Ways to Burn Calories This Summer

Maintaining a healthy weight is a key consideration for good health. This Summer when many of us try to drop a few pounds we go about it in the boring way.

These easy, calorie burning exercises are perfect for summer and can all be done with FUN and without going to the gym!

Ditch the gym

You don’t have to train like an athlete to stay fit this summer. Just try these outdoor activities to burn calories and keep your body toned without hitting the gym.

All activities are calculated for a 150-pound woman performing the activity for 30 minutes.

 

 

 

Beach volleyball

If you’re lucky enough to live near a beach, this sport is a great way to get your heart rate up, make friends, and tone your legs, shoulders, and core. And because it’s harder to move in the sand, you get extra calorie burn.

If you’re inland, many parks and even some gyms have sand courts that offer similar benefits.

Calories burned: 272

What you burned off: A 16-ounce Protein Berry Workout smoothie from Jamba Juice

Gardening

Burn calories while making your yard more beautiful. Constantly bending and squatting to reach plants is great for your glutes, and your garden will be the envy of your neighbors.

Calories burned: 136 calories

What you burned off: A serving of Baked Lays with 2 tablespoons of salsa

Surfing

Simply playing in the surf lets you burn calories even as you cool off. To get a better workout, be sure to paddle hard past the breakers to increase your heart rate.

Calories burned: 102 calories

What you burned off: 1/2 cup sliced strawberries and 1/2 cup fat-free vanilla yogurt

Tennis

Pick up your racket and challenge your friend, neighbor, or spouse to a game of tennis. Running around the court allows you to sneak in an aerobic workout. Plus, hitting the ball is a great arm toner.

Calories burned: 272 calories

What you burned off: Half of a Smoked Turkey Breast on Country Bread from Panera Bread

 

Bicycling (light)

Biking can be a great way to get around as well as to tone your quads and hamstrings. A light ride burns more calories than walking, and riding up hills will keep your legs jiggle-free.

Calories burned: 204 calories

What you burned off: 1/2 cup of Häagen-Dazs coffee lowfat frozen yogurt

 

Frisbee

Playing Frisbee can be more than just a leisurely activity. A light game can keep you fit, and if you get a team together for a game of ultimate Frisbee, you will burn 272 calories in just 30 minutes.

Calories burned: 102 calories

What you burned off: An ice-cold Miller Light

 

In-line skating

Break out your roller blades and hit the pavement for a cardio workout that also tones your legs, hips, and glutes. Plus, the faster you go, the better the breeze.

Calories burned: 168 calories (at a leisurely pace of 8 mph)

What you burned off: One ground sirloin slider with relish

Swimming leisurely

Cool off and enjoy this refreshing low-impact activity. And you don’t have to be an expert in butterfly to torch calories. Moving through the water even at a slow pace gives you an aerobic workout that tones your entire body.

Calories burned: 204 calories

What you burned off: 33 Blue Diamond Lime ‘N Chili almonds

Sightseeing

Out of town and no gym? See the sights by walking the streets of whichever city or town you’re visiting. When possible, hit the hills to tighten up your hamstrings and glutes.

Calories burned: 129 calories (3.5 mph pace)

What you burned off: A Citrus Shrimp Refresher made with shrimp, cucumber, avocado, and grapefruit

Scuba diving

If you’re lucky enough to take a tropical vacation, make time for this exciting and eye-opening exercise. And if scuba diving is not your forte, you can go snorkeling. It lets you burn 170 calories in the same amount of time.

Calories burned: 238 calories

What you burned off: An Apricot Clif bar

Kayaking

A sightseeing tour by kayak is a unique way to explore your surroundings—and a deceptively effective way to work on your six-pack. To propel the boat forward, you need to twist your torso like a wind-up spring in addition to paddling with your arms.

Calories burned: 179

What you burned off: A glass of this red sangria

 

Stand-up paddle boarding (SUP)

Balancing on a board that floats in the water may look difficult, but it’s actually pretty easy once you get the hang of it. Paddling tones your biceps and triceps and engages the muscles in your core and back.

Calories burned: 200

What you burned off: A Kind Dark Chocolate Nuts and Sea Salt Bar

Horseback riding

When you saddle up, it isn’t just the horse doing all the work. You need to engage your core and squeeze the horse with your inner thighs in order to stay upright. Your butt and the rest of your legs will feel the burn, too, especially when the horse picks up the pace.

Calories burned: 143

What you burned off: Two scrambled eggs

Golf

Tee yourself up to burn fat by leaving the golf cart at the clubhouse. A leisurely game turns into more of a cardiovascular and strength workout when you carry your clubs from hole to hole.

Calories burned: 161

What you burned off: A slice of whole-wheat toast with a quarter of an avocado smashed on top

Lawn games

Lawn games like croquet, Bocce, and cornhole don’t seem strenuous, but all that crouching down to pick up balls and bean bags helps lift your butt and tone your thighs.

Calories burned: 90

What you burned off: A peach-flavored Edy’s Outshine Frozen Fruit Bar

 

Badminton (non-competitive)

Bounding around the badminton court revs up your heart rate, while lunging and stretching for the birdie gives your legs and butt a great workout. Plus, whacking the shuttlecock with your racket fires up your arm and shoulder muscles.

Calories burned: 150

What you burned off: A Skinny Cow Chocolate Mousse Ganache ice cream cone

Mowing the lawn

It may be tempting to pass this chore off to your spouse or your kids, but trimming your lawn torches major calories. Pushing the mower—especially uphill—engages your glute muscles and revs up your heart rate.

Calories burned: 196

What you burned off: A serving of baby carrots, an ounce of pretzels, and 2 tablespoons of hummus

 

 

Article Reference: http://www.health.com/

OWC SUMMER SOCIAL MEDIA CONTEST -PROMOTION EXPIRED-

Comment to WIN and become our next VIP Member!!! Just answer 2 simple questions and comment at any of our social media accounts- Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

 

Question 1: What is your reason to lose weight for long term?

Question 2: Why do you think you deserve to be our next VIP member?

WE WILL BE CHOOSING 3 LUCKY WINNERS!!!

As our VIP Member, you will receive exclusive benefits that are not available to standard members, such as FREE initial consultations with OWC packet, FREE follow-up nutritional counseling for 6 months to 1 year depending on your weight goal plus 15% OFF on all OWC products including prescribed medications, supplements and injections.

✓ VIP privilege is NON TRANSFERABLE.

✓ Only one entry per comment.

✓ Must complete 2 questions and use hashtag #OPTIMALWEIGHTCONTROLVIPMEMBER

All participants must be:

  1. 18 years old and above.
  2. Live in Los Angeles, San Bernandino and Orange County or nearby cities.

Final entry will be on July 31st, 2016. We will announce our winner on Aug 5TH, 2016 in our website.

To know more about our summer social media contest and our medically supervised weight management program please contact us at

Best Exercises To Lose Arm Fat At Home – Best Arm Toning Workouts

Flabby or big arms can really put you down and ruin your image! They are hard to carry in a slim fit dress and going sleeveless is a huge embarrassment. Both girls and guys have the same problems with their arms. Girls want toned and slim arms, whereas guys want huge muscles. No one likes saggy arms as they make your arms look bigger than they actually are. It is never too late to begin exercise for arms and the best calisthenics program often include arm toning exercises. It does not just reduce the fat around the area, but it also gives you toned arms. You will start feeling confident about yourself.

Many people have fat accumulated only in this region. The whole body is normal, but your arms maybe on the heavier side. Just follow these simple exercises for arms and you will be happy you did so. There is no need to become a member of a well-known gym and burn a hole in your pocket. You can perform these exercises in your house itself, using the things available. With these arm toning exercises you can make your flabby arms – fabulous in just 2 months. But you need to be determined enough to do so.
Continue reading →

Best Snacks for Weight Loss

When it comes to weight loss, you know that snacking can be an important tool. Having a little something-something every few hours keeps your metabolism humming and your blood sugar on an even keel.

Smart snacking can work wonders on your waistline, but it can be a challenge to find options that keep thesugar low and the protein and fiber high (who wants to read nutrition labels when you’re hungry?). This list of the healthiest snacks in the supermarket. Each will provide a slow, steady supply of calories to keep you full all day—and lean for life.

Best Fiber Bar: Fiber One Chewy Bars Oats & Peanut Butter


Per bar: 150 calories, 4.5 g fat, 9 g sugars, 3 g protein, 9 g fiber
With about a third of your day’s recommended fiber intake, this is the ideal snack for those days when your produce and whole grain intake are below par, and you want to keep things, well, moving.

 

 

Best Whole Wheat Cracker: Triscuit Original


Per 6 crackers: 120 calories, 4 g fat, 20 g carbohydrates, 3 g fiber
Snackable and stackable, these crackers are a great standby at home or in the office.

 

 

 

Best Flavored Cracker: Wheat Thins Fiber Selects Garden Vegetable


Per 15 crackers: 120 calories, 4 g fat, 22 g carbohydrates, 5 g fiber, 2 g protein
These crackers, made from whole grain wheat flour, gives this tasty snack a massive hit of belly-filling fiber. Add them to your diet for a quick fix (and speaking of thin, cleanse out your toxins and lose weight with our Ultimate One-Day Detox.)

Best Potato Chips: Food Should Taste Good Sweet Potato Tortilla Chips

Per 12 chips: 140 calories, 7 g fat, 18 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein
Part chip, part cracker, and all good. These nibbles provide 20 percent of your daily dose of vitamin A, and they’re gluten-free.

Best Vegetable Chips: Terra Exotic Harvest Vegetable Chips


Per oz (about 16 chips): 130 calories, 6 g fat, 16 g carbohydrates, 2 g protein, 3 g fiber
This fun mix of carrots, blue potatoes, and kabocha squash boasts 40 percent less fat than potato chips and enough fiber to take the edge off your hunger. (Plus they look pretty on the chip ’n’ dip platter.)

Best Pretzels: Newman’s Own Organics Spelt Pretzels

Per 20 pretzels: 120 calories, 1 g fat, 23 g carbohydrates, 4 g protein, 4 g fiber
Spelt is a grain related to wheat but with more fiber and protein, and the fact that it’s organic is just a bonus. Pair these with a hunk of cheddar to rope even more protein into your snack break. (Just don’t eat too much salt. Avoid these Bloaty Foods That Make You Look Fat.)

Best Popcorn: Orville Redenbacher’s Smart Pop! Pop Up Bowl Butter


Per 6.5 cup serving: 120 calories, 2 g fat, 25 g carbohydrates, 4 g fiber, 4 g protein
The mini bags serve a dual function: They keep you from overeating and they do away with the need for a popcorn bowl. Keep a few bags tucked into your desk at work, and a fiber-rich snack will never be far from reach. If you want an even lighter alternative, we have another popcorn you should check out in our collection of the 4 Essential Snacks for Weight Loss.

Best Vegetable Dippers: Cal-Organic Carrot Dippers Snack Packs with Ranch Dip


Per package: 110 calories, 9 g fat, 5 g carbohydrates, 1 g protein, 1 g fiber
These baby carrots come with just enough ranch to kick up the flavor without burdening you with a nutritionally nullifying load of fat, and each serving has 60 percent of your day’s recommended vitamin A.

Best Plain Yogurt: Fage Total 2% Greek Yogurt


Per 7-ounce container: 150 calories, 4 g fat, 20 g protein
Greek yogurt has more than double the protein of standard American-style yogurt. Make it a simple parfait by adding fruit, nuts, seeds, or granola. Not all Greek yogurts are created equal. We found the Best & Worst Yogurts by type, so you could find the best one for your tastes.

Best Cottage Cheese: Fiber One Lowfat Cottage Cheese with Fiber


Per ½ cup: 80 calories, 2 g fat, 10 g protein, 5 g fiber
Cottage cheese is famous for its abundant supply of complete protein, but the 5 grams of fiber come from the addition of a natural plant compound called inulin. Top your curds with canned or fresh fruit for an ultra-sweet snack (or dessert!).

 

Best Snack Bread: Pepperidge Farm Swirl 100% Whole-Wheat Cinnamon with Raisins


Per slice: 80 calories, 1 g fat, 3 g protein, 2 g fiber
Cinnamon toast is usually little more than sugar and starch, a decadent duo with love-handle repercussions. Go with the whole wheat variety and you can snack without the guilt, even if you opt for a second slice.

Best Spreadable Cheese: The Laughing Cow Light Mozzarella, Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil


Per wedge: 35 calories, 1.5 g fat, 2 g protein
Keep one of these cheese wheels in the office fridge to fight on-the-job hunger. Spread a couple wedges over whole wheat crackers and you hit both major benchmarks of satiety: protein and fiber.

Best Chocolate Milk: Organic Valley Lowfat Chocolate Milk


Per 8 fl oz: 150 calories, 2.5 g fat, 9 g protein
Chocolate milk is the perfect drinkable snack before you head in for a workout. The sugar fuels your muscles for maximum power, and the protein helps rebuild them afterward. If this is your go-to snack, you have to click here for our Chocolate Milk Diet (it really works)!

Best Flavored Yogurt: Chobani Nonfat Blueberry Greek Yogurt

Dannon LIGHT & FIT® GREEK

Per 1 container: 80 calories, 0 g fat, 12 g protein, 7 g sugar
Scoop into the plump, juicy blueberries beneath our creamy Greek nonfat yogurt and give it a swirl for a treat that tastes so satisfying, you won’t sacrifice a thing.

Best Peanut Butter: Smucker’s Natural Chunky Peanut Butter


Per 2 Tbsp: 210 calories, 16 g fat, 7 g protein, 2 g fiber
You’ll find no added oils, sweeteners, or fillers in this jar—just peanuts and salt. Stay within the snack-size calorie range by eating one tablespoon with crackers or two tablespoons with baby carrots or celery.

Best Alternative Nut Butter: MaraNatha Organic Raw Almond Butter, No Salt, Creamy


Per 2 Tbsp: 190 calories, 17 g fat, 7 g protein, 4 g fiber
Almond butter has more heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids than peanut butter, and it’s just as convenient. Try smearing some over apple slices for a tasty blend of sweet and savory. Almond butter is just one of our 10 Best Brainpower-Boosting Secret Foods

Best Hummus: Sabra Sun Dried Tomato Hummus


Per 2 Tbsp: 70 calories, 4.5 g fat, 2 g protein, 1 g fiber
If you don’t already keep hummus stocked in your fridge, add it to your shopping list right now. The creamy puree of chickpeas and sesame seeds carries a balanced mix of protein, fiber, and healthy fat, and it pairs well with just about anything you can dip.

Veggie Pirate’s Booty

Calories: 130, Serving Size: 101 puffs, 0g Trans Fat per Serving

Crafted from puffed rice, corn, and a medley of fresh vegetables including spinach, kale, carrots and parsley, all baked to perfection.

Trader Joe’s Mini Ice Cream Cones


Calories: 70, Serving Size: 1 cone,  Sugars: 5g

 An ice cream cone with only 70 calories?  Oh, yes.  It’s small, you say?  Well, yes, indeed it is small in stature. But flavor? Big.  Oh, yes. Trader Joe’s Hold the Cone! Mini Ice Cream Cones are big on flavor. Each easy-to-hold wafer cone (nifty how we incorporated this practical information into the name, don’t you think?) is filled with rich, creamy, ice cream – ice cream, we hasten to add, that’s significantly richer and creamier than what you’ll find in other cones – dipped in a rich, chocolaty coating.  They’re simple, for sure; and oh-so wonderfully satisfying.

Article Source: http://www.shape.com/

Simple and Effective Ways to Lose Water Weight

Water weight, often called water retention or edema, can be easier to lose than fat weight, and when you start a diet, it’s usually water weight you lose first. Your diet and lifestyle can have a negative impact on your weight by causing your body to retain water. However, making a few changes can help you lose that water weight fairly quickly.

Even though these numbers often fluctuate and do not equate to pure fat loss, getting rid of excess liquids can produce surprising changes! You will note a sleeker and much slimmer figure!

Although real fat loss requires time and persistence, a safe drop in excessive water weight can give you an excellent quick reward for your efforts! Just get rid of those extra pounds with following tips and make your abs more toned, and your hips and waistline slimmer!

If you can’t shed water weight after making changes, see your doctor right away because water retention can signal the presence of an underlying medical condition.
Continue reading →

Foods that Detox Your Body & Mind

Keeping your body free of toxins, free radicals, and other nasty things that can end up in our insides is essentially to maintaining a healthy life.

These tasty eats will boost your mood, up your love life, and help you burn fat without trying.

 

                                                                                 Artichokes

Artichokes help the liver function at its best, which in turn will help your body purge itself of toxins and other things it doesn’t need to survive. It ups the liver’s production of bile, and since bile helps break down foods which helps your body use the nutrients inside them, an increase in bile production is typically a good thing.

Aside from all of the benefits to your liver, it’s also filled with fiber, protein, magnesium, folate, and potassium. It’s simply a good food to add to your diet in order to stay regular, stay healthy, and keep your liver happily doing its job.

 

                                                                                Asparagus

Despite being a tasty veggie asparagus ranks highly on the detox-o-meter. Not only does it help to detoxify the body, it can help you wage the anti-aging battle, protect you from getting cancer, help your heart to stay healthy, and is a general anti-inflammatory food.

It’s also known to help with liver drainage, which might sound like a bad thing, but since the liver is responsible for filtering out the toxic materials in the food and drinks we consume, anything that backs up its drainage is not doing you any favors.

 

                                                                                Avocados

Because of its fiber and antioxidant count this is a food that is making it onto more and more detox lists. At first many shied away from them because of they’re high in fat, but ever since the difference between good fats and bad fats become more commonly known, they are now getting the respect they deserve.

Don’t think that the guacamole you can add to your meal at a fast food restaurant for 50 cents more is going to do the detox trick. Opt for organic avocados and consume them without any other ingredients to get the full benefit of their healthy content.

 

                                                                                 Beets

You may only see beets when you order a Greek salad, but you should make a bigger effort to include them into your regular menu, and definitely pick some up if you’re going on a detox diet. There are so many different benefits to them, it’s easy to see why they are often mentioned as a super food.

When you’re detoxing they will help by making sure that the toxins you’re getting out actually make it out of your body. Many detox cleanses go wrong when toxins are reintroduced to the body because they don’t make it all the way out. Beets also help with free-radicals, making them an anti-cancer aid.

 

                                                                                 Broccoli

You’re probably sick of seeing broccoli show up all over the place whenever health food is mentioned. But that’s only because it packs a nutritional punch in a mini-tree shaped vegetable. Why does it belong on your detox food shopping list? It specifically works with the enzymes in your liver to turn toxins into something your body can eliminate easily.

If you’re stuck for ways on how to make broccoli taste better try changing up the way you cook it, or consider eating it raw. But don’t microwave it or it won’t have the same detox properties.

 

                                                                                Cabbage

Don’t let the fad Cabbage Soup Detox Diet throw you off course with this helpful vegetable. Like most things that go viral this diet has some truth to it, but you don’t have to go to extremes. Cabbage helps your liver with the byproduct being lower cholesterol, so there is more than one reason to include this cruciferous vegetable.

In addition to cleansing your liver cabbage will also aid in helping you go to the bathroom, which in turn helps you expel the toxins, getting them out of your system so you can start fresh.

 

                                                                                 Ginger

This is one root whose medicinal value dates back to ancient Chinese civilizations, and one that is still believed to offer many health benefits. Often used in a tea or other drink, you can add it to the meals you make as well. It is thought to help the liver function, and has some astringent properties.

Some detox diets ask you to chew on ginger root. You may also find that adding it to hot water makes the water taste better. Basically any way you can think of it get it into your system is going to be beneficial, especially if you’re suffering from a fatty liver caused by too much alcohol, or too many toxic foods and drinks.

 

                                                                                   Garlic

Many detox diets list garlic as a crucial piece of the puzzle. The reason is that garlic boosts up the immune system as well as helping out the liver. One good thing about garlic is that you can up your intake of it without having to worry if your body is going to get used to it or build up a resistance.

One other positive aspect is that it can help to add flavor to otherwise bland foods that you’ll be eating on your detox program. But if you don’t like the taste of garlic you can still get its benefits because it comes in supplement form.

 

                                                                             Grapefruit

The fiber and the nutrient-rich juices in a grapefruit pack a nice detox punch and can really get your body into action as far as detoxing goes. It’s all about flooding the body with good things for it while helping it dislodge the bad things. The effects of grapefruit on weight loss are well-established, and one reason may be because of the way it makes the liver burn up fat.

The big takeaway on grapefruit is that it gets your liver fired up and ready for action, while infusing the rest of your organs with nutrient-laden fruit juice. It’s a winner when it comes to detox foods.

 

                                                                             Green Tea

Green tea is often thought of as a great addition to any detox program because of its high antioxidant value. Antioxidants are helpful because they will help seek out and kill free radicals before they can do any damage. This is a great beverage to drink on a daily basis for this factor alone.

Getting into a healthy state of mind is a matter of feeling like you’re doing what’s best for your body. It can be something as simple as substituting green tea for colas, juices, and other teas so that you can actually be benefiting your body from a beverage instead of hurting it.

 

                                                                                  Kale

Dr. Oz includes kale in his 48 Hour Weekend Cleanse and recommends blending it up in a shake. However you choose to get it into your body, the benefits are that it contains plenty of nutrients, and also acts as a way to help flush out the kidneys, a set of organs that must be cleansed on any good detox effort.

This vegetable is so good for you that it is often recommended to patients that are following a doctor recommended diet when fighting kidney disease. It’s packed with so many antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties as well, not to mention all of the vitamins and minerals it contains.

 

                                                                                Lemongrass

This is an herb that is used in Thailand and other parts of the world as a natural way to cleanse several organs at once. It not only helps the liver but also the kidneys, the bladder, and the entire digestive tract. Benefits of using it in your cooking, or drinking it as a tea include a better complexion, better circulation, and better digestion.

It is most often used as a tea in the world of detoxing, and there are several recipes you can try until you find one that suits your tastes best.

 

                                                                                Lemons

Lemons and lemon juice are often mentioned when detoxing, and there’s even a few Lemon Detox Diets floating around out there. It’s simply a matter of adding lemon juice to water and drinking it. It’s supposed to flush toxins from your body. Some people add cayanne pepper and sweeten it with sugar, but sugar is not recommended if you’re trying to get a detoxifying effect from it.

It helps with your digestion and you can drink a cup of hot water with lemon added in order to prepare your digestive system for that day’s work.

 

                                                                             Olive Oil

Some liver cleanses out there call for olive oil mixed with fruit juice in order to trigger your liver to expunge its gallstones. But aside from that olive oil should be your go-to oil for use in cooking when you’re trying to detox the body. That’s because it has a lot of healthy properties, and makes for a better choice of fat than most of your other options.

Just be sure not to cook with it at high heat. Use it as a salad dress to help things like dark leafy greens go down.

 

                                                                              Water

Water is often overlooked but is so important for all of your organs, and for flushing toxins out of your body. If you’re exercising and taking saunas to help release the toxins it becomes even more important to stay hydrated.

If you’re not used to drinking water daily, be sure to only increase your intake by one cup at a time so you don’t overload yourself. Your kidneys won’t know what to do if they’re not used to getting water and then get a ton of it.

 

                                                                        Wheatgrass

All of those health nuts that have been drinking wheatgrass shakes for years were onto something. This is a great boost to your liver and it can help you feel good all day due to its alkaline property.

It’s also effective at lowering your blood sugar and for getting your metabolism back on track. It’s simply a great food to consume, and is a nice counteraction to any junk you may have eaten in the past. Show your body you really do love it.

 

 

Article Source: http://bembu.com/

 

Losing Weight with Green Coffee Beans A Detailed Review

Losing Weight with Green Coffee Beans A Detailed Review By Joe Leech, Dietitian

The latest buzz brewing in the nutrition world is the recent link between green unroasted coffee beans and weight loss. A recent study found that overweight individuals lost a significant percentage of their body weight in a short amount of time when they consumed green coffee bean supplements on a daily basis.

For this reason, people have turned to all sorts of supplements in order to make things easier.

Green Coffee Bean Extract is currently among the world’s most popular weight loss supplements.

As the name implies, this supplement is extracted from green coffee beans.

It contains a substance called Chlorogenic Acid, which is believed to be responsible for the weight loss effects.

Green coffee extract was promoted by Dr. Oz back in 2012. He is an American TV doctor and probably the most famous health “guru” in the world.

I’m a big fan of supplements in general, but I am extra skeptical when it comes to weight loss supplements because they almost never work as advertised.

This article takes a detailed look at Green Coffee Bean Extract… what it is, how it works and what the science has to say about it.

Continue reading →

The Importance Of Supporting Detoxification Before Weight Loss

Random fat sampling by the EPA shows that all Americans store fat-soluble toxins from common chemical exposures in their fat. This is a testament to the amount of pollution we face. Some of these, like PCBs, which are proven to elevate in your blood as they are released from fat when you lose weight, can be quite toxic.

Note that the detoxification process works by shifting the focus from metabolizing unhealthy foods towards cellular regeneration and internal cleansing of the body.

Before you go on a diet, you must be able to get toxins out of your system completely as you lose weight, otherwise your fat will simply not release them easily and you will struggle to lose weight past a certain point. However, medical science offers no support for the value of a detoxifying cleanse. Nevertheless, a short pre-diet cleanse might help you get in the proper mindset for success.

Continue reading →

Ideal Grocery List for Weight Loss and Good Health

The latest research, published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behaviour, showed that people who shopped to a list weighed less than those in the same community who didn’t.

“When individuals worked with detailed meal plans and a grocery list to make the meals it could have a meaningful impact on weight loss and long-term health among overweight and obese individuals.” Lead researcher, Dr Nicole Au from the Monash Centre for Health Economics said.

For those who want to lose weight, a list represents a pre-commitment – how you would like to eat next week. Remember, healthy grocery shopping doesn’t have to break the bank, as many sometimes suggest. Shop in season, and shop around, in order to find your healthy favorites at a reasonable price.

Continue reading →

4 Reasons for Weight Gain Related to the Immune System

According to Dr. Kharrazian, in the immune system model, there are 4 main reasons for stubborn weight gain.

They are:

* The mix of bacteria in your gut

* Intestinal permeability (also known as leaky gut)

* Low grade inflammation

* Immune reactive dietary proteins

Let’s explore each one of these in more detail.

The Mixture of Bacteria in Your Gut Matters

An important thing to understand is that your body is an ecosystem, or really, a lot of interconnected ecosystems. And the digestive tract is one of the most complex and dynamic of them all.

Each one of us has their own unique mix of bacteria and other organisms that live in our guts. This mix is determined by our genetic profile, our diets, what medications we have taken and our environment.

There are an estimated 100 trillion different cells and over 1,000 different species of bacteria. 90% of these species belong to 2 families: Firmicutes and Bacteriodetes.

The Balance of Bacteria Can Make You Unable To Lose Weight

New research has shown that the balance of these 2 bacterial species matters for whether or not you are able to lose weight.

In obese and overweight people, there is more Firmicutes than Bacteriodetes. The balance between these 2 species of bacteria generates certain signals to specific genes in the intestines that produce more fat cells.

It is also interesting to note that, according to the research, Lactobacillus bacteria (the most common species sold in over the counter probiotics) actually increases body weight. Both dairy and non-dairy sources.

What that means is that while probiotics may be beneficial for the ecosystem of your gut they are not that helpful in helping you shed the pounds.

Increase Bacteriodetes and Lose Weight

Firmicutes really like junk food. To feed them and gain weight, eat like your average American. To starve them and lose weight, read on.

The more important question is: how do you increase the Bacteriodetes? It seems these little critters really like plants. And the best way to increase their number is to increase the amount of plant based foods and fiber in your diet.

Especially oligosaccharides (found in Jerulsalem artichokes, and onions, leeks, garlic asparagus and jicama, etc.) and monosaccharides (found in pears, grapes, peaches, apples, pineapples, apricots, bananas, yams, carrots, onions, and sweet potatoes). And other plant based fibers that come from green leafy vegetables, green tea, etc.

These get fermented in the colon by the good guys and help you to become a mean, lean weight loss machine! But, just so you know, this is not something you can change in 5 minutes or 5 days. It may take a few months to alter this environment.

Leaky Gut Leads to a Bigger Gut

While it is true that people with Hashimoto’s often suffer from intestinal permeability or leaky gut syndrome, new research shows that this can also lead to fat around the organs.

In leaky gut, the intestines lose their ability to keep tiny particles of all sorts of stuff out of the bloodstream. It turns out that there may be a connection between a fatty liver and the breakdown of the gut barrier system.

In addition, zonulin, a protein that is used by the intestines to bind tight junctions, leaks into the blood stream when people have a breakdown of this barrier. It is also increased with obesity associated insulin resistance.

Finally, the toxins that are produced by bacteria known as lipopolysaccharides have also been linked to obesity and the onset of diabetes.

Bottom line: If you want a smaller gut, you need to heal your leaky gut.

Low Grade Inflammation: The Chicken or The Egg?

Autoimmune disease is a disease that is closely linked to inflammation. So is type 2 diabetes, so is eating a lousy diet and eating too much sugar, salt and fat.

What research is now showing us, is that obesity is also an inflammatory condition. It is becoming less clear which came first. One thing we now know is that adipose tissue (fat tissue) produces inflammation in the body all by itself.

So you have the creation of this destructive cycle of abnormal gut bacteria and leaky gut leading to a process (insulin and leptin resistance) which makes glucose not able to enter cells. When glucose can’t enter cells it gets converted into fat in the liver (triglycerides). These fat cells start the whole process all over again.

Leptin and Insulin Resistance Are Similar

Leptin is one of the main hormones involved in hunger, metabolism and the control of how energy from carbs and fats get stored and used. It comes from the Greek word ‘leptos’ meaning thin.

The amount of leptin produced directly correlates with weight loss or weight gain. (Women have significantly higher circulating leptin than men).

Leptin resistance is very similar to insulin resistance. With insulin resistance, long term elevated levels of insulin make your muscle and fat cells more resistance to the action of insulin.

Chronic elevated levels of leptin end up making you eat way too much. And abnormal gut bacteria and leaky gut feed this process as well (pun intended ;)).

Its A Vicious Cycle That Makes It Harder to Lose Weight

This whole process creates more fat tissue which causes more inflammation, and on and on it goes, snow balling and making it harder and harder to lose weight.

So you can see, while this is kind of complicated, it is hugely important to do everything you can to reduce inflammation that is the root cause of everything that we have just examined.

Immune Reactive Dietary Proteins

Certain proteins can also add gasoline to the flames of inflammation.

Everything that is living in our world is made of proteins. With autoimmune disease the immune system confuses our own proteins with that of an invader like a virus or a food we are allergic to.

There are some proteins in our diet that can cause an immune response that can also lead to inflammation and add more insult to injury.

These proteins are found in gluten, dairy and soy and in some other foods called cross reactors.

These need to be eliminated from the diet if you want to lose weight because this will begin to unwind the vicious cycle of inflammation at the root of the immune system’s influence on weight gain.

 

Article Source: www.hashimotoshealing.com