There are few people in this world who have not at one time or another sought a way to lose weight or boost their metabolism. It’s a struggle that brings us together because it’s so identifiable and relatable. Our metabolisms vary so tremendously from one another that there are those who can eat mountains of junk food without gaining a pound and others who can just look at food and gain weight. It can all seem very mysterious and frustrating for those trying to start their journey on the road to wellness.
Essential Oils for Weight Loss and Metabolism
While there are certainly a few key steps to boosting metabolism, essential oils can definitely aid your efforts in losing weight and elevating your metabolic rate. Essential oils for weight loss have been around for a long time and have exhibited some positive results. Using them consistently will help you curb your appetite, boost energy levels and confidence, slim and tone your body, regulate blood sugar, and help soothe tired muscles after you hit the gym.
Keep in mind though that essential oils will not shed the pounds by themselves. Think of them as a support system during your fitness journey that will help enhance your results.
The Top 4 Essential Oils for Weight Loss, Curbing Appetite, and Metabolism
Aside from avoiding processed sugars, simple carbs, and unhealthy fats you need to be able to control your appetite. The essential oils below will help you do just that.
Grapefruit Essential Oil
Grapefruit essential oil is known to:
• Boost metabolism
• Curb cravings
• Increase endurance
• Increase energy
• Reduce and burn fat
Grapefruit essential oil is probably the best oil to use for weight loss and metabolism support as it contains a compound known as nootkatone, which when inhaled, activates an enzyme called AMPK (AMP activated protein kinase) in your saliva. AMPK is known to help control energy metabolism, increase endurance, reduce abdominal fat accumulation, inhibit weight gain, and helps prevent the development of hypoglycemia. Coupled with regular exercise, AMPK helps your body to burn fat at an elevated level.
Grapefruit essential oil’s d-limonene content – grapefruit’s primary component – also helps support metabolism by inducing lipolysis, the breakdown of fat. To do this, simply diffuse grapefruit essential oil for 15 minutes 3 times a week to help reduce appetite, improve physical performance, and increased weight loss.
Applying diluted grapefruit essential oil topically (on areas NOT exposed to direct sunlight) helps support the lymphatic system and stimulates the body to release toxins. Its slightly diuretic effect tones tissues which make it a popular addition to anti-cellulite recipes and for dry brushing.
Mixing grapefruit essential oil with equal parts patchouli will help enhance these effects. Use diluted.
You can get grapefruit essential oil here.
Lemon Essential Oil
Lemon essential oil is known to:
• Enhance the mood
• Increase energy
• Relieve pain
• Suppress weight gain
Lemon essential oil also contains a fair amount of fat-dissolving d-limonene. Using lemon EO mixed with grapefruit essential oil helps to magnify lipolysis (the breakdown of fats) when diffused for 15 minutes 3 times a week.
The scent of lemon essential oil raises norepinephrine levels in the body, which help increase oxygen and increase heart rate and blood flow which gives us better endurance. Norepinephrine also reduces stress which helps keep our cortisol levels from inhibiting our body’s ability to burn fat.
You can get lemon essential oil here.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint essential oil is known to:
• Aid digestion
• Increase energy
• Reduce appetite
• Reduce cravings
Peppermint essential oil is a natural appetite suppressant that helps curb cravings when inhaled before meals. One study showed that participants who inhaled peppermint essential oil every 2 hours had decreased appetite, decreased hunger cravings, and consumed up to 23% less calories per week. This is because peppermint’s strong pleasant fragrance penetrates the amygdala (a group of nuclei within the brain associated with emotions) in the center of the brain in such a way that it influences appetite.
You can simply sniff a bottle of peppermint essential oil before meals or apply it diluted to the temples.
Vanilla absolute has this ability as well.
You can get peppermint essential oil here and vanilla absolute here.
Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil
Cinnamon bark essential oil is known to:
• Improve insulin sensitivity
• Regulate blood sugar levels
One of the most important key elements for successful weight loss is controlling blood sugar levels and reducing stress in our lives. When we’re stressed our body begins to release glucose into the bloodstream because it thinks we’re in “Fight or Flight” mode. If this were really the case, your body would use this sugar increase to fuel your attack or your escape from a stressful situation. Since we as a species no longer need to run from predators for the most part, our fight or flight mode is triggered by first world situations like finances, marriage troubles, kids, and a multitude of other things.
When glucose levels rise on a consistent basis, it begins to create an insulin response in the body. Believe it or not, insulin actually halts weight loss because your body thinks that it needs fat and calories to sustain it in order to survive these stressful situations. Our bodies are not meant to be under constant stress.
Aside from reducing daily stress, using cinnamon bark essential oil can help regulate our glucose tolerance factor. This helps to balance blood sugar levels so that our bodies can continue to burn fat unhampered, prevent over-eating and sugar cravings, and keeps our energy levels stable.
To use cinnamon bark essential oil, add 1 drop to 1tsp of coconut oil and take it before meals. If you’re worried about the fat content of coconut oil, you’ll be surprised to know that coconut oil contains a special structure of fats called MCTs. MCTs are known to boost metabolism and increases fat burn.
You can get cinnamon bark essential oil here.
For more helpful tips on health and weight loss check out the articles below:
How to Make a Parasympathetic Roll-on Blend for Stress Free Eating
Essential Oils for Stress
Detoxifying Essential Oils and How to Use Them
Freeze=Ease Workout Spray (AC in a Bottle!?)
20 Ways to Reduce Post-Workout Sore Muscles, Aches, and Pains
10 Herbs for Fitness, Strength, and Endurance
3 ESSENTIAL STEPS YOU NEED TO BOOST METABOLISM
Can I put these in a vegetable capsule? 1 a day?
I wouldn’t ingest essential oils. Use them topically 🙂
How often can you take mct oil and cinnamon bark for sugar cravings
Can cinnamon cassia be used as a substitute for cinnamon bark?
Yes, but make sure to dilute it well since it is hotter than cinnamon bark.
I appreciate that you mentioned that grapefruit essential oil is the best oil for weight loss, on account of the fact that it helps activate the AMPK enzyme. I’m new to the world of essential oils, and I had no idea that they had so many capabilities! I’ll be sure to pass along the information-I’m sure my sisters would love to know about this as well.
How do I combined all the oils to make a roll-on Using the lemon, grapefruit and peppermint.
Just FYI it’s not mtc it’s mct. Medium chain triglycerides.
Thank you for catching that! I’ve updated the post 🙂
What kind of coconut oil should one use with the cinnamon bark? The liquid fractionated or the creamy unrefined?
Hi E!
You can use either one! 🙂
Can you combine all four oils??
Hi Kimberly!
You can combine them if you’re diffusing them or sniffing their aroma before meals. For topical application, it may be best to leave them separate since cinnamon bark essential oil is considered a hot oil.