Why a Glass of Lemon Water Every Morning Is Important

Many people have adopted the habit of drinking a glass of lemon water every morning. The major reason cited for this health-related habit is that lemon water is a detoxification agent, which means it stimulates the body’s cleansing process and cleans out toxins. Unknown by many people, however, is that lemon water also boasts of weight loss capabilities.

This means that, in addition to other weight loss measures such as physical exercise, a health diet and adequate sleep, drinking lemon water is one of the latest entrants in the world of weight loss tools. Far from being a myth, drinking lemon water every morning will complement your weight loss attempts.

So what is lemon water? It’s simply some lemon juice mixed with water. It may be served either hot or cold depending on one’s preferences. So how does lemon water supplement your weight loss program? Read on for more insight.

Crank up metabolism

Your metabolic rate is defined as the speed at which your body burns fat and calories for energy. Drinking lemon water in the morning kick-starts your metabolism because it goes into an inactive state during and after you sleep. By speeding up your metabolism through lemon water, your body burns more calories to produce heat or energy in a process termed thermogenesis. In effect, this leads to loss of weight.

Low-calorie intake

To start with, the blend of lemon and water consists of natural ingredients free of any additives or preservatives. The body works best with natural substances than processed elements. Because lemon is a natural ingredient and you are simply adding a few drops into your water, it contributes no calories to your body’s caloric count every time you sip it. Try and reason this way: Assume you substitute whatever you like drinking in the morning with lemon juice. This could be anything simple as fruit juice or pretty detrimental like soda. Some fruit juices even contain calories, leave alone coffee. However, lemon water contains zero calories. Imagine further replacing your favorite drinks with lemon water each day. This reduction in calorie intake that you would otherwise consume from coffee and other beverages goes a long way in helping you shed weight.

Waste cleansing

After digestion, all types of wastes are sent to the colon for expulsion. Failure to clean out your colon will result in the buildup of lingering waste in your colon, constipation, hardened stools and heighten the threat of colon cancer. Plus, this accumulation of lingering waste also contributes to increased body weight. Thanks to lemon’s detoxification characteristics, all this lingering waste is cleaned out thus boosting your weight loss attempts. Acids in lemon juice also slow the process of digestion, which promotes better nutrient absorption in the body.

Suppresses hunger

When you drink lemon water in the morning accompanied by a balanced meal, your brain is more likely to send signals of fullness to your brain faster. Lemon contains pectin fiber. As you are probably aware, fiber is known for inducing fullness. When you feel full, your food intake will be significantly reduced, and this means less consumption of unhealthy fats and pointless calories. In the end, you can lose a few kilograms. If you’ve previously attempted to suppress your appetite with drinks like tea or coffee, switch to lemon water instead.

Hydration

Sufficient water is a crucial aspect of health. Staying hydrated is vital for everything from boosting physical performance to controlling body temperature. Research shows that increased hydration speeds up the rate at which fats are broken down. Seeing that water constitutes the lion share of lemon water, you will stay hydrated with it every day.

Lemon water can accelerate our metabolic rates, support hydration and promote weight loss. That being said, not only is it flavorsome and easy to make, it can serve as a low-calorie alternative to higher-calorie drinks.

Best Fruits Choices to Help You Lose Weight

Fruits are fantastic additions to any diet. They contribute greatly to an individual’s well-being and they are truly a healthy form of sweet snacks, being loaded with nutrients. However, not all have the same nutrient makeup, and there are fruits out there that help better with weight loss, or other reasons.

Fruits are beneficial when you want to lose weight despite continuous eating. It is a form of food with low caloric value and high fiber content making you feel full without eating too much of it.

With the variety of fruit offered in the market, we have come up with a list of fruits that you can combine with your current weight loss program for a healthier body and happier life!

Bananas

Bananas are loaded with potassium, and yes, they are also packed with fiber. A slice of banana can help boost your metabolism while also filling you up without excess calories and sugar compared to most diet snacks available in the market. Bananas are way healthier than an energy bar too. If you want some variations, partner some bananas with some fat-free peanut butter for an instant sweet yet healthy treat!

Watermelon

Watermelons are often considered to be an anti-weight loss fruit due to its high sugar content. Putting that aside, this fruit also boasts impressive benefits that are good for your health and weight loss journey. Watermelons are also high in water content thus it improves hydration to keep your body functioning at its best.

Avocado

It is not new knowledge to everyone anymore about the wonder fruit that is Avocado. Avocados are one of the staple fruits for a person aiming to lose weight. It is packed with so much good fatty acids that it’s no wonder it is and has been everyone’s favourite diet food for quite a while now. It contains about 20 grams of healthy fat that aid in preventing high cholesterol and also a good choice for regulation of metabolism. Avocados are also known to increase synthesis of testosterone for both men and women—a hormone that is responsible for weight loss in both genders.

Apples

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, indeed. It is a supremely healthy fruit with only low amounts of calories as well as not containing any forms of sodium or fat. It is highly fibrous which is good to rid your stomach of toxins and leftovers. Aside from these reasons, apples help you feel fuller and can energise you for a decent amount of time each day to keep you functioning efficiently, allowing you to get work done. Apples are also very rich in antioxidants and is a good fruit choice to balance your blood sugar levels. Snacking has never been this good, yes?

Grapefruits

Grapefruits are beneficial to weight loss due to its components that lower insulin levels. Insulin is a type of hormone that regulates blood sugar levels AND is also the one responsible in storing fats. It is very high in water content which makes you feel full for longer periods of time. Grapefruits are also good sources of vitamin C, folic acid, and potassium.

Keep in mind that fruits get digested for longer times than most food types, requiring more calories to actually digest them and encouraging weight loss.

Are Diet Programs Only a Fad? How to Successfully Lose Weight

Slimming treatments, weight loss programs, diet meal plans—these are only some of the different weight management and slimming programs that are being offered on the market. With losing weight and maintaining a healthy body becoming more and more popular in the recent years, people who want to go on a diet often purchase various goods and services that can give them their dream body.

The real question is, are diet programs offered by different weight loss clinics and endorsed by celebrities effective? The answer for that is not always. Yes, do they help in some ways to help you burn extra calories and get rid of excess fats. However, they should NEVER be the sole basis of your weight loss journey.

Weight loss should always be healthy.

Instant weight loss programs that promise you to lose ten pounds of weight in ten days are often unhealthy. An ideal weight loss should only range from one to two pounds per week, or a kilogram a fortnight. Often, these instant weight loss programs cause the so-called rebound effect and you end up gaining weight instead of losing it. Some diet programs restrict your calorie intake lesser than what your body needs to keep it functioning. When you deprive your body of food, your energy level drops and you binge eating is more likely to happen when the chance arrives. Usually, fad diets include foods that claim to provide you sufficient vitamins and minerals, but in reality, they are quite the opposite. Instead of eating “diet” meal plans and a wholesale revamp of everything you eat, try incorporating more fruits and vegetables in your diet and watching what you eat. This alternative can be healthier and more effective than going for an instant weight loss program. Remember, weight loss is a long process.

Eating healthily.

Instead of resorting to eating processed “diet” foods, why not go au naturel? The process of losing weight should depend more on the types of food you are eating than working out. Eating healthily is essential and is the number one catalyst in revamping your body to get rid of fats. Working out, on the other hand, helps tone your muscles so you would not get any excess skin sagging off your bones and muscles, rather than addressing the issue of weight.

Stay away from diet pills.

If you can, stay away from diet pills. Most diet pills are deemed to only give you an instant slimming effect but it just stops there. It is not healthy, and most of the time, they are not approved by your local food and drug agency. If you really want to use supplements, you can ask for a professional advice and choose only those that are safe and regulated properly by the food and drug authorities.

Fad diets have been a mainstay in the world of dieting—they give you fast results. However, it tends to backfire and results last only for a short amount of time. Instead of resorting to fad diets, try eating healthily and stay away from calorie heavy food which caused you to get fat. Small and simple changes in your lifestyle can contribute to weight changes and it can have a long term, favorable effect on your body and health.

Avoid Gaining Weight With These Holiday Eating Tips

The holidays mark the most exciting times of the year. However, in between the parties, laughter, and merry-making, it’s also a time many find themselves packing on the pounds. In fact, the period between mid-November and the start of January sees an ordinary person add an average of half a kilogram. While this may seem negligible, many people don’t shed off the pounds they gain during the holidays. Holiday weight is a significant contributor to the overall annual weight gain for most people.

While it may seem illogical, adding several pounds over the holidays is far from unavoidable. There are logical methods to help you stay on track. This should not be construed to mean that you will have to avoid the eating and celebrations that characterise the holiday season. You will just need to make healthier food choices and eat in moderation.

Let’s see how you can navigate the holidays without adding inches to your waistline.

Adopt mindful eating

People are in a constant state of rush and excitement during the holiday season, which often contributes to multitasking when eating meals. According to research, people who eat while doing other tasks are more inclined to overindulging. The reason being they can’t listen to their body’s signal of fullness or contentment. To avoid this occurrence, concentrate on eating without distractions from work or video games. Another approach to eat mindfully is to eat slowly and chew thoroughly. As such, you’ll be able to pay attention to your body’s hints of fullness and consume fewer calories. Numerous studies reveal that those who observe mindful eating habits are less prone to add weight during the holidays.

Pick protein

Foods rich in protein are associated with weight control since they increase your metabolic rate and trigger the release of hunger-quashing hormones. Protein makes you feel full longer. Because you feel satisfied, your calorie intake will significantly be reduced. Plus, protein is the building block for healthy muscle mass. Muscles are renowned for their fat-burning prowess. For these benefits, make sure you get least 30 grams of protein per meal. Some sources of protein include fish, meat, poultry, beans, lentils and quinoa.

Fiber

Similar to protein, fiber is another nutrient positively related to fullness. Fiber-rich foods such as oatmeal, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, seeds, blueberries and raspberries induce fullness and thus reduce overall calorie intake. Therefore, a steady intake of dietary fiber is a sure way to avoid weight gain during the festivities. Despite the fact many typical holiday meals lack sufficient fiber, it’s your responsibility to add in fiber-rich foods into your holiday menu.

Small plates

Over the years, the size of plates has significantly increased. If possible, pick the smaller salad plate rather than the tray-like one holding mountains of food. Serving food on a small plate makes you feel fuller despite eating less food. The mind associates the empty space on a big plate with a lesser amount of food.

Complex carbs

Simple carbohydrates include white bread and refined sugars in candy and soft drinks. While they do provide energy, they often don’t provide similar nutrients as complex carbs. The body digests simple carbs a lot quicker compared to the complex type, which raises blood sugar levels and leaving you feeling hungry after a short while. In contrast, complex carbs take a long time before they are digested. As such, you remain fuller for longer.

If you are serious about checking your weight during the holidays, enroll in a weight loss program and stick to the tips mentioned above regarding food choices. Understand that you can say no to specific foods that don’t align with your objectives. Also, remember that you can allow yourself to cheat occasionally. If it happens, don’t abandon your goal. Just move on and pick a healthier food choice in subsequent meals.