Ginger Oil for Weight Loss? First, see the evidence!

Ginger is one of the very popular herbs used since ancient times for curing n number of health problems. From fighting inflammations in the body to improving gastrointestinal motility, ginger does a lot for the body.

Nowadays, there’s a huge buzz about using ginger essential oil for weight loss. You must also be wondering if it’s true. Well, I spoke to my nutritionist to find out about the reality behind ginger’s properties, to know whether it aids in weight loss or is it just a myth. Read on to know the truth.

Does Ginger Oil make you lose weight?

No. Ginger oil doesn’t make you lose weight. No scientific study or research has proven that ginger oil helps in direct weight loss. For sustainable weight loss, only a healthy balanced diet and consistent physical activity can help with desired results.

Pure Ginger oil is made up of a chemical group called sesquiterpenes which have some incredible benefits like cleansing and improving digestion speed, curing nausea, and providing healthy blood circulation.

Adding ginger oil to your diet will definitely boost your system in a lot of positive ways but there are no proven results of it directly decreasing body weight. What I mean is, a bad diet cannot be canceled by having ginger oil or ginger tea.

Although the use of ginger or ginger oil in daily diet is advisable for people with obesity management. Ginger helps in ‘Thermogenesis’, which is the process of the body burning fats, digesting carbs, and using insulin.  

There have been a lot of studies done on this ancient herb to know all its potential benefits. Ginger has a medically studied and proven long list of health benefits.

Benefits of Ginger Oil:

• • A daily dose of ginger oil has shown positive results in decreasing blood sugar levels and bad cholesterol, popularly known as LDL.

• • Studies have shown that ginger restrains the amount of fat absorption in the gut, and controls the appetite which overall decreases body fat and helps with weight loss. 

• • Consistent intake of ginger oil also tends to decrease the gross belly fat percentage in the body. 

• • Ginger oil stimulates increased blood flow in the body which means quicker oxygen delivery to muscles, tissues, and organs. Proper circulation in the body also keeps immunity in check and energy levels high.

• • Ginger is alkaline in nature. Hence, if you are struggling with acidity or GERD, ginger or ginger oil is a very effective herb to balance the PH of the stomach along with antacids.

• • Ginger oil improves digestive health by activating the digestive enzymes that help with bloating, constipation, or gas and helps lose weight. 

• • This ancient herb is anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial, making it ideal for treating common cold symptoms like coughing, runny eyes, and headaches. A glass of ginger drink builds immunity and is a preventative measure to strengthen cold symptoms.

• • Ginger helps relieve nausea. Ginger candies are a savior in situations like sea sickness, long car drives, upset stomach, morning sickness, or chemotherapy-associated vomiting and nausea,

• • It heats up the body. Ginger is believed to be hot in nature and ginger tea can instantly relieve you in cold temperatures.

• • Increases ‘Thermogenesis’, the ability and process of the body to burn fats, digest carbs, and use insulin.

• • Ginger essential oil when used as Aromatherapy aids a sense of warm feeling in the house which is also believed to ease the signs of anxiety, depression, and negative thoughts. It helps with relaxed sleeping. 

• • Ginger oil is very high in Antioxidants which means it can fight off free radicals and oxidative stress in the body. It also helps in repairing certain types of cell damage. 

• • Ginger contains compounds like gingerols, shogaols, and zingerone. Some studies have suggested that these compounds help in improving the circulation of the scalp and stimulating the hair follicles that ultimately help in hair growth. 

How to use Ginger oil for weight loss?

Ginger oil can be used topically, orally, or aromatically. According to FDA, it is considered a safe herb, however, ginger oil is highly concentrated which means that it needs to be diluted to avoid any allergic reactions.

Aromatically- You can put 3-4 drops of ginger oil in your diffuser, or humidifier to bring out the warm positive mood and improve sleep quality.

Topically- Ginger oil has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that help eliminate acne-causing bacteria and is very soothing for redness and irritated skin. It flushes out toxins uncovering younger soft skin. Applying this essential oil on the skin also improves lymphatic drainage and the cell’s oxygen supply.

Lymphatic drainage: Lymphatic drainage massage is a kind of massage that helps in the natural drainage of the lymph nodes and movement of lymph fluids around the body. The fluid removes waste and toxins from body tissues. 

FYI: Don’t use ginger essential oil without diluting it first with a carrier oil and because it’s a strong herb do not forget to patch test before directly applying it on the face.

Orally- For oral ginger oil consumption, first make sure the oil you are using is 100% pure and chemical-free. You can add a few drops, around 2-3 drops of ginger essential oil to your green tea or any flavored tea you like for healthy digestion.  

Also, people love to take fresh ginger shots in the morning as the first drink after waking up to boost their immunity, metabolism, and decrease belly fat. You can juice the ginger or can also make the drink by adding 2g of ginger powder to warm water.

Lastly, a lot of people love having Ginger weight loss smoothies.

*Recipe*

Blend Spinach, Beetroot, Carrot, a small piece of fresh ginger, 1 tsp squeezed lemon juice, and 1/4 tsp black salt. Do not strain the fiber completely. Have this smoothie first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. You will start seeing some drastic results in a span of just a week.

Are there any risks to using ginger oil?

This FDA-approved ancient herb has been considered safe to use but only when used appropriately in small quantities and with proper dilution. Essential oils in general are very strong in nature and can sometimes do more harm than good if not used correctly.

Aromatically, there are no risks involved but when using topically and orally, be careful with the usage quantity.

For oral consumption, start with a small amount of ginger oil like a few drops mixed in your favorite tea. High amounts in some cases can cause mild heartburn and too much heat in the body which can also lead to instant bumps or pimples on the skin as an allergic reaction.

For Topical usage, the best way to avoid any risks is to patch test on your forearm or back of the ear before directly applying on the face. To use safely, make massage oil by mixing the ginger essential oil with any of the carrier oils like avocado oil, or olive oil. Apply this massage oil after shower for better absorption and massage in gentle circular strokes for relaxing lymphatic drainage. 

Are any other alternative essential oils as a replacement for Ginger Oil?

Aromatically- Essential oils like cinnamon bark, nutmeg, eucalyptus, rosemary, ylang-ylang, clove, and Davana offer the same spicy, warm aroma in the house.

For Digestion- Fennel essential oil and Peppermint essential oil are great alternatives to ginger oil.

For Inflammation- Turmeric essential oil and cinnamon bark essential oil are very effective alternatives.

For Respiratory Health- Rosemary essential oil and eucalyptus essential oil are amazing alternatives. 

Can you put Ginger oil on the belly button?

Who shouldn’t use Ginger oil?

• Ginger lowers blood sugar levels so if you are on anti-diabetic medication, it’s safe to stay away from essential ginger oil.

• As we know, Ginger decreases the appetite and regulates the digestive enzymes which can lead to weight loss. People who are already underweight don’t need this.

• Ginger should be strictly denied in the last trimester of pregnancy as it is a very strong herb that can lead to premature contractions and labor.

• People with blood disorder conditions like Hemophilia should not consume ginger.

• If you are on high blood pressure medication, ginger essential oil is a big NO-NO. It tends to lower blood pressure.

Product recommendations for Ginger Oil

Are there any tips for sustainable weight loss?

2. Hydration is one of the important keys for weight loss, drink 1-two glasses of water on an empty stomach to simply cleanse the system. 

3. For Breakfast, always start the day with a vegetable smoothie including the complete fiber intake. Do not strain the fiber. Throw all the available veggies in your fridge into a blender, like beetroot, carrot, and spinach, add in some ginger, your favorite seeds, and have it. For the breakfast meal- Try and have the combination of protein + some complex carbs + healthy fats. e.g., Avocado toast with an egg on the top is the most balanced breakfast. Do not forget nuts especially almonds and one Brazil nut every day. 

4. In the journey of weight loss, people often forget to care for their skin. As an 11 AM snack, have half a cup of Greek yogurt, and 1 tsp of peanut butter/almond butter with your favorite fruits. Berries, apples, kiwi, etc. Do not forget to eat fruits for glowing skin and hair. 

5. For Lunch- Eat more whole grains like white/brown/red rice, whole wheat, oats, quinoa, beans, legumes, chickpeas, barley, millets, and buckwheat with any protein of your choice like tofu, paneer, or chicken. Add a plate of fresh salad to complete the meal. Just remember to control the portion size of the meal. Everything mentioned above will work wonders for your health and weight loss if you take care of the portion size. The trick is to put the plate down when you are 80% full.

6. Weight loss never means starving yourself. Starving yourself will do more harm than good. So, for the evening snack, you can opt for coconut water, homemade popcorn, a cup of coffee/tea, fox nuts, kale chips, a piece of 70% dark chocolate, or hummus with raw veggies.

7. For Dinner- Keep it light and again portion controlled. Have a vegetable sandwich with some soup or whole wheat/chickpea/lentil pasta in Arrabiata sauce or homemade pesto sauce. You can finish off with a piece of dark chocolate if you have a sweet tooth. 

8. Weight loss journey cannot be completed without physical activity. Eating correctly is amazing but if you want to fast-track the process and flood your body with happy hormones, choose any form of physical activity you enjoy doing. It can be sports, yoga, HIIT, Bootcamp, weight training, cardio, or cycling. Just move your body throughout the day. Don’t sit in front of your laptop for hours. Take breaks. 

9. Lastly, if you feel like having a cheat meal once in a while. Please do indulge in your favorite meals too. Life is not meant to be miserable and strict always. Indulge in your favorite treats to make yourself happy so that you enjoy the sustainable weight loss journey. Just don’t forget to keep the portion size small. And the third most important thing after diet and exercise is sleep. Sleeping 8 hours will repair cell damage and will boost up all the hard work you are putting in on the weight loss journey. 

Takeaway- Ginger oil for weight loss

This folk medicine has anti-inflammatory properties and is a go-to at-home treatment for a lot of body issues like upset stomach, nausea, and the common cold. Ginger oil contains certain nutrients with properties that help with overall weight loss and decreasing belly fat when used as a part of a healthy lifestyle.

Ginger oil helps in weight loss indirectly by:

• Speeding the process of Thermogenesis in the body
• Decreasing the amount of fat absorption in the gut aids in weight loss
• Controls appetite
• Decreasing inflammation in the gut
• Healthy digestion

Love~ Beauty Stroll

References 

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