Best Essential Oils for Weight Loss and How to Use Them - Dr. Axe
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The Best Essential Oils for Weight Loss

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Essential oils for weight loss - Dr. Axe

So many people today want to learn how to burn fat and lose weight fast but also safely and effectively. For that reason, essential oils for weight loss are some of your best choices.

I want to be up front with you and let you know you’re not going to start using essential oils and lose 20, 30 or 50 pounds, but it could help your body in shedding a few pounds, plus support your body in important, healthy ways for weight loss.

Best Essential Oils for Weight Loss

It’s important to note that essential oils are not a magical solution for weight loss, and they should not be used as a substitute for a healthy diet, regular exercise and medical advice. However, some essential oils may have properties that can support your weight loss efforts when used as part of a holistic approach.

Here are the top 10 essential oils for weight loss.

1. Grapefruit Oil

Grapefruit essential oil actually works with your body in activating enzymes that help your body break down brown body fat. We know that grapefruit can benefit weight loss and that the essential oil of grapefruit actually comes from the grapefruit peel, which is very high in certain compounds like D-limonene and helps support the metabolism as well as the cleansing and drainage of your lymphatic glands.

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When applied topically to the skin in small amounts, grapefruit essential oil is an excellent diuretic and lymphatic stimulant. This is one reason why it’s included in many cellulite creams and blends that are used for dry brushing.

For that reason, grapefruit essential oil is the No. 1 oil that can help your body in burning fat and losing weight because of how it activates enzymes in your saliva, which helps break down body fat in your body.

When mixed with patchouli oil, grapefruit oil is known to lower cravings and hunger, which makes it a great tool to lose weight fast in a healthy way. Known for its uplifting aroma, grapefruit oil may help reduce emotional eating.

Add several drops to your water, diffuse it in your office or home, or massage some onto your chest and wrists when a craving strikes.

2. Cinnamon Oil

The second best essential oil to support weight loss is cinnamon oil. Cinnamon oil has been shown time and time again to help regulate blood glucose levels and something in your body called GTF, glucose tolerance factor. For that reason, cinnamon oil is also fantastic for anybody with diabetes.

It helps balance blood sugar, which long term will help with weight loss and help reduce those cravings for sugar. Unstable blood sugar can lead to overeating, low energy and weight gain, but adding cinnamon oil to fruit, tea, oats, baked goods or smoothies helps slow the rate at which glucose is released into the blood.

3. Ginger Oil

The third essential oil that supports the body in weight loss is ginger essential oil. Ginger works because it also reduces sugar cravings and helps reduce inflammation in the body. It’s so important that if you’re going to lose weight, that you’re also reducing inflammation, and supporting digestion and absorption of nutrients.

The compounds in ginger are called gingerols. Gingerols have been scientifically proven to reduce disease-causing inflammation in your intestines and overall improve absorption of the vitamins and minerals you’re consuming. If you’re absorbing more vitamins and minerals, then you’re helping to support your body’s cellular energy and create weight loss.

A 2013 study published in the Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology concluded that ginger essential oil possesses antioxidant activity as well as significant anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties. After being treated with ginger essential oil for one month, enzyme levels increased in the blood of mice. The dose also scavenged free radicals and produced significant reduction in acute inflammation.

4. Lemon Essential Oil

Lemon oil has detoxifying properties and may support metabolism and digestion, as shown in animal models. It’s also been shown to help suppress diet-induced obesity in mice models.

5. Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint oil may help with digestion, reduce appetite and increase energy levels. In fact, it’s been shown to help increase exercise performance in rats, which in turn can help with weight loss.

6. Bergamot Essential Oil

Bergamot oil is often used in aromatherapy to boost mood and reduce stress-related eating. It’s also been shown to help decrease visceral fat in obese and overweight subjects who also had mild hypercholesterolemia in a placebo-controlled trial.

7. Fennel Essential Oil

Fennel essential oil may help suppress appetite and promote a feeling of fullness. For instance, it’s been shown to improve lipid metabolism and metabolic disorders in high fat-induced obese rats, while also help women who drank fennel tea or inhaled the oil eat less by suppressing appetite.

8. Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender oil can help reduce stress and emotional eating. It’s been used as one of the top essential oils for weight loss for a long time.

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9. Cypress Essential Oil

Cypress oil may support circulation and lymphatic drainage, which could aid in reducing water retention.

10. Patchouli Essential Oil

Patchouli oil may assist in curbing emotional eating and reducing appetite. In fact, inhalation of patchouli oil was shown to help improve metabolic parameters in obesity-induced rats.

How to Use

So if you are looking to essential oils for weight loss, I recommend grapefruit oil, cinnamon oil and ginger oil, along with the other essential oils for weight loss listed. Sometimes you can get these in compounds, or you can use these individually.

You can put one single drop of each in water and drink it that way, or you can actually put it on topically or diffuse it. When you’re putting it on topically, I recommend using a carrier oil like coconut oil, especially when you’re using the cinnamon oil.

Or one of my favorite ways is just diffuse it, such as on your desk at the office or around your home. It has a great scent. It will activate parts of your body that will actually support weight loss.

Essential oils have been used for over 5,000 years. They’re one of the most powerful forms of medicine in the world, but grapefruit, cinnamon and ginger are probably the most effective essential oils for weight loss.

Risks and Side Effects

Keep in mind that essential oils are potent and should be used with caution. Always dilute them properly in a carrier oil before applying them to the skin, and avoid ingestion unless under the guidance of a qualified aromatherapist or health care professional.

Additionally, it’s essential to remember that individual responses to essential oils can vary, and not all oils may work for everyone.

Other Weight Loss Tips

A more effective approach to weight loss includes adopting a balanced and healthy lifestyle that includes a nutritious diet, regular exercise, stress management and adequate sleep.

Here are other ways to help lose weight and burn belly fat:

  • Consume fat-burning fats
  • Avoid processed and unhealthy foods
  • Exercise regularly
  • Take fat-burning supplements
  • Try intermittent fasting
  • Practice mindful eating
  • Increase fiber intake
  • Eat more protein
  • Reduce stress
  • Get at least seven to nine hours of sleep daily

More Essential Oils

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