Thursday, March 3, 2016

Plain Yogurt and Honey.... Really?!



84 calories, huh? This is an awesome breakfast/snack. It’s one of those “I wouldn’t guess this is good for me!” type foods. The probiotics in yogurt do wonders for the digestive track and maintains a healthy balance of gut flora that optimizes digestion and the breakdown of certain substances (like fat.) When you digestive track is running smoothly, your body is processing things better and it’s not as likely to pack on the pounds. The honey is just a little added (healthy) sweetness to satisfy any cravings you might have. The beautiful thing here is that you really don’t feel like you’re getting shorted any flavor or fullness when you eat it. For optimum weight-loss awesomeness, try low fat yogurt.
Note: There was once a time when certain large companies began to add so much sugar to their yogurt the amounts surpassed those found in sugary breakfast cereal, like Lucky Charms. People were gobbling it up and wondering how it could be so tasty and good for you, when really the image and wholesomeness of yogurt was simply being abused. Read the nutrition label first.

You will need…
-1/2-1 cup of plain (not vanilla) yogurt
-1 tablespoon of organic raw honey, or to taste

Directions
Eat this for a snack or breakfast, adding on the honey for flavor. Feel free to try adding fresh fruit or even oats for a little variety like these below:





Join the Navy… Beans?!


Beans, beans, the magical fruit, the more you eat the more you…lose weight? Apparently, since the protein in navy beans can take a while to digest, therefore reducing appetite and aiding in weight loss management. The fiber in navy beans can also help lower cholesterol.

You will need…
-1 cup of dried navy beans
-3 cups of water

Directions
Prepare the navy beans by adding 3 cups of fresh water to a pot for each cup of dried beans, so that the liquid level is about 1-2 inches about the beans. Bring the water to a boil and then reduce to a simmer, partially covering the pot. Skim off any foam that develops, and simmer for 1 to 1 ½ hours until tender. Add to a salad or enjoy as a dish on its own.

Sweet Tooth Problems?

Go Ahead, Eat That Chocolate, You Deserve It!!!


Can't fight the urge? No problem, change the sweet! Remember deprivation hardly works? When you get the urge for a sweet treat, turn to dark chocolate. It will help curb your craving thanks to its insulin-resistance lowering flavonoids. The healthy fats in dark chocolate can also slow the absorption of sugar into your blood stream, preventing “insulin spikes.” Studies have shown that eating some can help put a stop to cravings for sugar, salt, and fat. However, the chocolate must be 70% cocoa, otherwise it has too much milk or sugar added to be beneficial.

You will need…
-70% dark chocolate

Directions
Directly after a meal, eat a piece of dark chocolate roughly the size of your thumb to glean its benefits.

Don't cheat yourself, treat yourself! Have some chocolate!

Black Pepper and Lemon

Make a drink that aids in weight loss and sore throats!

With the weathering changing so much, this spicy little concoction can help soothe a sore throat while also losing weight. It contains black pepper and lemon juice to create a drink that can help you keep ahead on your weight loss battle. Black pepper contains a naturally occurring chemical compound called piperine, which is responsible for giving it its pungent flavor. Several new studies have shown that piperine can interfere with the genes that control the generation of fat cells, as well as reducing fat levels in the blood stream and enhancing the absorption of nutrients from our foods. Lemon juice can help aid in digestion and give your G.I. track a helping hand when it comes to breaking down foods. 

You will need…
-Several sprinkles of freshly ground black pepper
-Juice of half a lemon
-Fresh water

Directions
Mix lemon juice with water and sprinkle in black pepper (about 3-4 turns of the pepper grinder.) Drink once daily after a meal.

FYI The pepper does not change the taste of the tea. Can you believe it? 

Coconut Oil Alternative

Looking for a Replacement Fat?!


In the 1970’s and ‘80’s, saturated fats got shoved into the spotlight as the main cause for obesity. Coconut oil, being a saturated fat, was tossed along with the rest of them. The healthier alternative that we created? Trans-fat. One could say that backfired a wee bit eh? Coconut oil isn’t just any old saturated fat though; it contains unique fats called medium chain triglycerides that help you use energy (aka calories) more efficiently. MCT’s are indeed a saturated fat, but they are not the same as many of the other saturated fats we hear about-those fats are long chain triglycerides. Why does the length matter? Its chemical makeup is what determines how our body processes it and breaks it down. MCT’s are not broken down in the intestines, and therefore do not get stored away immediately as fat. Instead, they absorbed intact and sent right to the liver, where they are used as energy. Now sitting around eating coconut oil isn’t going to make you lose weight, but using it as a replacement fat can be a good choice. In addition to that, just plain coconut oil is an incredible appetite suppressant (it’s almost scary, actually.) Tack on that it can raise energy levels and you are more likely to get out, move around, and exercise.
As far as studies on it go, here are some that I mentioned in The Everyday Roots Book. In 2002 the Journal of Nutrition concluded that it can aid weight loss when used in place of long chain triglycerides. It was also shown to strongly curb appetite and it appeared to increase the burning of calories. In 2003 Obesity Research found that it may help burn calories, probably due to the fact that it boosted energy. In 2010 the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition also found that it could help boost metabolism and reduce appetite.


You will need…
-2 tablespoons of good virgin cold-pressed coconut oil

Directions
Twice a day, take 1 tablespoon of coconut oil. You can take it before, during, or after a meal. If you tend to struggle with proportions, I suggest taking it before you eat, or if dessert is your demon, take it right after dinner. In terms of substitution I’ve used it in place of olive oil and love it.

Sage Tea

Sip on Sage til the weight melts off!

We live in a hectic world, and most of us are stressed about one thing or another on a daily basis. The thing is, our bodies weren’t made to handle constant stress, and it can have damaging effects on a wide variety of functions-including weight gain/loss. When under stress, the body releases cortisol, a steroid hormone that is part of the fight-or-flight response. Cortisol can effect blood sugar level (therefore appetite), and cause energy to be stored more readily as fat. Neuropeptide Y is a neurochemical that is also related to stress. When released, it causes growth of fat tissue (energy is stored easily as fat around the abdomen) as well as an increase in appetite. One way to fight this underlying stress can be to ingest more sage, which has calming effects on both the body and mind. Making a calming sage tea, or even just adding it in dishes you cook, is one way to help combat your stress levels.

You will need…
-A handful of fresh sage OR 2 teaspoons of dried sage
-8 ounces of boiling water
-Lemon to taste (optional)

Directions
Pour boiling water over sage and steep for 4-5 minutes. Strain, add lemon to taste if you like, and drink 1-2 times daily.

Dandelion and Peppermint Tea

Want to try something to make you lose more weight?!

 Let's mix a little of thiswith                                               Dandelion Tea

 a little bit of that!!!
                                       Peppermint Tea
Dandelion and peppermint tea is a fabulous drink that will help keep your liver healthy. The liver is an incredible organ. Not only is it the only way to truly detoxify your body, it is also plays a central role in many metabolic processes-a lot of which affect weight. In terms of fat metabolism, the liver is full of cells that break down fats and turn them into usable energy. These cells are also responsible for the flow of bile, which helps breakdown and absorb fats. In the metabolism of carbohydrates, the liver helps keep your blood sugar steady, therefore keeping energy levels up and regulating appetite. The list goes on, but the point is helping your liver helps your weight, as it plays a crucial role in managing fats and their absorption. Dandelion and peppermint both help your liver. Dandelion has hepatoprotection constituents, with hepatoprotection meaning an ability to prevent damage to the liver. Peppermint and dandelion both automatically stimulate the production of bile in the liver, helping with digestion and the absorption of nutrients. Mix these two together, and you have a powerful liver protecting tea!

You will need…
-1 teaspoon of dried dandelion leaves
-1 teaspoon dried peppermint leaves
-8 ounces of boiling water
-Lemon to taste (optional)

Directions
Pour a cup of boiling water over the dandelion and peppermint and steep, covered, for 5-10 minutes. Strain, add lemon to taste if you like, and drink a cup twice daily. You can also make this with fresh dandelion leaves/roots and fresh peppermint, just use a rough handful of the fresh leaves for the amount. If you do use fresh, be absolutely certain that there have been no chemicals applied to them- this is especially important for dandelion. If you use dandelion on a regular basis, I suggest growing your own.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Giving the Consumers what they ASK for!

Let's start losing weight today!!!
.
 


We've been asked to provide more information on natural ways to lose weight. We believe there are only two ways to truly manage weight, through exercising and eating healthy. Unfortunately, there simply is no magic shortcut, and while this may seem obvious to some people it is overlooked far, far, too often.




Now you’re probably wondering, if diet and exercise are the only ways to lose weight, why are you even wasting your time with our request? Because there are still natural remedies and recipes that will help you reach your ultimate goal. If you use these in addition to eating better and getting some exercise, they can speed up the process. There are many different contributing factors to losing/gaining weight, so the remedies we will be listing over the course of the next few weeks will cover a wide range.

I hope you receive the new information and I hope you enjoy the process. Getting healthy should be fun and rewarding. Stay with us for updates on natural lifestyle changes.

Rose Petal Water

Hmmm.... Ever tried drinking roses? This will aid in weight lost....
 
The benefits of rose petal water are backed more by anecdotal evidence than anything, but that’s no reason to shrug off this mild yet refreshing drink. Rose petals act as a very gentle diuretic. Diuretics encourage your kidneys to put more sodium (salt) into your urine. This excess salt in turn draws water from your blood, decreasing the amount of water in your circulatory system. This is not “permanent” weight loss-just water weight-but the action encourages you to drink more and keep your system flushed clean and hydrated. Staying hydrated, believe it or not, can be hugely beneficial to losing weight.
 
 
 
You will need…

-Handful of fresh or dried rose petals
-Distilled water (roughly 1-2 cups)
-A pot with a tightly fitting lid
Note: Be sure, especially if using fresh rose petals, that they have not been treated with any sort of chemical (insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, etc.)

Directions

Place the pot on the stove, put in the rose petals, and add just enough distilled water to completely cover them. If some float to the top it’s not a big deal. Cover the pot with a tightly fitting lid and simmer until the petals lose most of their color, about 15-20 minutes. Strain the liquid into a glass jar and keep in the refrigerator for up to 6 days. Drink about ½-1 cup every morning on an empty stomach.

Green Tea & Ginger

How about trying this for another weight loss home remedy...?

Green tea has long been debated as a weight loss aid, and more research is needed to confirm or deny how well it works. While some studies have turned up nothing, others have identified three main components in green tea that could help manage weight-caffeine, catechins, and theanine. Caffeine is just an overall boost to your system, and speeds up a number of bodily processes, including metabolism related to weight (technically speaking, metabolism refers to any and all biological processes in a living organism needed to sustain life.)

Catechins are considered anti-oxidant flavonoids, and are superior in green tea rather than black tea due to a difference in processing (black tea is fermented.) While the mechanism is yet to be determined, in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that catechins can help lower the absorption of lipids (fats) via the intestinal track. Theanine is an amino acid in green tea that can encourage the release of dopamine, the chemical that makes you “happy” and relaxed. If you tend to eat due to stress, this may be useful. It also counters the caffeine so you don’t get all jittery. The ginger added to green tea will help improve digestion and add a little flavor-no sugar or milk in this tea!



You will need…

-1/2 inch of fresh ginger root, peeled and finely chopped OR ½ teaspoon ground ginger
-1 teaspoon of green tea
-8 ounces of fresh water
-Raw, organic honey (optional)

Directions

Place green tea and ginger in a strainer or sieve and cover with 8 ounces of boiling water. Steeping green tea for too long can leave it with a bitter taste, so don’t exceed 3-4 minutes. You can stir in a little raw honey if you really need to sweeten it, but avoid milk or sugar at all costs. Drink 1-2 cups daily on an empty stomach.

Cinnamon Tea

Did you know you can lose weight from this natural home remedy?


Blood sugar has a direct impact on your weight as it affects how hungry and how energetic you are (if you have energy you’re much more likely to exercise!) If your blood sugar is balanced you are less likely to have a disproportionally large appetite, and your body will be more apt to use fat (energy) rather than storing it. While debate about its effectiveness drags on, more and more preliminary studies are coming out showing that cinnamon can help manage blood sugar levels, so why not whip up a spicy cinnamon tea?


You will need…

-1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
-1 cinnamon stick
-8 ounces of fresh water


Directions
 
Place the cinnamon in a mug and cover with 8 ounces of boiling water. Steep for 15 minutes before straining. Drinking 1-2 times a day.

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Benefits of Lemon and Honey in the Morning

Making weight loss easier for people, this concoction is the best kept secret!


Drinking honey and lemon mixed with warm water every morning on an empty stomach is often touted as the best way to lose weight. But this mixture, if had at the right time in the day, can do much more than help you reach your weight loss goal. Here are 9 ways a mixture of honey, lemon juice and warm water can help you stay fit and healthy.

Here are 10 ways to use honey for your skin, hair and body.

First things first — how do you make this magical concoction? Fill a tall glass with warm water (as hot as you can tolerate), add the juice of half a lemon and one teaspoon of honey to it. Now stir the mixture well and drink it. If you are diabetic, there is no need to shy away from this drink, here is why it is safe for you to add honey to this elixir. Also, remember to avoid drinking tea or coffee for at least half an hour after you have had the honey and lemon mix. While this remedy is perfect to help you stay healthy and beautiful, there are a lot of people who manufacture fake honey. Here’s how you can differentiate between real and fake honey.

Benefits of this drink
 


Keeps constipation away: Warm water with lemon and honey, when had in the morning, stimulates the digestive system, helps produce intestinal mucus, hydrates the colon and infuses water into dried stool — a common reason for constipation. Apart from that, the warm water helps kick start bowel movements, aiding in regular and constipation free motions. But if you suffer from long-standing constipation woes, you could try some of these home remedies.

Hastens weight loss: Apart from cleansing your stomach, the lemon juice present in the mixture, goes a long way in helping you lose weight. Packed with a type of fiber called pectin, lemon helps you feel full and keep cravings at bay. The warm water, honey and lemon also creates a more alkaline atmosphere in your stomach, helping you lose weight faster. Apart from this, you could also supplement your weight loss efforts with these tips to lose weight in 20 days.

Aids in better digestion: Lemon helps your liver produce more bile that helps your digestive system break down complex foods better and utilize the essential components. Honey, on the other hand, has antibacterial properties that help thwart any infections you might have. Apart from, that it also helps increase the production of mucous in your stomach, which indirectly helps in flushing out toxins from your body. Apart from drinking this healthy drink every day, make sure you avoid these foods that are difficult to digest.

Can improve functioning of the colon: In Ayurveda, it is believed that we tend to have a build up of toxins or ‘ama’ on the inner lining of our stomach, which is the reason for a number of ailments including cancer. This product of undigested food, intestinal cells and dead bacteria often coats the inner lining of our stomach and is thought to lead to diseases. By drinking lemon and honey mixed with warm water, the walls of the intestine – especially the colon – get stimulated; leading to the expulsion of this ama.

Helps cleanse the lymphatic system: According to experts, a dehydrated lymphatic system is one of the leading causes of illness. Lack of water and essential fluids in the lymphatic system can make you feel sluggish, fatigued, lead to constipation, disturbed sleep, high or low blood pressure, stress and an all-around lack in mental function. The benefit of drinking this mixture early in the morning is that it gives your lymphatic system a boost and helps hydrate the entire system.

Can give your energy levels a boost and improve your mood: Not a morning person? Well, this mixture can help beat that lethargy and fatigue you often feel every morning. How? Well, honey is an instant energy booster – minus the calories. Water helps clear your mind by providing fresh blood to your brain, and lemon activates your digestive system, getting to work properly and eliminating toxins that are often the reason for lethargy. Moreover, the scent of lemon is known to be a natural relaxant and can help uplift your mood. If you continue to feel fatigued, even after trying this remedy, there may be other causes for your symptoms. Do not neglect it and visit a doctor.

Aids in cleansing your urinary tract and acts as a diuretic: Honey is a very potent antibacterial agent, that has the capability to beat a number of common infections. When mixed with lemon and water – two agents that act as excellent diuretics (agents that flush out water from your body) – this concoction is the best way to cleanse your urinary tract. For women who suffer from frequent UTI (urinary tract infection), this is a boon and is known to keep recurrent infections at bay.

Helps beat bad breath and improve oral health: The acidic nature of lemon combined with the innate properties of honey and water can help beat bad breath almost instantly. The lemon cleanses your mouth, activating your salivary glands and killing offensive bacteria. When added to honey and water, it helps wash down bacteria and degraded food that is usually present in your mouth and throat early in the morning. Another reason for bad breath is the formation of a white film on your tongue (mainly consisting of decaying food and bacteria), this effectively gets rid of that film, making your breath fresh – naturally. If this doesn’t freshen your breath, you can try these expert tips.

Gives you clear skin and a natural glow: The benefits of lemon on your skin are aplenty, but apart from that, its cleansing action also helps in purifying your blood, also aiding in the production of new blood cells that acts as potent cleaning agents. The water and honey lend a unique restorative, antibacterial and collagen boosting properties to your skin as well.

Image source: Getty Images
Reference: the Health Site