When the new year finally rolls around, so does one of the most common of all New Year Resolutions: weight loss. Whether you’re aiming to lose a life-changing amount or want to shed just a few pounds to fit into your favorite jeans a bit better, essential oils are a really great tool to help you on your weight loss journey.
Essential oils can directly influence your appetite and support a healthy digestive process.
It’s a real struggle to lose pounds when your mind is focused on food — especially unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks. And you also need to consider how your body is taking in the food you do decide to eat. Are enough nutrients being absorbed? Is your digestive track flowing smoothly or is it a blocked-up, uncomfortable mess? No matter your concern, there is an essential oil that can support your goals.
If you want to learn more information about how smell affects our hunger cues, check out this blog:
Can Essential Oils Help Me Lose Weight?
Here are a few of our favorite essential oils and blends to support your weight loss goal. Keep in mind that we can all experience essential oils in our own unique way, so personal experimentation may be in order! Hopefully, this list will provide you with a jumping off point for your journey:
Grapefruit
The sweet, fresh, citrusy aroma of this essential oil isn’t the only thing it’s good for. Grapefruit actually works to activate enzymes that help your body break down brown body fat, which is a special type of fat that can burn calories at a very high rate. In fact, brown body fat can generate three hundred times more heat than any other tissue in the body ! Not only that, but Grapefruit is rich in certain compounds, such as D-limonene, that help support the metabolism. It also supports the cleansing and drainage of lymphatic glands, allowing for better nutrient absorption in tissues and the bloodstream .
To use, diffuse alone or in a blend, or dilute to 1% in a carrier oil and apply topically to the stomach to help support the digestive system.
Ginger Root CO2
When you’re trying to lose weight, it’s important to consider ways to support your digestion and absorption of nutrients. Ginger Root CO2 contains the constituent gingerol, which has been shown to reduce disease-causing inflammation in your intestines and overall improve absorption of the vitamins and minerals you’re consuming . And if you’re absorbing more vitamins and minerals, then you’re helping to support your body’s cellular energy and help create weight loss.
Enjoy the warm and spicy scent in a diffuser or personal aromatherapy inhaler. To apply topically, dilute to 1% and massage on the abdomen to aid in digestion and stimulate circulation.
Cinnamon Leaf
A happy gut is important for healthy, long-term weight loss. Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil contains certain compounds that are known to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the upper gastrointestinal tract that can aid in digestion. One of these compounds is eugenol, which Cinnamon Leaf contains a very high percentage of. Eugenol may reduce symptoms of gastrointestinal distress such as upset stomach, nausea, and diarrhea .
When using Cinnamon Leaf, keep in mind that this essential oil is a mucous membrane irritant and can cause coughing or irritation to the nose, eyes, and mouth. Very little of this powerful oil is needed to enjoy its benefits — dilute to a maximum of 0.6% if you would like to apply it topically or diffuse it for small amounts of time or in a blend with other essential oils.
Lemon
So bright and fresh, Lemon Essential Oil is great to use for a multitude of uses, including helping with weight loss goals. When the weather is grey and dreary outside, Lemon can add a pop of brightness into your life, helping to motivate you out of the winter blues. Diffuse or use in your personal aromatherapy inhaler or necklace to enjoy this amazing citrus oil.
Turmeric CO2
This warm, spicy scent may be familiar to cooking enthusiasts, but did you know you can use Turmeric Essential Oil to help provide comfort to stomach issues? When uncomfortable bloating, gas, and cramping is deterring you away from your weight loss goals, add a couple of drops to a teaspoon of your favorite carrier oil and massage onto the abdomen.
Stop the Snacking Inhaler Blend
What you’ll need:
- Aromatherapy Inhaler
- 5 drops Grapefruit Pink
- 2 drops Yuzu
- 1 drop Ginger Root CO2
Add all these products to your cart
What you’ll do:
Add drops to personal aromatherapy inhaler and inhale immediately after eating a meal.
*This sale does NOT include Yuzu Essential Oil or Aromatherapy Inhalers.
Sources:
King, G. What is Brown Fat? Key Facts to Boost Your Metabolism. Retrieved from https://www.rd.com/health/diet-weight-loss/brown-fat-boost-metabolism/
Nagai, K., Niijima, A., Horii, Y., Shen, J., & Tanida, M. (2014). Olfactory stimulatory with grapefruit and lavender oils change autonomic nerve activity and physiological function. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25002406
Bode AM, Dong Z. The Amazing and Mighty Ginger. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 7. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92775/
Zainol, N. A., Ming, T. S., & Darwis, Y. (2015). Development and Characterization of Cinnamon Leaf Oil Nanocream for Topical Application. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences, 77(4), 422-33. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4649780/
