12 Best Essential Oils To Help Promote Weight Loss

A list of the 12 best essential oils to help you lose weight, Boost metabolism, and prevent cravings and overeating naturally.

If you’re trying to lose weight or maintain a specific weight, you can use a few of the 12 Best doTERRA Essential Oils for weight loss as part of your daily routine to help keep those pounds off and to help you meet your weight loss goals.  Essential oils can be a useful part of your weight loss journey, and can help you achieve your weight management goals.

In combination with a healthy, nutrient-rich diet and daily physical activity, essential oils can supply the extra boost we need to lose weight fast.   Following is a list of the top 12 essential oils that can help you lose weight.   

It’s not necessary to use all 12 of these essential oils.  Use what you have on hand, or pick one or two to focus on.  There is 1 that I recommend as the best oil to use if you can only chose 1.  Read on to find out which one it is!

I should also not that this is not an all inclusive list.  There are other oils that you can use to help with weight loss. These are just some of the most popular to help with specific topics.

There are several different things to think about when losing weight and essential oils can help you with each of these.  For example, boosting metabolism, increasing motivation, healthy digestion.   

How Essential Oils can be used for Weight Management

• Promote healthy digestion  
• Support/boost the metabolism  
• Increase motivation and mood necessary for exercise and a healthy lifestyle  
• Manage hunger cravings and avoid overeating  

Essential Oils can play an important role in each of these focus points!   Let’s go over how essential oils can be used for these to maximize your weight loss.

The Top 12 Best Essential Oils for Weight Loss

Cassia Essential Oil

• May help stabilize blood sugar levels
• Promotes feelings of fullness and satiety
• Supports healthy digestion and immune function

Cassia essential oil is a close relative to Cinnamon oil.  One of Cassia oil’s most best health benefits is its ability to promote healthy digestion when used internally.

Combine one to two drops of Cassia oil with one to two drops Lemon oil in a Veggie Capsule and take with water for digestive help.* This Lemon and Cassia combination is also a perfect way to ward off hunger cravings.* Combined with frequent exercise and healthy eating, this drink can be a different option to aid in weight loss.*

Keeping blood sugars level is important in any weight loss program to prevent sugar cravings and overeating.   According to a recent trial done, test subjects who used Cassia over a 12 week period, “had an average overall decrease in their blood sugar”.  

High blood sugar makes you want to eat, so keeping blood sugars down is important in order to avoid extra calories that we don’t need because that is what leads to weight gain.

Add cassia to drinks or dishes as you would the spice.  Be careful because a tiny amount of the essential oil goes a long way.  To control how much you are adding to a drink or food dish, dip a toothpick in a drop of the essential oil and swirl it in your drink.  Add more if desired.

Cinnamon Essential Oil

• May help support healthy blood sugar levels
• May help support healthy metabolic function
• May help suppress appetite
• May help fight sugar cravings by supporting healthy blood glucose levels.

doTERRA Cinnamon Essential Oil can help control blood sugar levels, which helps prevent cravings and overeating. 

Add a drop of Cinnamon to your morning coffee or latte, or add it to a breakfast smoothie – like the doTERRA Trimshake.  This will help prevent your blood sugar from spiking and then dropping mid morning.

You can also take it in a veggie cap to get the benefits.

Bergamot Essential Oil

• May reduce cortisol levels – a key factor in helping to keep unwanted pounds off.
• Contains high levels of polyphenols, which may help combat fat and excess sugar.
• Reduces anxious feelings to counteract emotional eating.

According to an article at Healthline.com, “A 2016 review of human and animal studies indicated that flavonoids found in bergamot can help reduce lipid levels, although it indicated that the exact mechanism driving this result is unclear.”

(lipids are fats in the blood – some are good, some are bad.  Many of us struggle with too high levels of the bad)

The same Healthline articles states that “a 2018 animal study affirmed this finding.It also found that the polyphenols in bergamot had an anti-inflammatory effect in the livers of rats”

Bergamot is one of the best essential oils for reducing anxious feeling.  Diffuse Bergamot to help bring stress levels down.  Use my Bergamot diffuser blends during times when you are feeling stress or upset to help with emotional eating.   

You can also apply Bergamot essential oil to the bottoms of feet, along the spine, or on pulse points such as the wrists and inside of elbows.

MetaPWR Metabolic Blend

• May help stabilize blood sugar levels
• Promotes feelings of fullness and satiety
• Supports healthy digestion and immune function

doTERRA MetaPWR Metabolic blend contains several of the others oils that are an the ‘Top 12 Essential Oils to use for weight loss list!’ So you’re getting the benefit of multiple weight loss essential oils all in one.  It contains Grapefruit, Lemon, Peppermint, Ginger, and Cinnamon essential oils!

If you had to choose just one essential oil for weight loss, let it be doTERRA MetaPWR Metabolic Blend.

The doTERRA MetaPWR blend was specifically designed as a natural way to manage hunger cravings, calm the stomach, and uplift mood.*

When used as part of a healthy weight management program and combined with a healthy diet and exercise, the MetaPWR Metabolic blend can help boost metabolism and curb hunger cravings.*

The MetaPWR system includes products that are designed to help you feel full, and help speed up your metabolism and slow down the aging process.

There are several products to use individually or together.

• MetaPwr Essential oil blend
• MetaPWR Metabolic Assist dietary supplement – contains Mulberry extract and may help regulate and stabilize postprandial (post meal) blood glucose levels, reduce the absorption of carbohydrates and sugar, and contribute to healthy fat metabolism.†
• MetaPwr Metabolic Gum – useful for in between meals to prevent snacking
• MetaPwr softgels (each softgel contains 2 drops of the essential oil and nothing else)
• MetaPwr Advantage+ Collagen Sachets

MetaPWR can aid in healthy weight management and help create a healthy lifestyle.

Can’t resist those mid-day munchies? The MetaPWR Essential Oil blend is designed to help manage appetite between meals.

 Just add three to five drops to 8+ oz. of water and drink three to five times throughout the day to help manage hunger, boost metabolism, and lift your mood. Add to water or tea and drink before working out for a revitalizing energy boost.

doTERRA MetaPWR combines powerful Essential Oils known to promote a healthy metabolism in a natural way.*

Ways to Use doTERRA MetaPWR Essential Oil to support your weight loss program

• Dry Brush areas of concern like thighs with MetaPWR essential oil
• Add to water or tea and drink before working out for a revitalizing energy boost.*
• Consume before meals to help control appetite and overeating.* (take a softgel)
• Add a few drops to a Protein Shake
• Make sure to flush your system by drinking lots of water.

Juniper Berry Essential Oil

• May help support detoxing
• May help support liver and kidney health
• May help reduce water retention

Doing an occasional cleanse can help to remove toxic chemicals from body cells, support natural functions of the body, and promote overall well-being.  Juniper Berry essential oil is included in the list of top essential oils for weight loss because of it’s ability to flush out toxins from the body and reduce bloating from water retention.

 If you are trying a natural cleanse, add one to two drops of Juniper Berry essential oil to water or citrus drinks as a part of your natural cleansing regimen.*

Juniper Berry essential oil is excellent for cleanses due to its natural ability to cleanse and detoxify as well as support healthy kidney and urinary tract function.*

Take 1-2 drops of Juniper Berry essential oil in a veggie capsules 2x a day for optimal support healthy kidney and urinary tract function.* 

Tangerine Essential Oil

• May help support healthy metabolic function
• Contains powerful antioxidants
• Boosts energy and uplifts the mood

It’s important to stay healthy and well while trying to lose weight.  If you are sick and not feeling good, you won’t be able to exercise or work out, and you will not feel motivated to eat healthy foods.  You’ll want to reach for high fat comfort foods. 

Tangerine essential oil is very high in anti-oxidants and can support a healthy immune system.  Add a drop or two to a glass of water to get those valuable anti-oxidants and because it tastes so good, you’ll end up drinking more water throughout the day!  

Tangerine oil can also be used to feel happy!  When you need some extra sunshine in your life, apply Tangerine oil topically to flex points or your abdomen.

If you are concerned about skin sensitivity, be sure to dilute the oil with Fractionated Coconut Oil before applying to reduce the risk of skin sensitivity or irritation.

Tangerine Essential Oil can also be very beneficial for your metabolism!

You can make this delicious Tangerine cream cheese fruit dip to get the benefits of Tangerine essential oil in a tasty, healthy treat.  Be sure to use low fat cream cheese!

Here’s a few more ways you can use Tangerine essential oil tor weight loss.

When you want to uplift or energize your mood, put one to two drops of Tangerine oil on your palm, rub your hands together, and place your hands over your nose for 30 seconds.

 If you prefer to enjoy the uplifting scent of Tangerine oil for a longer period of time, consider adding a few drops to your favorite essential oil diffuser and experience the refreshing aroma as it fills the room.

Sweet Fennel Essential Oil

• May help support healthy blood sugar levels.
• May help support healthy digestion.
• Combats sugar cravings with it’s sweet licorice flavor.

The chemical makeup of Fennel Essential oil contributes to the sweet, licorice aroma of Fennel.The primary chemical constituent of Fennel oil (Trans anethole, in case you were wondering), is distinctly sweet—13 times sweeter than table sugar!

To help fight sugar cravings, put a drop of Fennel essential oil under your tongue or add a drop to a glass of water and drink it.  The sweet flavor will give you what you’re craving.

If you are feeling sluggish or bloated, take Fennel essential oil internally, as it may help to promote healthy metabolism, liver function, and circulation.*  Fennel is renowned for it’s ability to help with digestion.  Take 1-2 drops in a glass of water or in a veggie capsule to help with a healthy digestive system – which is important when you’re trying to lose weight.

Ginger Essential Oil

• May help support healthy digestion
• May help support healthy cortisol levels
• May help to reduce bloating, gas, and occasional indigestion

Ginger has been used for centuries for it’s digestive and warming benefits.There are 177 published studies on the benefits of ginger essential oil.  

Thanks to it’s many benefits, Ginger essential oil is included in in a dozen doTERRA products, from blends like doTERRA Cheer, MetaPWR Metabolic blend(mentioned in this article), and DigestZen, to supplements like Alpha-CRSand doTERRA TerraZyme food enzymes.

Having a healthy digestive system is important when trying to lose weight.

The primary constituent in Ginger is Zingeberene which has been researched for it’s ability to reduce gas and bloating.  This can be especially helpful before a big workout, especially if you are feeling bloated or uncomfortable.  Before working out, take a drop or two in a glass of water or in a veggie capsule.

Ginger essential oil can be very calming when diffused which will help keep cortisol levels under control.  If you feel your energy lagging in the late afternoon, diffuse Ginger essential oil for an emotional boost.  Choose from one of my Ginger diffuser blends.  This emotional boost can help keep you from emotional overeating, help give you the motivation to work out and to make a healthy dinner instead of hitting the fast food drive through.

You may want to check out my list of30 Ways to Use Ginger Essential Oil to help give you some ideas on ways to incorporate this essential oil into your daily routine.

Grapefruit Essential Oil

• Grapefruit oil May help reduce water retention
• May help support healthy metabolic function
• Powerful detoxifier and cleanser

According to a PubMed scientific research article, Grapefruit essential oil is known as “dieters friend”. 

The same scientific article states that “The fragrance of grapefruit EO causes activation of the sympathetic nerve activity innervating the WAT, which facilitates lipolysis, then results in a suppression of body weight gain “, and “grapefruit EO is known to lower cravings and hunger, which makes it a great tool to lose weight in a healthy way”.

How to use grapefruit essential oil for weight loss:

• diffuse it (see my list of diffuser blends for grapefruit essential oil) 
• add 1-2 drops of the essential oil to water 
• take it in a capsule
• Make a cellulite body wrap
• Dry Brush with the essential oil
• Apply to “bumpy” areas like thighs, buttocks and massage into tissue

Lavender Essential Oil

• May help reduce anxious feelings
• May help support healthy cortisol levels
• Calms the mind and body for restful sleep

doTERRA Lavender essential oil is one of the most popular essential oils and is well known for it’s calming effects.  Our lives these days are so busy that we tend to build up stress.  When our bodies get stressed, we create a hormone called cortisol which is the hormone responsible for our flight or fight instinct.  Short term, cortisol is good for us.  But long term, too much cortisol can wreak havoc on our bodies.  Some of the negative effects of too much cortisol include:

• High blood pressure
• Changes in mood
• Weight gain
• Bruises
• Decreased sex drive

As you can see, managing our cortisol levels is an important factor in any weight loss plan.

Using calming essential oils like Lavender can help us manage our stress and keep those cortisol levels down. 

Lemon Essential Oil

• May help support healthy digestion
• Powerful detoxifier and cleanser
• May suppress appetite to avoid overeating

Lemon essential oil is a powerful detoxifier.  One of the best ways to use it is to add a drop or two to a glass of water.  Lemon can help your kidneys and liver flush toxins out of your body and because it tastes great, can help you drink more water throughout the day which is not only beneficial to our body, it also helps us feel fuller so we eat less.

Peppermint Essential Oil

• May boost mood and awaken senses
• May decrease gas and bloating
• May reduce appetite and cravings

When you need a boost of energy to help you get through that daily workout, try smelling doTERRA peppermint essential oil straight from the bottle, or diffuse it.  The smell is energizing and will help you focus to get through the workout.  

Diffusing Peppermint oil throughout the day will help keep energy levels up.  I’ve got several diffuser blends featuring peppermint HERE and HERE.

When experiencing food cravings, inhale or apply topically under the nose, before or between meals to help feel full and prevent overeating.

If you experience the occasional stomach upset, nausea, motion sickness, or constipation, apply Peppermint to your abdomen or the bottoms of your feet. You can also take two drops internally in a capsule or add a drop to 4 oz. of water and drink.  If you’re brave enough, just put a drop or two under your tongue.  It’s like an Altoid!

Additional Resources on Weight Loss with Essential Oils

You will definitely want to check out my blog post on 4 ways to lose weight with essential oils.  

• You’ll get a Cellulite Coffee Scrub 
• DIY Cellulite Wrap 
• Cravings Be Gone Roller

Only Take CPTG Essential Oils Internally for safety

I want to note that please only use essential oils internally (i.e. taking in a capsule or glass of water) if they are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils.  

Fragrance Essential Oils are quite toxic and can be very harmful when taken internally.  

Do not take an essential oil internally unless it has supplement facts on the side of the bottle like the one pictured here.

5 Healthy Habits to Build

Having essential oils to help you is a huge advantage, however, they can’t do all the work for you.  You must follow healthy practices.  Here are 5 healthy weight management strategies to follow.  

BUILD HEALTHY HABITS 

1. Consume a diet based on consumption of whole foods.

The foundation of almost any healthy goal begins with proper nutrition. The more a food is externally processed, the less it needs to be internally processed to be utilized by the body.

Whole foods are more nutrient dense, less energy dense, contain higher amounts of fiber, and take longer to be processed. Skip the bag and box aisles and stick to the perimeter of the grocery store.

2. Don’t forget your healthy protein and fats.

Protein and fat require more time to breakdown into their usable parts than do carbohydrates. A recent study in Cell Press mapped out the signals between your gut and your brain, finding that protein increases satiety through modulating mu-opioid receptors. These receptors regulate brain-gut communication. When combined with primarily carbohydrate meals, dietary fat has been shown to slow digestion in the small intestine.

3. Drink more water.

Your gastric mechanoreceptors can’t differentiate between food and water, they only respond to the volume of the substance passing through. Water quickly passes through without need of processing, but still can temporarily trick your body into thinking it is full. If you have hunger pangs but have already met your energy needs for the day, try a glass of water first.

An easy way to drink more water is to add a drop or 2 of your favorite citrus essential oil to your water – like Lemon, which is mentioned in the Top 12 Essential Oils To Help You Lose Weight list below.

 4. Utilize sensory cues.

 Smell your food before putting it in your mouth, use a smaller plate, chew your food for a while before swallowing to maximize the oral sensation —all of these small things prolong the cephalic stage and subconsciously increase food satisfaction. 

5. Experiment with meal timing and frequency. 

Contrary to conventional belief, studies have demonstrated that skipping breakfast has no negative effects on satiety, and may result in a reduction in caloric intake. Intermittent fasting—cycling between extended periods of fasting and shorter periods of feeding—has been gaining popularity and there is plenty of scientific research to back up its efficacy.

Experimenting with meal timing and frequency can help you find the meal regimen that works best for you

Final thoughts on using essential oils for weight loss

Essential Oils can be an effective way to help boost metabolism, stop cravings, detox and help your digestive system function at it’s best.  All of which will help you lose weight.

The essential oils listed in this article are some of the best options to help you in your weight loss journey.  There are other essential oils that can be used – these are just a few of the top essential oils to lose weight.

If you can only chose one essential oil, I recommend the doTERRA MetaPWR Metabolic Blend since it is a blend of several of these oils all combined into one.  So you get the benefits of all of them.  You can use the capsules to get the best benefit.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease

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