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Loss of appetite or no appetite is a cause for serious concern and should be taken care of immediately. The reasons behind it may result from as minor a cause like continuous snacking to as major a cause like influenza and other serious diseases. Thankfully, appetite loss arising out of minor causes can be treated right at home.
At the same time, increased appetite and frequent cravings pose equally serious risks to your health. Hence taking a command over your appetite is necessary for longevity and healthy state. Here are some of the best home remedies for increasing as well as decreasing appetite.
Home Remedies To Increase Appetite
Ginger
Ginger is a well known remedy for appetite because it cures indigestion. The active agent ‘zingerone’ in ginger grants it the medicinal properties. Since it is an effective anti-nauseant, it cures indigestion and appetite loss caused by nausea. At the same time, ginger cleanses the colon, regulates metabolism and cures an upset stomach. You can include ginger in your diet in a number of ways.
You can eat it raw or add it to curries. You can also prepare ginger tea by adding a crushed ginger root into your regular tea while boiling. To top it up, you can add cinnamon, anise seed and peppermint to your tea.
Bitter Greens
Bitter greens such as collards, radicchio, kale, dandelion, arugula, watercress, sorrel, mizuna, etc. are highly beneficial for the digestive system and treat loss of appetite naturally. Bitter greens increases production of digestive juices and enzymes in the body.
It enables contraction of the gallbladder so that it can release bile. Hence, bitter greens aid in breaking down of fatty acids into smaller particles that could be easily absorbed. In short, bitter greens not only aid in digestion but also indirectly provide the body with essential omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon stimulates your hunger. It does so by decreasing blood sugar level in the body. The active agent in cinnamon known as hydroxychalcone increases activity of insulin and maintains blood glucose levels at optimum state. Cinnamon also treats conditions like vomiting and nausea – both related to loss of appetite. There are several ways in which you can add cinnamon into your diet. You can add cinnamon powder mixed with honey and sugar to your regular toast and relish the benefits. However, one should not take cinnamon along with other medications for lowering blood glucose. This may result in hypoglycemia.
Fenugreek
It improves hunger, helps in correcting digestion process and relieve trapped gases. It increases appetite by lowering blood glucose levels which result in increased craving for carbohydrates. Eating carbohydrates on the other hand increase insulin activity on the body. You can add some fenugreek seeds to your dishes and savour its taste and health benefits.
Fenugreek is also available in powder form. Eat a teaspoonful of fenugreek powder every morning for best results. However, one should regulate the quantities of fenugreek taken since it tends to drastically increase body weight.
Carom seeds
Carom seeds help you get rid of flatulence and improve overall digestion. Active agents in carom seeds enhance the functioning of intestinal tract and hence aid in proper digestion. Carom seeds are widely known as digestive tonic. It increases appetite by enhancing enzyme and gastric juice secretion. Carom seeds also increase the production of gut juices. You can consume half a teaspoon of these seeds prior to every meal. You can also add some salt to it for taste.
Grapes
Grapes stimulate hunger. Grapes are composed of mild acidic and sour juices that help in the digestion process. Besides grapes control your weight though they stimulate your hunger. Make it a habit to eat grapes in between meals.
Apples
Apples aid in digestion process and hence suppresses hunger naturally. Upon digestion, apples release GLP-1 hormone that sends satiating signals to the brain. It can be said that an apple a day can make you lose weight easily. Apples are composed of fibers that fill you up instantly without drastically increasing your calorie count. Apples also contains essential vitamins and minerals that are essential for your overall health.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are well known for decreasing appetite and curing indigestion. You can eat a tomato raw, make juice out of it or add it to your regular salad. Tomatoes decrease the hunger hormone ‘ghrelin’ and aid us in eating less. Besides, 90% of a tomato is composed of water which makes us feel fuller for longer.
Red Wine
Red wine upon fermentation convert into red wine vinegar that contains acetic acid. This acetic acid delays the release of ghrelin – the hunger hormone – and hence helps in keeping food in the stomach for longer duration. Because of this you feel fuller for longer. You can add red wine to your dishes or drink a glass of it in moderate quantities.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice contains acids that delay the digestion process of carbohydrates. This result in lesser cravings for food. Lemon juice also contains vitamin C that aids in losing weight. It cleanses the digestive system and helps in its normal functioning. Proper functioning of digestive system ensures lesser food cravings.
It improves digestion and treats the body of various other diseases by removing harmful toxins, purifying crucial organs such as the liver and kidney. Lemon juice also increases the desire to eat. You can prepare lemon juice by squeezing a lemon into a glass of water and add some sugar and salt to taste.
Green Tea
Although green tea has gained popularity as a natural weight loss remedy, it is effective in suppressing hunger and appetite naturally. It contains a substance named epigallocatechin gallate that increases leptin production. Leptin hormone, on the other hand, that sends signals to the brain that your hunger has been satiated.
Sipping a cup of green tea prior to meals can drastically reduce your cravings and help you eat lesser and stay slimmer. Green tea also contain catechins that increase the metabolism rate.
