Ginger for Weight Loss?

You know that ginger is good for you. You know that it can help soothe an upset stomach, is delicious, and is good for your heart.

What you may not know is that ginger could, in fact, be helpful for weight loss. There are quite a few ways that ginger affects appetite, as well as processes in the body involved in weight loss. Let’s look at some of the ways ginger could be helpful for you.

It reduces your appetite

Ginger has been shown to reduce appetite through its ability to help stabilise blood sugar levels. Have you ever caved into a sugar craving, found your energy levels skyrocketed for a while, and then you were left with a sugar crash? Feeling lethargic, with a headache, and back to craving sugar again.

This is the rollercoaster that your blood sugar levels can go on, and that results in huge fluctuations in your energy levels, motivation, concentration, and mood.

Using ginger could be one strategy that allows you to enjoy more stable blood sugar levels, and level out your energy through the day. As a result, you are less likely to crave that sugar hit, or experience the sugar crash that leaves you looking for more sugar when you are in a slump.

It helps counteract stress weight gain

You’re probably well aware that stress makes you gain weight but you might not understand how it works exactly. Mostly it comes down to a hormone called Cortosil that is released in response to stress.  Cortisol results in extra fat storage, especially around the midsection.

It helps you get more out of a workout

Ginger has a stimulating effect, giving you a bit of an energy boost. This can be helpful when you exercise, allowing you to put in a little more effort and get more out of your time. That’s a few more calories burned, which might not seem like much. Think of this over a month, or a year, and that little bit of extra effort can result in big improvements in fitness and health.

It’s an anti-inflammatory

Ginger fights inflammation associated with osteoarthritis, helping to reduce the pain experienced. This could mean that you can get up and get moving more often, or extend the amount of physical activity you can tolerate slightly.

Pain also affects motivation and decision making, both of which you need for weight loss. In theory, anything that helps reduce pain could be a step in the right direction.