Indian foods are quite popular all over the world for its amazing flavors. The wide variety of spices and condiments used in Indian cuisines not only make the food delicious but also nutritious and healthy. Many dieters often avoid typical Indian foods since most of the dishes are spicy, and prepared with excessive oil or butter. However, there are certain Indian foods that can actually help you to lose weight if you use the right ingredients and select a healthy cooking method. Such typical Indian ingredients that help you lose weight by burning away the excess body fat is given below. So, make sure to include these ingredients in your daily diet and enjoy your favorite Indian cuisines without the fear of gaining weight.
Turmeric
Turmeric, one of the most popular spices of every Indian Kitchen, has wonderful fat burning qualities. The main factor because of which the turmeric has obtained this quality is the presence of Curcumin - a plant-based polyphenol. This ingredient is believed to help break down the body fat. Inclusion of turmeric in your daily diet will regulate the body’s metabolism, which in turn will contribute to successful weight management. Regular intake of turmeric will also help your body to reduce the level of bad cholesterol (LDL), regulate high blood pressure, increase blood circulation, prevent clotting, and reduce the risk of heart attack. Moreover, scientific evidence shows that turmeric may even aid in preventing the re-growth of fat after weight loss. So, a daily sprinkle of turmeric in your meals will give you lots and lots of health benefits.
Moong dal
You will get almost all needed vitamins and minerals from moong dal. It is a rich source of important vitamins like Vitamin A, B, C and E, and minerals like calcium, iron and potassium. Plus, moong dal is a great source of protein and fiber. The high fiber content of the moong dal will help you to feel fuller for a longer period of time, curb your cravings, and thus aid in weight loss. Moreover, moong dal itself is very low in fat. All of these nutritional benefits together make the moong dal a great Indian food grain, which can help you to lose weight more effectively. In addition to aiding weight loss, moong dal offers a host of health benefits for the metabolism, the immune system, the cell growth, protection against free radicals and various deadly diseases like cancer and diabetes. You can take these nutritious legumes in the form of soups, sprouts, plain dal, etc.
Honey
Since ages, Honey has been highly recommended for people who are trying to lose weight. In fact, eliminating table sugar from your diet and replacing it with honey is one of the first steps for weight loss. Despite the fact that honey is sweet and has more calories than sugar, honey can actually help you lose weight. This is because honey contains essential vitamins and minerals that are absent in processed white sugar. These nutrients are needed to dissolve fat and cholesterol. Moreover, this natural sweetener contains around 22 amino acids along with a host of minerals required for its metabolism and thus it is helpful in preventing obesity in a person. Having a glass of warm water mixed with 1 tbsp of honey and lime juice is a great way to start your morning. It is believed that honey’s weight loss properties are activated when it is added to hot water and lemon juice, causing a boost in your metabolism leading to weight loss.
Millets
Millet is considered as the perfect food for dieters. It is a great source of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. This delicious grain not only helps in removing fat from the body but also prevents the deposition of new fat reserves. Since millet is rich in fiber, it can make you feel full longer and thus help you to control your cravings and hunger. Moreover, the high fiber content helps to absorb cholesterol and boost the secretion of bile that emulsifies fat. The best part of this grain is that it is gluten free. Hence, millet is an apt food for all those people who are suffering with celiac disease or other forms of allergies to wheat. Plus, millet is extremely easy to digest, and so it is an ideal meal for an upset stomach. Above all, regular consumption of whole grains like millet results in reduced risk of heart diseases, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
Mustard oil
Mustard oil is considered as one of the healthiest edible oils for cooking. It has the lowest amount of saturated fatty acids compared to other cooking oils available in the market. Plus, it contains high amount of monounsaturated & polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are essential for overall good health. It also consists of oleic acid, fatty acid, erucic acid and linoleic acid. Mustard oil, loaded with essential antioxidants and vitamins, can really lower your cholesterol level and improve your heart health considerably. Plus, this magical oil stimulates the digestion, circulation and even excretory system of the body. So, start cooking your meal in mustard oil from today itself.
Chillies
You will be actually surprised to know that spicing up your meals with chillies can make it much easier for you to shed those extra pounds. Chillies contain a chemical called capsaicin that increases your body’s metabolism significantly. Capsaicin actually stimulates a natural process in which a certain portion of the food we eat at every meal is converted to heat instantly. As soon as you eat hot chillies, the capsaicin compound will increase your blood flow, causing your body to produce heat (which may result in sweating you) for up to 20 minutes. This in turn will cause your body to speed up the metabolism and burn the calories at a much faster rate. Various studies have revealed that by eating chillies, you can boost your metabolic rate by up to 23% for around 3 hours. Therefore, spice up your meals with hot chillies and improve your body’s capability to burn the excess fat naturally.
Curry leaves
Curry leaves, also called sweet neem leaves, are highly aromatic leaves that are widely used in Indian cuisines. Often people throw away the curry leaves from their food. However, they are unaware of the fact that these curry leaves actually provides a number of health benefits. Adding curry leaves in your daily diet can even facilitate weight-loss. They flush out fat from the body, remove toxins and even lower your bad cholesterol levels. These leaves actually work as a tonic within the body, improving the digestive system including digestive enzymes & fluids that break down food more easily. This in turn automatically aids weight loss as there are no chances for fat to accumulate in the body. To overcome the problem of obesity, include at least 8-10 curry leaves in your daily diet. The best way to lose or control weight is to chew a few fully grown curry leaves every morning.
Buttermilk
There is a common misconception prevailing among people that buttermilk is basically a buttery, high-fat milk because its name has the word “butter”. However, it is absolutely wrong. In fact, buttermilk contains less fat and calories when compared to regular milk. Buttermilk contains merely 2.2g of fat and around 99 calories, whereas the whole milk contains about 8.9g of fat and 157 calories. This means, daily intake of buttermilk will supply you with all the vital nutrients that too without adding fats and calories to your body. This super nutritious drink also helps in regulating bowel moments and the general digestive track, which in turn facilitates the weight loss. Buttermilk is proved to be a great home remedy for curing complicated digestive disorders and even obesity. You can also enjoy buttermilk in a different way by making a refreshing and healthy homemade drink, in which all you have to do is to add some fresh chopped coriander & green chillies along with little salt & pepper in buttermilk.
Other popular Indian foods that help with weigh loss include garlic, cinnamon & cloves, cardamom and cabbage. Garlic contains a compound called allicin, which has amazing anti-bacterial effects that greatly helps in decreasing the cholesterol level and unhealthy fats. The spices, cinnamon and cloves, facilitates the production of insulin and thus help in controlling the blood sugar level in the body. Cardamom is another great Indian spice, which can help you lose weight. It is a thermogenic herb, which can boost the metabolism and help you burn fat more efficiently. Cabbage is also a great option for people looking to lose weight. Cabbage, no matter raw or cooked, will slow down the conversion of sugar and other carbohydrates into fat.
Sesame oil is named as “The Queen Of Oils” in Ayurveda since it provides lots of health benefits. The oil is also recognized as Til oil, Benne oil or Gingelly oil. It is loaded with Vitamin A, E and B complex, which are useful to nourish and rejuvenate the skin. It also contains minerals like copper phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, iron, calcium and zinc in high amount. It has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antiviral properties. It is also rich in different types of antioxidants that are highly helpful in fighting off the free radicals and pulls toxins from the skin. The oil helps to fade out dark spots, prevent blackheads and clear pimples. You should use 100% pure sesame seed oil (unrefined) for skin and hair.
