Losing weight is certainly not easy, but the process to follow is relatively simple. It’s all about good habits, not only with food and exercise, but also with sleep and controlling your stress. Follow this time-tested formula and you begin your course towards success.
To help you along your way, try these simple tips and tricks in your home kitchen to augment your healthy routine, and you may just find your waist size shrinking sooner than you thought possible.
Keep the fruits and veggies raw
The vitamins, minerals and antioxidants found in fruits and veggies certainly help, too.
…And the nuts
Nuts can be a healthy and delicious snack – most especially when eaten raw. Nuts that are sold roasted are often cooked at high heat in processed oils – which can lead to weight gain rather than weight loss.
Raw nuts, on the other hand, can fill you up when you’re having a craving, and provide heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids.
Yogurt or kefir with breakfast
No weight loss plan is complete without probiotics, and one delicious way to get yours is simply to add some organic, grass-fed kefir or Greek yogurt to your breakfast. Probiotics are essential to a healthy gut environment, and the healthy fats, protein, vitamins and minerals in the yogurt and kefir combine to give you a wonderfully nutritious start to your day.
Sip on some cinnamon tea
This sweet and delicious spice has been linked to balancing blood sugar levels. This can help to control cravings, and keep your appetite in check, and help your body to use fat as energy more efficiently. You could add some ground, organic cinnamon to your meals and smoothies, or sip on some cinnamon tea.
Simply add a teaspoon or two to a mug of hot water, steep for about five minutes, and enjoy.
…Or some calming sage tea
Sage tea is another great idea, especially when it comes to controlling belly fat. This is because sage is known to have calming, soothing properties which help to banish stress. When you are stressed, your body produces a hormone known as cortisol, which can actually cause the body to store more fat around your middle.
Relieving this stress is essential, and sage tea is one way to go. Steep some fresh or dried organic sage leaves in hot water for about five minutes, and get ready to unwind.
Boot your efforts with apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a time-tested tonic for many ailments – and it also may be quite helpful with weight loss and shedding belly fat. The acetic acid that it contains has been found to block some of the body’s digestion of starch, and likely leads to less of the starch you eat being processed in your body and stored as fat.
Taking apple cider vinegar before meals has also been linked to lower blood sugar, lower body weight, lower blood triglycerides and lower body mass index. Make sure you’ve got a quality raw, organic, apple cider vinegar, and take a tablespoon or so in a glass of water before meals.
Use green tea as a smoothie base
There are many great liquids out there which can serve well as smoothie bases, but green tea is one of the smartest when it comes to busting fat. Green tea is very high in antioxidants, specifically in flavonoids called catechins. Catechins have been linked to lowered fat absorption in the intestines.
Furthermore, green tea contains an amino acid known as theanine, which can help to relieve stress.
Chew on some mint leaves, parsley or cardamom
When you’re craving something but you know you’ve already eaten enough, it may help to chew on some mint, parsley or cardamom. Choose whichever one has the most pleasing flavor to you. It will fill your palate and freshen your breath, giving your senses something else to focus on, and likely discouraging your desire to eat.
Get a ginseng kickstart
Ginseng is a known energy and metabolism booster, and it may also help you to feel more focused. This can do a world of good on those days when you just don’t feel like exercising. Note: As ginseng is potent stuff, you may want to check with a health professional you trust to determine how much is safe for your individual state of health.
Spice it up with black pepper
It turns out there is more benefit to black pepper than just adding great flavor to your meals. Black pepper contains a compound known as piperine, which is linked to reducing fat levels in the blood. It has also been associated with encouraging better nutrient absorption by the body.
Cleanse with warm lemon water
Starting your day with warm water with the juice of half a fresh lemon has a world of benefits. It can give you a great boost of energy, clear your mind for the day ahead, and aid your digestive system in breaking down the foods you eat. Plus, this detoxifying drink helps to flush the fat and toxins from your system.
On top of that, drinking warm lemon water before a workout can help to reduce post-workout joint pain and swelling.
Replace the bad fats with coconut oil
You probably know by now that not all fats are created equal, and organic, extra virgin coconut oil is one of the healthiest fats you can eat. It is made up of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which the body is able to use directly for energy, instead of storing as fat. Coconut oil can also give you a great boost of energy, and helps keep you satiated so you do not crave unhealthy snacks.
The easiest way to work coconut oil into your diet is to use it to replace all (or most) of the other fats and oils in your home, for cooking and topping foods. You can also add a tablespoon to smoothies, or drizzle a bit over salads.
While no tip, trick or “quick fix” will ever replace a healthy diet and regular exercise, adding some of these ideas to your routine may just give your waist-slimming plan the acceleration it needs.
Did you know: Not only is coconut oil a great belly slimming tool, its other benefits will amaze you! Click here for 9 more reasons to use coconut oil every day.
-The Alternative Daily
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