Combining Essential Oils with Other Weight Loss Strategies

Aside from having therapeutic and relaxing traits, essential oils can benefit many aspects of our lives — including weight loss.

Studies over the years have found that essential oils have beneficial effects in anti-obesity treatment. In addition to helping with weight loss, the use of essential oils can also counteract the effects of weight-related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular risks. Namely, recent studies have shown that essential oils can reduce fat mass when taken with the diet or inhaled.

Olfactory stimulation with the scent of grapefruit essential oils, for example, can increase lipolysis — the process of breaking down fats — to reduce appetite and body weight. Similarly, other essential oils, like those extracted from sweet oranges, can have anti-obesity effects and induce weight loss.

As you can see, knowing the right essential oils to use can help you on your way to effective and healthy weight loss. Of course, there are other things you can do to help induce natural weight loss and keep yourself healthy.

Below, we’ll look at some interesting combinations of essential oils and effective weight loss approaches:

Healthy eating habits

Healthy eating is a habit; start small.

Some essential oils can help improve metabolism and the digestive system. In a previous post highlighting the best essential oils for weight loss, we discussed how ginger oil is a natural appetite suppressant. This helps curb sugar cravings and reduce feelings of the “munchies” while fortifying and stimulating digestion.

In fact, improved digestive functions can help you lose weight more naturally — instead of restricting yourself from eating. Today, modern weight loss programs encourage healthy eating instead of dieting, as well as lifestyle changes like getting adequate sleep and being in the right mindset. Instead of simply reducing what you eat, the focus has shifted towards eating healthier and more nutritious foods rich in fiber and protein. When combined with essential oils like ginger oil, this makes for a more sustainable and natural approach to weight loss.

Stress management

Yoga is a preferred stress management technique for many.

Another essential oil that helps with weight loss is bergamot oil, which is good for reducing stress. The oil’s fresh, citrus scent is uplifting and mood-boosting and promotes relaxation as well as stress reduction.

Today, increasingly more research shows that stress management can help prevent unwanted weight gain and, subsequently, lead to healthy weight loss.

Previously, researchers found that greater stress was associated with more detrimental effects on mental health and more difficulties finding time for weight-management efforts. Stress can also affect eating behaviors via emotional or overeating, which increases caloric intake as these often lead to the consumption of high-fat and sugar foods.

By combining essential oils like bergamot with your preferred stress management techniques, such as yoga, meditation, or other hobbies, you can benefit from feeling more focused on your weight goals while feeling better mentally.

Exercise

Exercise supports your body in more ways than one.

Finally, essential oils like wintergreen are great not only for inhalation, but also for use in massages. Oils that have warming and soothing properties, like wintergreen, can be used to massage the muscles before and after a workout routine to keep your body fit and in top shape.

Massaging the legs, arms, back, and neck with wintergreen oil after a workout can help your body recover and relax. In fact wintergreen oilis also a common ingredient in Tiger Balm rubs and ointments, which are often used for massages. The warming property of the oil makes it an essential ingredient to help temporarily relieve minor muscle aches, pains, and strains, as well as any joint pain or neck and shoulder tension that is common after intense exercise.

Final Thoughts

To conclude, understanding the different essential oils and their benefits can help you develop the right combinations for approaching weight loss healthily and naturally.

If you’d like to get started on learning more about essential oils, you can visit our homepage for everything you need to know, along with recommendations, guides, and brand reviews.