At one time or another, most of us have attempted to shed a few pounds. Essential oils can be very helpful if you’re trying to lose weight, but keep in mind that essential oils themselves won’t innately make the fat fall off. However, oils can support the overall process by helping to boost metabolism, curb appetite, balance hormones, regulate blood sugar, improve digestion, and promote detoxification.

When it comes to losing weight, there will never be a perfect diet, exercise regimen, or magic pill that works for everyone. It’s important that you understand your own body and what is causing the weight gain. If you have a hormone imbalance, simply trying to boost your metabolism won’t do a lot of good. That being said, here are some tips to deal with various health problems that often contribute to weight gain.

Boosting Metabolism

Speeding up your metabolic rate is one of the best things you can do to lose weight. This allows your body to burn calories faster and to convert nutrients from food into energy. It can also help you burn fat better during a workout. In order to increase your metabolism, add 1–2 drops spearmint essential oil to a glass of water, and drink it before you exercise or eat. For variety, adding some strawberries, raspberries, or other fruits along with the spearmint makes a naturally delicious flavored water.

Curbing Appetite

We have all experienced cravings and the sensation of being hungry all the time! Essential oils can help ease cravings and curb frequent hunger. If overeating is a problem for you, diffusing grapefruit and peppermint can help calm your cravings.

Balancing Hormones

Many people don’t realize that imbalanced hormones can cause unhealthy weight gain. But hormones regulate metabolism, blood pressure, appetite, and many other body functions. By balancing your hormones, you increase your ability to lose weight through exercise and healthy eating. Oils that can help balance hormones include rosemary and cinnamon. We encourage you to read more in Modern Essentials^® to better understand hormones and the endocrine system.

Regulating Blood Sugar

Blood sugar imbalance can be caused by several factors, including stress. If you are overly stressed, your body will produce excess cortisol hormone, which produces elevated glucose levels, which can inhibit weight loss. First, you’ll want to find ways to de-stress and relax, and then use essential oils to help manage your blood sugar. Depending on whether you have high or low blood sugar—or episodes of both—you may need different essential oils. You can read more about these topics in Modern Essentials^®. However, oils that are generally good for both extremes include cinnamon and On Guard^®.

Improving Digestion

Inefficient digestion stems largely from what we’re eating. However, many factors play into efficient digestion since this process involves several organs. If you have a specific digestive problem, consult Modern Essentials^®. In general, the following oils support the digestive system: peppermint, ginger, lemongrass, DigestZen^®, fennel, and turmeric, among others.

Promoting Detoxification

Sometimes all your body needs is a little cleansing and detoxing to resume full functioning. Clearing toxins out of your body can take several days of consistently applying oils. Essential oils that aid detoxification are helichrysum, rosemary, juniper berry, and coriander. Dilute the oils as recommended, and apply over the liver area, intestines, and reflex points on the feet.

Keep in mind that every body is unique: what works for one person may not work for another. Weight loss may only come through trial and error to find the perfect balance for your body. And once you’ve found what works, you’ll need to be consistent in order to see the desired results. We recommend that you combine our essential oil tips with daily exercise and a balanced diet for the best results. If you’re not sure which area of weight loss advice to emphasize, consult your doctor for further direction.

Source: Modern Essentials^®, 10th edition.