Haven’t you ever leaned over the cooking
stove and taken a whiff of what’s cooking so good that you got distracted from
your work? Well, that’s the magic of Indian spices.

Indian spices have defined our culinary
heritage for centuries. The fusion of herbs and spices gives food a divine
aroma. Apart from piquancy, these spices also offer health benefits. The icing
on the cake or the ‘elaichi on biriyani’ is that they assist in the process of
weight loss. They also help to ward off viral infections by keeping our immune
system wide awake.

Here are some spices that can help you
manage your weight, especially in the ‘gorging’ winter season.

Turmeric

‘Haldi doodh’ is the
tried-and-tested antidote to any health problem in India. Turmeric is known to increase
the metabolic rate as it stimulates the digestive system. The ancient spice is
laden with anti-inflammatory, antioxidants
and anti-viral properties. It also helps to get rid of the excess fat of your
body.

Also Read | For masala king Dharampal Gulati, hard work was the spice of life

Fenugreek

Start your day with having a spoonful of fenugreek seeds
soaked in water that flushes out the toxins from your body and boosts your
metabolic rate. Fenugreek also contains a natural fibre that helps to control food
cravings and the urge to eat.

Cinnamon

Keeping you warm during the winters, cinnamon
also ups the metabolism of your body and suppresses food cravings. It keeps a
check on the insulin level of blood and provides relief.

Black pepper

Black pepper contains the component
piperine that enhances metabolism and suppresses fat accumulation in the body.
This thermogenic food increases the amount of good cholesterol in the body and
also boosts the immune system.

Black pepper can be consumed in the
form of tea or with honey drink as a detox.

Fennel

Fennel acts as a
natural diuretic and frees your body from unwanted toxins. It is not only rich
in Vitamin A, D and C, but also strengthens the immune system. Adding fennel to
your daily cup of tea or even with water helps stimulate weight loss.

Cardamom

Apart from having diuretic properties,
this aromatic spice assists in burning body fat efficiently and stimulates
digestion. Chewing 3-4 pods of cardamom or adding it to your tea does wonders
to your body.

Chili pepper

Chili pepper contains a component
capsaicin that produces a thermogenic effect by burning fat. It is quickly
absorbed in the stomach and controls the urge to eat constantly.