Essential Oils to Help Lose Weight l Tips on Using Essential Oils l Essential Oils For Health

Shutterstock.com

When you enter any health-related aisle at the store, you may find a section of essential oils for relaxation, skin care, pain relief, stress and insomnia. When we think of essential oils, we think of dabbing them on our wrists, temples or adding them to a bath to find our Zen. But these natural antibacterial agents and immune strengtheners can do it all. Essential oils are also used to promote weight loss and can decrease cravings, control the appetite and can help regulate our moods. If you're inquisitive about how this works, aromatherapist Michelle Gagnon at Enfleurage shared about the biochemical response the body has with specific oils. “When you inhale an essential oil, the aromatic molecules travel through the nasal passageways and chemically interact with your brain,” she told Organic Life. You are not going to lose a ton of weight using essential oils, but it could help you drop a few extra pounds and help you detox the body. Since oils are extracted from aromatic plants, they are a natural way to help the body heal and to become healthier. Here are 6 essential oils to help you lose weight.

Grapefruit Oil

Shutterstock.com

You heard of the Grapefruit Diet and how grapefruit is a popular fat-burning food, but the oil may have the same impact. Grapefruit essential oil comes from the peel and this is high in d-limonene and it has detox enzymes, which can support a healthy metabolism and boost the immune system. A study published in Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical found grapefruit oil stimulated calorie burning while decreasing appetite in rats. "These findings suggest that the Clock gene might be implicated in elevating responses of autonomic and cardiovascular functions to olfactory stimulation with scent of grapefruit oil." Add 5–10 drops of grapefruit oil to the skin or to a diffuser to help reduce your appetite and to create a better mood. You can add a few drops to a warm bath to reduce the appearance of cellulite, to help stimulate digestion and to feel more invigorated.

Cinnamon Oil

Shutterstock.com

Cinnamon oil will boost your metabolism and when taken as a food, it could help regulate blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes. It also aids the metabolism by breaking down sugars into energy rather than storing them as fat and reduces inflammation. Add drops of cinnamon oil to your yogurt, oatmeal or in coffee to reduce cravings throughout the day. At night combine the oil to a favorite drink to prevent late-night snacking. Inhaling cinnamon oil may help reduce cravings, decrease inflammation, fight viruses, free radicals, help with depression and will stimulate the immune system. "Cinnamon oil exhibited among the highest levels of antioxidant activity in a comparison study of 25 widely used essential oils," according to the Journal of Cosmetic Science. Cinnamon oil is another gift from Mother Nature that can be utilized for your overall health and happiness.

Lemon Oil

Lemons contain vitamin C, citric acid, flavonoids, B-complex vitamins, calcium, fiber, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, bioflavonoids, pectin and limonene and are exceptional for the body and for the mind. It makes sense the oil would produce the same benefits. Lemon essential oil has a calming effect on the emotions like anxiety and nervousness, which helps emotional eaters. It rejuvenates skin and allows the body to heal from within. Lemon oil stimulates lymph drainage, helps flush toxins out of the body and will improve digestion, which assists in weight loss. The Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine discovered lemon essential oil boosts the immune system and can accelerate the "White corpuscles production along with counteracting acidity and ulcers through citric acid, which helps digestion, by forming carbonates and bicarbonates of potassium and calcium." Add lemon oil to the bottom of your feet, ankles, to the wrists or drink a few drops of it in water to enjoy the benefits.

Bergamot Oil

Shutterstock.com

Bergamot oil is a stress reliever and it may help against emotional eating. The oil will stimulate the endocrine system to produce calm feelings and will help those with out of control eating habits during times of stress. When the adrenal glands release the hormone cortisol, it increases the appetite and may also ramp up motivation in general, including the motivation to eat. "Numerous studies — granted, many of them in animals — have shown that physical or emotional distress increases the intake of food high in fat, sugar or both," Harvard Health found. If stress is making you eat more junk food, bergamot oil could help you in this area. To get the maximum effects, apply the oil to the bottom of your feet every morning or add to a warm bath. "Use bergamot oil by rubbing 2–3 drops into your hands and cupping your mouth and nose. Breathe in the oil slowly. Try rubbing the oil on your feet and stomach too," Dr. Josh Axe suggested. Bergamot can also be used as a deodorant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, sedative and as a disinfectant.

Fennel Oil

Shutterstock.com

Fennel seed essential oil could help speed up the metabolism by burning fat and act as an appetite suppressant. Fennel oil also helps you sleep better and longer, and because healthy sleep patterns play a vital role in our weight, it can be used as another tool for shedding pounds. An estimated 18 million Americans have sleep apnea, which is often associated with people who are overweight according to the National Sleep Foundation. Sleep deprivation affects the brain and makes you crave food high in sugar and high in fat because the body needs to compensate for energy. Many people who don't have the oil chew on fennel seeds as this also helps reduce sugar cravings. Fennel essential oil is a high-antioxidant compound that holds antimicrobial characteristics. It may help with chronic gas, relieve constipation and bloating. Place 2-3 drops in a diffuser or on a cotton ball to help with your appetite and to uplift your spirit.

Peppermint Oil

Shutterstock.com

Peppermint oil is amazing. It can help soothe your stomach, decrease gas, headaches, fatigue and can also support you on your weight loss mission. Certain scents, including peppermint oil, can help control appetite and cravings. Wheeling Jesuit University did a study where participants were asked to inhale peppermint oil twice for a week. Those who inhaled the oil found their food cravings and their appetites shrunk. Since their food yearnings diminished and their appetite was reduced, they consumed fewer calories and lost weight. They also found they had more energy during the week because peppermint oil can boost energy. Besides helping weight loss, peppermint oil can help with sore muscles. Just add 10 drops of the oil in your bath water after a hard day. Also if you're predisposed to migraine headaches, rub it on the temples of your forehead to alleviate pain.