pepper for Weight Loss
Black pepper is native to Southeast India. It is one of the most commonly used Indian spice used for spicy flavor in food. Black pepper also has key ingredients which contribute to its anti-inflammatory quality. It also serves as an antioxidant and disease-fighting agent.
How Does It Work?
Black pepper contains piperine, which helps in increasing metabolic performance and decreases fat accumulation in the body. Piperine is also a fantastic agent for your digestive system. It helps in secretion of hydrochloric acid that is helpful in digestion of proteins in the body.
How to Use?
If you can tolerate the hot and pungent smell of black pepper, you can consume it directly by chewing it every morning. You can also prepare black pepper tea by adding a small quantity of pepper to your tea. Black pepper oil can also be extracted or bought from the market for its consumption, which helps lose excessive weight.
How Much to Use?
Black pepper should be used in small quantity only because it is hot and might not suit the body if consumed in larger quantity. Only 1-2 black peppercorns are enough to chew. Even if you prepare black pepper tea, half to one tablespoon of black pepper is enough to help you lose weight.
Herbs for weight loss is not a direct method of reducing weight. But it largely aids to diet reduction plan by keeping you fuller and fighting away the constant food cravings that you might face while the course of losing weight.
CURE 3: Essential Oils for Weight Loss
Essential oils are mostly famous for relaxation, pain relief, skincare, etc. But fascinatingly, these oils even help in reducing body weight. Though they do not directly lose weight through some magic, they act as a major aid to your body loss plan by helping the metabolism faster.
Here are some essential oils which will promote considerable bodyweight loss:
1. Peppermint Oil for Weight Loss
Peppermint oil is one of the most versatile oils. It works as an important antioxidant and also works upon boosting body metabolism because it possesses anti-allergic symptoms. It is recommended to comprise your medical shelf with peppermint essential oil.
How Does It Work?
Peppermint oil is famous for boosting energy levels. It also helps in quicker working out by increasing metabolism. It is believed to reduce fatigue as well while also reducing the food cravings, thus making you fuller faster.
How to Use?
A few drops of peppermint oil can be consumed before meals by mixing with water. This can help reduction in appetite. It can also be used in a diffuser, which will be a refreshing mood element. Moreover, this oil can also be soaked in cotton and inhaled before meals giving you a feeling of fuller appetite.
How Much to Use?
A few drops of peppermint oil is enough to uplift the metabolism while giving you a fuller feeling, hence curbing your appetite.
2. Lemon Essential Oil for Weight Loss
Lemon oil is a commonly used oil which is believed to reduce stress and fatigue. It is also useful in reducing pains and strengthening the immune system of the body. Apart from this, the lemon essential oil is also beneficial in reducing body weight. Given below are the directions to use the oil for weight reduction purpose.
How Does It Work?
Lemon essential oil constitutes the basic properties of lemon, thus functioning as a supplement to lemon. It acts as a natural fat dissolver while also detoxifying body naturally. It also improves overall digestion thus inducing significant weight loss.
How to Use?
A few drops of lemon oil can be added to water and consumed before meals for a faster metabolism. It can also be soaked in a cotton ball and inhaled before intake of meals, thus helping in avoiding overeating during meals.
How Much to Use?:
Only a few drops, either to drink, inhale or massage act as a proper dosage to lemon oil essential oil. In this way, it helps in the suppression of body weight.
3. Lavender Essential Oil for Weight Loss
Lavender oil is the most commonly used oil in the world. Its benefits were found 2500 years ago. It is important for its antibacterial properties and sleep-inducing characteristics.
Read below to know about the direction of using the lavender oil for weight reduction purpose.
How Does It Work?
Lavender oil does not work directly on weight loss in the body. It helps in reducing stress and anxiety, which are the major factors of overeating, thus triggering weight loss. It directly stabilizes the stress hormone, thus reducing the anxiety levels and avoiding food cravings.
How to Use?
A few drops of lavender can be inhaled by soaking in a handkerchief or a cotton ball. It can also be used by pouring a few drops in diffuser and inhaling, which results in refreshing mood and stabilizing stress.
How Much to Use?
Only a few drops of lavender oil added in a cotton ball or a diffuser act as a moderate influencer of anxiety, thus preventing emotional overeating.
4. Cinnamon Oil for Weight Loss
Used medicinally, the cinnamon essential oil is famous for its anti-inflammatory quality and also for boosting the immunity of the body. Not only this, it improves metabolic functions. It also helps in reducing depression symptoms, exhaustion, and faintness. It can easily be obtained either from tree’s outer bark or its leaves. Hence, there are two types of essential oils- Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil and Leaf Essential Oil.
How Does It Work?
Cinnamon essential oil helps in weight reduction by blood sugar levels, thus controlling the excessive sugar cravings that happen in your body, which result in putting on weight. They also help you in increasing your energy levels, thus making you active towards exercising and burning calories. It also reduces the risk of heart diseases by acting as a cardioprotective agent.
How to Use?
You can use cinnamon essential oil by adding a few drops to your smoothie or tea. Cinnemon oil can also be used in a diffuser since its fragrance will make you feel refreshed and work positively on your body. You can even inhale the oil directly from the bottle or by adding a few drops to your handkerchief or a cotton ball.
How Much to Use?
This oil can be used in a small quantity itself to obtain its effects. One to two drops of the essential oil is enough to add to your tea or smoothie. Similarly, even if you use it in your diffuser, a few drops will be enough.
Essential oils are necessarily helpful in weight reduction. Though they do not directly work at losing body weight, they act as a crucial aiding agent towards your diet, reducing eating and body plans.
CURE 4: Supplements for Weight Loss
They are nutritional supplements that most drastically reduce weight among all the remedies. They are sold in medical stores in the form of pills, capsules, potions, powders, etc.
Read below the various supplements which are largely helpful in weight loss and also the directions about using them.
1. Hydroxycut for Weight Loss
Hydroxycut is a dietary supplement for weight loss. Its ingredients include caffeine, olive extract, cumin, and mint extracts. Given below are the ways in which Hydroxycut works and the ways and methods of consuming it.
How Does It Work?
Hydroxycut is believed to constitute some plant extracts as well as caffeine, which help in drastic weight loss. It is one of the most common weight loss supplements in the world.
How to Use?
You can directly consume Hydroxycut tablets available easily in the market. These tablets should only be consumed if you are not allergic to caffeine.
How Much to Use?
Capsules can be consumed depending upon the requirement of your body. You can consult your doctor regarding the exact proportion of intake of this supplement.
2. Caffeine for weight loss
Caffeine is a nervous system stimulant and the world’s most widely consumed drug. It is a bitter substance which is found in seeds, leaves, nuts, etc. Caffeine plays a significant role in weight loss. Its consumption directly aids in losing weight through its properties.
How Does It Work?
Caffeine is a common supplement used worldwide for weight loss. It can boost metabolism and increase fat burn. It is found naturally in tea, coffee, and other foods and beverages.
How to Use?
Caffeine can be used in the form of supplements. It can also be consumed in the form of tea and coffee.
How Much to Use?:
Caffeine should be used cautiously only in moderate quantities. Excess intake of caffeine can cause anxiety, insomnia, and irritability. One must take care of the suitability of caffeine proportion to one’s body.
3. Raspberry Ketone for weight loss
Raspberry ketones are the aroma compound of raspberries. It is used in cosmetics and also a food additive for flavor.
Read below how it works and also about the benefits it provides in weight loss with quantities that are fit to consume.
How Does It Work?
Raspberry Ketones are helpful in the breakdown of fat and increase levels of hormones which are crucial in weight loss in the body. It is a substance found in the raspberries.
How to Use?
Raspberry Ketones are available in the form of supplements. They can be bought from nearby stores after consultation with your doctor.
How Much to Use?:
The exact proportion of use of this supplement is recommended depending upon the suitability to your body. This can be found out through experimenting by small doses initially or through the doctor.
The following supplements are sure to fetch you results if taken under correct proportion and supervision. These supplements will not only help you lose your weight but also help you avoid putting on further unwanted weight. It is essential to know how these supplements suit your body and which ones should be avoided.
CURE 5: Drinks for Weight Loss
For the purpose of losing weight and fighting off unwanted and unpleasant obesity, some natural drinks which are most easily available for you to intake are the best options. These drinks do not almost have any adverse effects on your body but only aid immensely in fighting the excessive layer of fat over your body by burning fat and calories and also keeping your appetite fuller.
Read below some of the best drinks and the directions to consume them to get rid of excessive body weight :
1. Green Tea for Weight Loss
Green tea is a type of tea that originated in China. But it is produced and manufactured in parts of Asia. There are several varieties of green tea, and it depends on one’s suitability as to which green tea they prefer to consume.
How Does It Work?
Green tea is one of the most effective weight loss drinks which help in decreasing body fat, thus helping in reducing body weight. It contains powerful nutrients which help in the reduction of appetite.
How to Use?
Green tea can be prepared through brewing in hot water. First, boil the water. Then pour the green tea over water and let it brew for a minute. There are several green teas available in the market. You should only choose the best quality of green tea.
How Much to Use?:
Green tea is not required to be consumed in large quantities. Excessive consumption will only lead to specific problems. Green tea is beneficial when consumed under 2-2.5cups each day.
2. Water for Weight Loss
When it comes to losing weight, though it may seem unrealistic, water is the most effective remedy for obesity. If you consume an adequate amount of water precisely regularly, you will very easily be able to fight away the problem of obesity.
How Does It Work?
Water is the simplest and most effective way of losing weight. Consuming large quantities of water allows detoxification of body while keeping your appetite fuller and burning a large number of calories.
How to Use?
Water can be consumed, better if lukewarm because lukewarm water has the capability of breaking down the fats and increasing metabolism in the body. It can also be consumed by mixing lemon juice to it, which is another primary ingredient of weight loss.
How Much to Use?:
Consuming 500ml of water before every meal results in excellent weight loss. 3-4 liters should ideally be consumed per day. The maximum intake of water only has good health benefits, with no harmful effects attached to it.
3. Vegetable Juice for Weight Loss
Vegetable juice provides all the necessary fibers and calories required to any human body and helps in keeping fuller appetite. Nothing is better than natural and economical vegetable juice when it comes to losing weight.
How Does It Work?
Vegetable juices extracted naturally from several different vegetables help in weight reduction by detoxification of body and production of required nutrients to the body. They also provide minerals and required fibers that are responsible for active metabolism in the body.
How to Use?
Juice of any vegetable can be extracted according to your personal preference like carrot, lemon, cucumber, beetroot, spinach, etc.
How Much to Use?:
A glass of juice each day will be effectively helpful in reducing belly fat as well as overall weight loss of body.
4. Black Tea for Weight Loss
Black tea is a tea native to China, which is more oxidized than green and white teas. It is also stronger in flavor than the other teas. Black tea is known for its long retained flavor as compared to other teas.
Black tea is generally mixed with other plants to receive a beverage. They are typically named after the regions where they are produced. Most of the Chinese states are known for its production, but it is imported by several countries worldwide.
How Does It Work?
Like green tea, black tea also has compounds that are very helpful in losing weight. Polyphenols are the compound responsible for weight reduction in the human body.
This compound helps in weight loss by reducing calorie intake and increasing fat breakdown. Polyphenols are healthy antioxidants which boost the growth of friendly gut bacteria within the body, thus reducing the problem of body weight.
How to Use?
Black tea can be consumed depending upon your flavor and preference. You can consume one cup of black tea in the morning, which will help you in losing weight. You can add sugar and milk quantity according to your taste. You can also blend it with honey and consume it. You might also consume it black without adding anything.
How Much to Use?:
Researchers believe that people who drink 3 cups of black tea daily tend to lose more weight. But it also depends upon your suitability to the body. Black tea has higher caffeine content than other teas(3).
This higher caffeine can cause insomnia and leave you dehydrated. Hence, you should take care of its adequate consumption and consume only as much the tea suits your body.
When it comes to losing weight, people generally consider cutting their food diet as the first and foremost option to fight obesity. But according to researchers, cutting on food diet only devoids the body of its essential nutrients and fibers, thus causing weakness.
Instead, increasing the consumption of drinks helps in detoxification of the body, which is a necessary aspect in the weight loss process.
Drinks for weight loss are the simplest yet most effective home remedies for weight loss. It is essential to know how to consume these drinks so that they provide maximum benefit to one’s body since the response of such natural products differ from person to person.
While obesity is one of the most common medical problems these days, it is not at all challenging to fight this problem. The problem needs proper attention and care, and the sheer negligence or consideration of obesity as a standard scenario should immediately be avoided.
The problem can easily be overcome by the adoption of these natural remedies, which are conducive and effective means of reducing weight. These natural remedies also do not have any significant costs involved, and any person can adopt them quickly in their daily routine.
No engagement of extra time is required with these remedies. Moreover, such remedies do not have major side effects, unlike other remedies unless a person is allergic to any ingredient. Only a little dedication and motivation to overcome obesity and adopt a healthy lifestyle is required to lead a happy life.
Also Read: 8 Best Juice Recipes for Fast Weight Loss