Want to boost your metabolism? Looking for an easy weight loss tip? Drink more water. A new study found that within 10 minutes of drinking 2 cups of water, metabolism rates were boosted in both men and women by as much as 24 to 30%. That equals about 25 calories. Drink 8 cups of water a day and boost your metabolism by 100 calories per day.
Each pound of fat equals 3,500 calories so if you drink 8 glasses of water daily, that equals almost a pound a month lost. This may not sound like much but if you add water to a healthy weightloss plan, those extra pounds lost add up to a lot!
Water also has the benefit of cleansing the system of toxins lost during weightloss. Toxins are stored in fat cells and when you lose weight, these toxins are let loose in the body, making you feel tired and cranky. Water can not only boost your metabolism in this case but your mood as well!
Water is also inexpensive, especially if you get it from your own tap and not drink bottled water. If you're concerned about drinking the cleanest water possible, purchase a water filter for your faucet and stainless steel water bottles so you can help the environment too.
To get your water requirements, divide your weight in 2 and that's the number of ounces of water you need to be healthy and boost your metabolism. Start drinking first thing in the morning on an empty stomach for best results and carry water with you all day long.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Boost Your Immunity with Vitamin D
Need to boost immunity to avoid colds and flu? Try adding Vitamin D to your daily diet. Around 80% of Americans are deficient in Vitamin D, and recent studies on the benefits of Vitamin D include protection from certain types of cancer and bone loss due to osteoporosis.
A recent study found that those with the lowest levels of Vitamin D in their blood were 36% more likely to catch a cold or the flu. With swine flu fears on the rise, it makes sense to try this natural immune booster.
The study also found that those with asthma were even more likely to need Vitamin D to avoid colds.
Current recommendations for Vitamin D are only about 400mg to 600mg per day but many experts, including natural health guru Dr. Andrew Weil, recommend between 1,000mg and 2,000mg of Vitamin D daily to help build the immune system and gain the full benefits for preventing cancer and building strong bones.
Although you can get Vitamin D from exposure to the sun, many people are now wearing sunscreen, which prevents its absorption into the skin. Your best bet may be a Vitamin D supplement to boost the immune system. Vitamin D supplements are inexpensive and can easily be added to your daily vitamin regimen.
A recent study found that those with the lowest levels of Vitamin D in their blood were 36% more likely to catch a cold or the flu. With swine flu fears on the rise, it makes sense to try this natural immune booster.
The study also found that those with asthma were even more likely to need Vitamin D to avoid colds.
Current recommendations for Vitamin D are only about 400mg to 600mg per day but many experts, including natural health guru Dr. Andrew Weil, recommend between 1,000mg and 2,000mg of Vitamin D daily to help build the immune system and gain the full benefits for preventing cancer and building strong bones.
Although you can get Vitamin D from exposure to the sun, many people are now wearing sunscreen, which prevents its absorption into the skin. Your best bet may be a Vitamin D supplement to boost the immune system. Vitamin D supplements are inexpensive and can easily be added to your daily vitamin regimen.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Energy Drinks - Are They Good For You?
Energy drinks are all the rage right now and personally, I don't like them. To give me energy, I stick to healthy water or green tea, both of which boost metabolism. Are energy drinks good for you?
A recent study suggests that energy drinks, even when consumed by healthy young adults, raises systolic blood pressure by 10 points and increases heart rates by 5 to 7 beats per minute. This study was done on people consuming two energy drinks daily. Most of these energy drinks contain very high levels of caffeine and the amino acid taurine.
This is the effect of energy drinks on healthy people. Imagine the effects on people who already have high blood pressure or heart disease?
Think regular or diet soda is a healthier choice? Studies show that soft drinks, even diet soda, also poses health risks. Those drinking only one soda a day were more likely to develop high blood pressure, high triglycerides (part of your cholesterol count), heart disease and diabetes.
Drinking energy drinks and soda can be a habit and a habit can be broken. Replace your energy drinks and soda with water or green or black tea (iced or hot is fine). Once you get into the habit of drinking healthier drinks, you'll actually prefer them and wonder why you ever reached for that soda or energy drink.
A recent study suggests that energy drinks, even when consumed by healthy young adults, raises systolic blood pressure by 10 points and increases heart rates by 5 to 7 beats per minute. This study was done on people consuming two energy drinks daily. Most of these energy drinks contain very high levels of caffeine and the amino acid taurine.
This is the effect of energy drinks on healthy people. Imagine the effects on people who already have high blood pressure or heart disease?
Think regular or diet soda is a healthier choice? Studies show that soft drinks, even diet soda, also poses health risks. Those drinking only one soda a day were more likely to develop high blood pressure, high triglycerides (part of your cholesterol count), heart disease and diabetes.
Drinking energy drinks and soda can be a habit and a habit can be broken. Replace your energy drinks and soda with water or green or black tea (iced or hot is fine). Once you get into the habit of drinking healthier drinks, you'll actually prefer them and wonder why you ever reached for that soda or energy drink.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Free Law of Attraction Resource - Blog Talk Radio
Want to attract wealth, health and happiness? Who doesn't? I've been subscribed to Heather Picken's newsletters for some time and recently she sent out a link to blog talk radio for a program "How to Develope Your Universal ATM." In other words, how to develop your wealth consciousness and attract money into your life.
Learn to invest in yourself and acquire the tools to manifest anything into your life - spiritual growth, abundance, opportunities.
You can listen to this program and others on the law of attraction here at Blog Talk Radio
You can sign up for Heather Picken's newsletters free
Learn to invest in yourself and acquire the tools to manifest anything into your life - spiritual growth, abundance, opportunities.
You can listen to this program and others on the law of attraction here at Blog Talk Radio
You can sign up for Heather Picken's newsletters free
Monday, May 11, 2009
Good and Bad Foods for Your Blood Sugar
My husband has a tendency to high blood sugar so we are very careful about eating foods that cause a rise in blood sugar. Eating the right foods or the wrong foods, affects your chances of developing type 2 diabetes according to two new studies just out.
Good Foods For Your Blood Sugar
Good Foods For Your Blood Sugar
- Leafy Greens - add salads, spinach, kale and Swiss chard to your daily diet to improve your blood sugar.
- Whole fruit - three servings of whole fruit daily can lower your chances of contracting type 2 diabetes by 18%
- Cinnamon - Just 1/4 tsp of cinnamon daily helps regulate blood sugar.
- Eat foods low on the glycemic index - The glycemic index rates food on how it affects your blood sugar. The lower the score on the glycemic index, the better -More information on the glycemic index
- Juices - Just one serving of juice daily can raise your chances of developing type 2 diabetes by 18% so trade that fruit juice for whole fruit!
- Processed foods containing excess sugar. Be sure and check labels because many products have sugar listed near the top of the ingredients list. The higher up on the list, the more percentage of ingredient is included.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Green Tea Recipes
Looking for some green tea recipes? We all know about the health benefits of green tea. Green tea contains antioxidants, helps with weight loss, boosts our immune systems and helps protect our body from cancer. Warm weather is iced tea time and iced green tea recipes make the perfect healthy summer drink.
If you think green tea can't be delicious, try this cranberry green tea recipe for your next summer get-together.
Cranberry Green Tea Recipe
Ingredients
2 quarts green tea
4 cups ice
1 can frozen cranberry juice concentrate (Cranberry also has immune boosting properties)
1 c orange juice
12 oz soda like Sprite or 7-up
1/3 c sugar
Directions
Combine cranberry juice concentrate and orange juice in large pitcher.
Add green iced tea and ice, then mix in sugar and stir until sugar dissolves.
Put green tea drink into the refrigerator until it's thoroughly chilled.
Add soda and more ice just before serving. Garnish with orange slices if desired.
Serves 8 - 10.
Blueberry Green Tea Recipe
This green tea recipes makes a beautiful drink for your next party. Blueberries are on every superfood listing right along with green tea so combine the two and you have a nutritional powerhouse in a glass.
Ingredients
1 c fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 c fresh or frozen strawberries
8 c green tea with ice
1/4 c sugar
Directions
Put berries into a blender, leaving out 1/4 c for garnish. Blend until smooth. Add sugar and blend until sugar is dissolved.
Add green tea and ice. Blend briefly to mix.
Pour into glasses and add a few berries to each glass to garnish.
Easy Iced Green Tea Recipe
Did you know that adding citrus to tea increases the body's ability to absorb the antioxidants by up to 20%? Here is a simple iced green tea recipe that adds citrus to your tea.
Ingredients
2 c green tea
1/2 c grapefruit juice
1 tsp honey to sweeten
3 tbs orange juice
Mix all ingredients in a glass and add ice.
Did you know that you can add create green tea recipes for food too? Eating green tea is just as beneficial as creating a green tea drink. Stay tuned for some delicious ways to add green tea to your cooking.
If you think green tea can't be delicious, try this cranberry green tea recipe for your next summer get-together.
Cranberry Green Tea Recipe
Ingredients
2 quarts green tea
4 cups ice
1 can frozen cranberry juice concentrate (Cranberry also has immune boosting properties)
1 c orange juice
12 oz soda like Sprite or 7-up
1/3 c sugar
Directions
Combine cranberry juice concentrate and orange juice in large pitcher.
Add green iced tea and ice, then mix in sugar and stir until sugar dissolves.
Put green tea drink into the refrigerator until it's thoroughly chilled.
Add soda and more ice just before serving. Garnish with orange slices if desired.
Serves 8 - 10.
Blueberry Green Tea Recipe
This green tea recipes makes a beautiful drink for your next party. Blueberries are on every superfood listing right along with green tea so combine the two and you have a nutritional powerhouse in a glass.
Ingredients
1 c fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 c fresh or frozen strawberries
8 c green tea with ice
1/4 c sugar
Directions
Put berries into a blender, leaving out 1/4 c for garnish. Blend until smooth. Add sugar and blend until sugar is dissolved.
Add green tea and ice. Blend briefly to mix.
Pour into glasses and add a few berries to each glass to garnish.
Easy Iced Green Tea Recipe
Did you know that adding citrus to tea increases the body's ability to absorb the antioxidants by up to 20%? Here is a simple iced green tea recipe that adds citrus to your tea.
Ingredients
2 c green tea
1/2 c grapefruit juice
1 tsp honey to sweeten
3 tbs orange juice
Mix all ingredients in a glass and add ice.
Did you know that you can add create green tea recipes for food too? Eating green tea is just as beneficial as creating a green tea drink. Stay tuned for some delicious ways to add green tea to your cooking.
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