7 Foods That Are Great For Natural Weight Loss

I healed my body naturally from chronic disease, and in the process lost over 60 pounds, without drugs, deprivation or surgery. Along the way, I discovered that some foods are healing and have the ability to promote health within our bodies, while others can actually cause harm and create weight gain.

Here are some of my personal favorite healing foods that can promote health and support natural weight loss.

1. Broth

When my body broke down, I was bedridden for weeks. As part of my journey back to health, I felt very fortunate to discover the healing power of broth.

Broth can be made easily by cooking chopped organic vegetables in water, until they are super soft. (Bonus points if your vegetables are also local!) Leave six hours or overnight. Then drain the liquid, heat it up, and voila! Your soup broth is ready to drink. Add sea salt and pepper for taste if you want.

You can eat the cooked vegetables seasoned with fresh herbs. (You can also add fish, meat or grains to your broth depending on your preferences.) This can be very healing for your body, since it's easy to digest, and also hydrating.

2. Extra virgin coconut oil

Many health experts agree that coconut oil is as close to a superfood that you can get. High in lauric acid (found naturally in breast milk), extra virgin coconut oil is anti-aging, moisturizing, and healing. It's the only oil that you should ever cook with since it stays stable when heated to high temperatures.

3. Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is produced through the fermentation of fresh apple cider. It's a rich source of minerals (particularly potassium), vitamins, enzymes and amino acids. Apple cider vinegar is a potent and versatile healing substance and can be applied topically or diluted and taken internally.

Always choose good quality apple cider vinegar made from organically grown apples and aged in wooden barrels. It should be pungent and when held up to the light, you should be able to see a cobweb like formation, called the “mother” suspended in the liquid. It's evidence of the vinegar’s naturalness.

4. Cinnamon

It may be hard to believe that something that tastes so delicious is also so good for your body. Eating cinnamon has the ability to regulate your blood sugars, which is an important part of the weight loss process. Generously sprinkle cinnamon on your cereal or add it to your smoothies for a flavor injection.

5. Lemons

Lemons are naturally detoxifying and have an alkalizing effect on your body. This makes them an ideal weight loss food. Each day upon waking, drink a glass of water with a squeeze of fresh lemon. For a delicious, yet healthy taste, squeeze fresh lemon juice onto your food just before serving.

6. Fresh juices

Drinking a selection of fresh fruit and vegetable juices in your day, your body will certainly feel the benefit. Fresh juices are a powerful way to increase your intake of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and enzymes. You can juice most fruits and vegetables. I try to choose the greenest, water-rich and most alkalizing ones for my own juices, using some (or all!) of the following: spinach or cucumber, celery, pears, apples, ginger and lemon.

7. Fresh greens and vegetables

I encourage you to try a wide variety of fresh greens and vegetables to find all the ones you like. Always eat your greens according to the seasons. Some of my favorites are baby spinach, parsley, basil green leaves, broccoli, celery, cucumber, and chard.

Healing foods are found everywhere in nature.

Always listen to your body and let it guide you. Your body knows best how to heal itself naturally. Eating healing foods will help.

I hope that this article inspires you to start eating more fresh, local foods so that you can experience the incredible joy that comes from feeling healthy and losing weight naturally, without diets, deprivation or restrictions. If you'd like to learn more about healing your body, mind and emotions, please click here to download a free chapter of my book, Losing Weight is a Healing Journey.

Source
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-13168/7-foods-that-are-great-for-natural-weight-loss.html

Natural aids to weight loss

Hundreds of weight-loss supplements claim to have remarkable benefits. We take a look at the more reputable ones.

Once you decide on an eating and exercise plan, there are extra measures you can take to boost your weigh-loss efforts. Herbs and supplements can help turn fat into muscle, reduce appetite and boost energy and endurance levels. Many herbs boost your metabolism and resting thermogenesis (resting metabolism).

Medical herbalist Dominique Finney says the best time to lose weight is when you are resting. "The most effective weight-loss programs incorporate herbal medicines with exercise. The aim is to keep your energy boosted all day and night, even when you are sleeping. "Herbal medicines can also assist with detoxification of the liver, digestive tract and bloodstream. We all carry from three to 10 kilograms of excess putrid matter in our digestive tract and the herbs help eliminate this." We look at the most common supplements.

Black walnut

Black walnut is famous for its cleansing properties. It helps add motion to the large intestine and eliminates build-ups in the bowel. Herbalists classify it as an astringent because it is rich in tannin, which helps to tone the body.

Guggulsterones

Guggul has been used in ayurvedic medicine for centuries to treat a variety of conditions. It is known for increasing the thyroid gland's actions to boost metabolism and it is stimulant-free. Studies have shown it reduces cholesterol and can help reduce body fat levels.

HCA

Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is used in Indian and Thai food as a condiment. It acts as an appetite suppressant and stops carbohydrates being turned to fat in the liver. Animal studies show HCA could reduce fat production from 40 to 70 per cent for up to 12 hours after eating.

Carb blockers

Carbohydrate blockers contain white kidney bean extract, which interferes with alpha-amylase, an enzyme in the body which breaks down carbohydrates. The carbohydrates are excreted before they enter the bloodstream. Finney advocates eating a good mix of carbohydrates and protein, rather than using carbohydrate blockers. "You will lose weight quickly, but the weight loss is unsustainable."

Amino acids

Body builders have been using amino acids for years to sculpt and tone their bodies. Amino acids are particularly helpful for those who are doing a lot of exercise as they are the building blocks for protein, and are needed to build and repair muscle.

The list doesn't end there. Eating a green food daily such as spirulina, barley or alfalfa will help reduce your appetite. If your thyroid is slow in regulating your metabolism, you could try a kelp supplement. Supplements help speed up weight loss, but diet is crucial. Finney says the key is still burning more kilojoules than you put into your mouth.

Chromium and magnesium

Magnesium has been found to raise the resting metabolism of obese people. Chromium picolinate not only works as an appetite suppressant, it helps curb cravings. Naturopath Aimee Robbins says increased chromium levels help muscle cells and the liver store more glucose, boost energy levels and reduce body fat. "High glucose storage in the liver also reduces hunger pains and the desire for food."

Dandelion

This herb cleanses the liver and kidneys, while removing excess fluids. It's good for those on a low-carb diet, where it's important to keep the organs of elimination flushed. A study on mice saw them lose 30 per cent of their body weight when fed dandelion over a 30-day period.

Brindleberry

Brindleberry has been used in Thai and Indian cuisine for years and is probably the best herb to suppress your appetite between meals. "It should be used with chromium to assist increased muscle and liver uptake of glucose," Robbins says.

Guarana

Guarana is one of the richest sources of caffeine - it has three times as much as coffee - which is why it suppresses the appetite. Because of its stimulating effect it helps burn fat, is a tonic and diuretic and boosts energy.

Drink yourself slim

Tea boosts the metabolism, flushes out toxins and curbs hunger pangs. The caffeine increases body function to help burn kilojoules and the polyphenols aid fat digestion. The weight-loss benefits of green tea are well known, but oolong, brindleberry, dandelion, St Mary's thistle, globe artichoke and guarana teas also help shed kilos.

Spice up your food

Forget flavouring your food with salt. Try adding some herbs and spices. Research shows most herbs are rich in antioxidants, which support weight loss. Try allspice, basil, cloves, coriander, dill, fennel leaves, mint, nutmeg, parsley, rosemary or sage. Cinnamon is another winner that enhances insulin activity.

Source
http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/weight+loss/lose+weight/natural+aids+to+weight+loss,8043

How to Tighten Skin After Weight Loss

Getting thin without losing the beauty of skin is not much possible. Everyone tries to get slim, in this process there is a chance of getting saggy skin due to weight loss. But no need to worry. By fallowing some best tips anyone can maintain beautiful skin after getting thin too. Here are some best ideas that works to make your skin tight after weight loss. Keep reading the article to know more..

 Saturate your skin.

Make Use of lotion that has vitamin E in it, so that your skin will stay soggy, as this takes into consideration new skin cells to develop. Saturating likewise assists with minimizing wrinkles. You can even utilize coconut oil on your skin. Coconut oil is a characteristic cream and has antibacterial properties to relieve the skin. It is frequently utilized as a part of business and DIY body moisturizers, however it can be utilized naturally also. You can discover here more fabulous ordinary uses for coconut oil, or read about these natural product oils for healthy skin.

Screen your weight reduction

It might be time to control your weight reduction only for a bit to permit your skin to get changed in accordance with the misfortune. As you keep up your weight, your skin has even more an inclination to psychologist to your new size. On the off chance that you keep on getting in shape quickly, your skin will keep on losing flexibility.

Increase Consuming Water

Drinking a considerable measure of water not just enhances your general wellbeing, it likewise will help your skin to wind up more tightly, smoother, and look more brilliant. Make certain to drink no less than 6 glasses of water for each day. In the event that you can drink more than that, far and away superior. Hydration is heavenly for your skin and unquestionably assists with the flexibility of such.

Take part in weight resistance preparing

As indicated by Cedric Bryant, boss science officer for the American Council on Exercise, quality preparing reinforces muscles as it makes a layer of muscle underneath the skin. Therefore, your skin will get to be more tightly. It is prescribed that you perform quality preparing three times each week each other day keeping in mind the end goal to truly advantage your muscles and skin. Weight preparing is particularly vital on the off chance that you have dropped your caloric admission altogether, as when you lose fat, you regularly lose muscle too. Revamping your muscles will help tight  the skin.

Odds are your stomach has some extended skin on the off chance that you’ve lost a ton of weight. Tightening  the tummy range is a great deal more conceivable in the event that you require some serious energy a couple times each week to practice that territory. Resolve to gut conditioning activities, for example, crunches, air bicycle, leg raises, sit ups, side scaffolds, and pelvic pushes. You don’t need to invest a great deal of energy in these activities either. Just burning through 15 to 20 minutes three to five days for each week will help tight  your tummy range. You can discover here 8 basic activities to get a level tummy, and on the off chance that you have free skin on your arms, check these 6 basic activities to dispose of jiggly arms.

Limit your sun exposure

A lot of time in the sun will have a negative impact on your skin’s flexibility, so confine your time sun washing. This goes for tanning beds too, as the beams can dry out your skin and harm the skin cells in the meantime (you can likewise watch this feature to see what the sun truly does to your skin). Additionally, confine your time swimming in chlorinated water, as the chlorine can dry out and harm skin cells. Investing a short measure of energy sun washing and swimming is okay; simply make sure to shower a short time later and apply a characteristic cream that has vitamins and aloevera included.

Ocean salt clean

There are a few scientists declaring that ocean salt cleans will help with blood stream to the skin and help tight  the skin after some time. There are various ocean salt and mineral cleans accessible available to browse. Basically utilize them in the shower every day as you wash and perceive how your skin looks and feels following two or three weeks. Read my article how to utilize ocean salt for your skin, including ocean salt body scour.

Imagine tight skin

Representation is a super intriguing instrument to use to get your goals to work out. No, its not care for enchantment, but rather there is power in imagining your cravings showing. Indeed, even some expert competitors use representation to help enhance their recreations and exhibitions. The way it works is that when you rationally see something, you have a tendency to take more activities toward making your yearnings materialize. When you see your skin tight, you’re more well-suited to do things like activity, eat healthy, and finish other accommodating tips. You have full authorization to fantasize and take eventually every day and imagine yourself with tight skin.

 Be tolerant

At the point when managing extended, free skin, it is essential to be persistent as your body adjusts to your new size. Furthermore, keep as a top priority that relying upon the amount of weight you’ve lost, your skin will most likely be unable to come back to its unique flexibility. Settle on a choice to acknowledge this now just on the off chance that and assert that you are really marvelous even with some free skin.

It is justifiable to wind up baffled when you’ve lost a great deal of weight and now must be worried about free skin. Luckily, others that have gone before you have attempted a wide range of techniques to tight  their skin and joyfully pass that data on. Keep at the top of the priority list that what lives up to expectations for one individual may not work for you. You can attempt different approaches to tight  your skin and see what is useful for you.

Also, comprehend that versatility responds diversely at distinctive ages and stages in life. For the youthful mother who just conceived an offspring and is battling with free skin, it might just require a tad bit of push to take care of the skin and keep it moving. For the 50 year old who has quite recently dropped 75 pounds in a short measure of time, it may take a touch longer for the skin to tight  and it may not hit it up unique state because of age. It is imperative to understand this and acknowledge it wholeheartedly. Reward yourself for losing the weight and acknowledge your skin’s condition during the time spent tightening  it.

Source
http://newsfuzzy.com/how-to-tighten-skin-after-weight-loss/

10 ways drinking warm water with lemon and honey can do wonders for your health

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 to make the mixture.

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 a 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 mixture. 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.

Here’s how this drink can help you:

Helps keep constipation at bay: 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 the process of 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 make you feel full and keeps 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: Better digestion is essential for the proper functioning of your body, and this mixture is exactly what you need to keep your digestive tract in great condition. Each of the components of this drink aid in better digestion. Lemon helps your liver produce more bile that helps your digestive system break down complex foods better and utilise 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 the 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, that 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. If understanding Ayurveda is not your thing, allopathy describes this mixture as a potent natural way to cleanse the colon, allowing it to function better by helping your body absorb nutrients, get rid of toxins, stay adequately hydrated and keep bloating at bay. Also, do try the Ayurvedic detox diet on a regular basis to keep your insides clean and functioning well.

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 improves 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.

Can help give you a natural glow and clear skin: 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.

Source
http://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/why-drinking-water-early-in-the-morning-good-for-health-p214/