An unhealthy lifestyle and uncontrolled eating habits can have a negative impact on human health that may result into increased body weight, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and a weak immune system. Weight gain is becoming a major problem among youth and they are now working to find weight loss solutions. Though weight loss pills, anti-cellulite gels and expensive fitness gadgets on commercials promise instant results, these may be detrimental to our health.
Home Remedies for Reducing Weight
Losing weight isn’t a mysterious process; it’s a matter of burning more calories than we eat. Let’s try some effective home remedies for reducing weight in a healthy way:
- Boil about 10 gm of triphala (a combination of equal amount of Amla (Indian gooseberry), Harra and Beheda powder in a glass of water for 10 minutes. Consume it hot (at the temperature you can handle to drink) every morning.
- Drinking the juice of bitter gourd with lemon every morning is also considered effective against weight gain.
- Starting your day with a teaspoon of honey mixed with half a teaspoon of lemon in lukewarm water taken twice a day is beneficial in shedding weight.
- Prepare a paste of half teaspoon honey and a few fresh basil leaves. Mix it in warm water and drink.
- Eating a tomato or two in the early mornings is said to be effective in reducing weight.
- Soak a few leaves of jamun (Indian plum) overnight, discard the leaves and drink water in the morning on an empty stomach.
- Prepare a paste by mixing half teaspoon of guggal powder in a teaspoon of honey and ginger. This treatment is effective for weight reduction.
- Eating a cabbage salad also helps reduce weight as tartaric acid, an active ingredient in Cabbage has the property to inhibit conversion of sugars into fat. Also, it is a negative calorie food.
- Having vegetable soup or eating papaya for dinner for three months is beneficial in reducing weight.
- Consuming three cups of green tea is also believed to burn excess body fat.
- Drinking ginger tea with added black pepper powder is helpful in controlling weight.
- Boil sliced ginger in water. Add half a spoon of lemon juice and one-fourth teaspoon black pepper powder. Drink the above preparation when hot.
Role of Diet and Exercise in Reducing Weight
Though these remedies are effective in controlling weight, there are other factors too which one should be conscious of. Eat a diet rich in green vegetables and fruits. Incorporate spices like black pepper, long pepper, mustard, ginger, cinnamon and cayenne in your diet. Fish like tuna and salmon are rich in a protein, lectin, which helps improve metabolism aiding weight loss. Cut down on salt and high calorie foods like rice and potatoes. Eat slowly as it satisfies hunger with less food, thereby reducing calorie intake. Exercise plays a key role in reducing weight. Regular morning walks of 40 minutes, skipping rope, jogging, aerobics or yoga and pranayam (yogic breathing exercises) are among few exercises to try.
The above mentioned home remedies along with balanced diet and regular exercise will surely give faster and better results.Good luck!
References:
1. Acharya D. and Sancheti G. 2007. Kitchen Garden: A Clinic in Your Backyard, Positive Health, Issue 140 (Oct): 30-32.
Garima Sancheti - Dr Garima Sancheti is a PhD in Radiation and Cancer Biology from Rajasthan University, India. She has written various research articles in ...
