How to Lose 10 Pounds in a Safe and Speedy Way

With summer (eventually) on it’s way, you can start to wonder how you’re going to look in your bikini. It might be nice for your overall sense of wellbeing to lose a few pounds, but how do you stay motivated so you can look hot to trot when you hit the beach? We’ve spoken to some leading fitness and wellness experts, so you know how to lose 10 pounds safely and relatively easily.

 

1. Snack on Veggies: According to certified personal trainer Jennipher Walters, CEO and co-founder of the healthy living websites FitBottomedGirls.com and FitBottomedMamas.com, ‘Fresh veggies make a great healthy snack, saving you hundreds of calories a day when compared to unhealthy snacks like chips and candy bars. Veggies don’t have to be boring either. Swap out your veggie dip for non-fat Greek yogurt or toss cucumber slices with barbecue spices. Yum!’

 

2. Track Your Exercise and Calories: You have to be accountable, asserts Stacey Lei Krauss, star of the willPower+Grace: Mile HighDVD. Walters adds, ‘Write down and track what foods you eat and the workouts you do.’

 

3. Swap Your Diet Soda: Jari Love, star of the Get Ripped and Chiselled DVD series, recommends ditching your diet fizzy drinks and instead mixing a table of apple cider vinegar in with a little fresh lemon juice. ‘Lemon is great because it’s high in vitamin C,’ Love explains. ‘You can also add in one teaspoon of Splenda, and you have a delicious and refreshing lemonade treat. Studies suggest that apple cider vinegar speeds up your metabolism and helps your body burn more calories.’

 

4. Go for an Interval Walk: Olympic sprinter and certified personal trainer Samantha Clayton notes that while walking for 30 minutes every day is better than nothing, you’ll burn more calories by jogging and even more by running. She advises, ‘Mix up your walk by doing intervals. Increase your speed for short bursts, then recover with a slow walk. Doing this three to four times a week will help you lose 10 pounds in no time at all!’

 

5. Try Bikram Yoga: Walters points out that Bikram yoga is ‘a great way to allow your body to stretch and recover from weight and cardio workouts…Not to mention that it burns enough calories to help you lose those 10 pounds.’ Lei Krauss adds, ‘Ninety minutes can burn 600 to 700 calories because your heart rate will be elevated due to the heat.’

 

6. Increase the Treadmill Incline: Walters advises, ‘Instead of running on the treadmill with no incline to lose weight, try taking the treadmill up to a 7.0 incline and a walk.’ Why? Love explains, ‘This is a great option as running is difficult when you are overweight. Walk uphill with your arms up for two minutes and down for one minute. This will get your heart rate up as high as if you were running outside.’

 

7. Use a Side Plate: ‘Instead of using a large plate for all your meals, use a smaller one,’ Walters recommends. ‘This trick will shave off almost half the number of calories you eat at each meal.’ Clayton enthuses, ‘An average weight loss of two to three pounds a week can be expected. Portion control is the key to losing weight and keeping it off.’

 

8. Switch to Black Coffee: ‘If you are a coffee-shop regular and don’t want to give up your daily java, pick your drink wisely,’ warns Walters. ‘A medium mocha coffee averages 330 calories, yet a medium black coffee has only five calories, (with milk it still only has 18 calories).’

Categories: apple cider, Bikram Yoga, black coffee, calories, certified personal, cider vinegar, Heart Rate, lei krauss, Personal Trainer, side plate, Weight Loss

Apple Cider Vinegar: The Gateway to Good Health?

Apple cider vinegar has been touted as being beneficial to a number of health problems, from digestion to metabolic disorders. Amazingly, this kitchen store cupboard ingredient can work wonders on your body and health, improving your wellbeing in the process. Doctors have confirmed that you can’t use apple cider vinegar for just any purpose, it can’t actually hurt you and it could be beneficial for some problems. So how can it help? Here are some of the top uses for apple cider vinegar that you may benefit from.

Lowering blood sugar

One of the most researched uses for apple cider vinegar is its use against blood pressure, with many studies proving that it can help to lower high blood pressure when used as a dietary aid. In fact, studies have shown that it can lower blood sugar by as much as 4 to 6 percent in the morning, when taken before meals. Take two tablespoons and wash it down with some water or juice to remove the taste. The you just eat as you normally would. The belief behind this is that apple cider vinegar contains chromium which can affect your insulin levels, which in turn affect your blood sugar levels. Of course, if you suffer with high blood sugar levels you should speak to your GP before trying to self medicate with apple cider vinegar.

Aids digestion

Stomach acid and digestion are connected, and most people don’t make enough of stomach acid – apple cider vinegar can help to balance stomach acid in a healthy way, helping to improve digestion when taken with a meal. This could well help to allow more nutrition to be absorbed from your diet as well.

Assists weight loss

There have been numerous studies to suggest that weight loss and vinegar could be connected, many specifically using apple cider vinegar. While these studies haven’t found any conclusive evidence to support weight loss with consuming vinegar, participants were compelled to consume fewer calories when they’d taken it. Over a period of time, this could benefit weight loss. Of course, as with any weight loss plan, you should top up your efforts with a healthy diet and exercise – the vinegar should be used as an addition to your diet, rather than a cure for all negative habits.

Benefits to acid reflux

It may seem counter-productive to use acid to combat acid reflux, but it does actually work! We are so used to taking antacids or using creamy substances to deal with acid in the throat that we don’t think of using anything else, but apple cider vinegar could really help. With just a few minutes, you’ll notice that the acidic burning sensation dissipates and your symptoms are gone. It’s also a lot cheaper than buying costly medications to combat it. You simply need to take a few tablespoons and wash it down with a glass of water, then wait and allow the acid to dissolve.

As with any new addition to your diet, you should speak to your GP before taking anything. Although there have been many studies as to the benefit of apple cider vinegar, there have been no conclusive results to ascertain how effective it can be. There can be some benefit to this humble ingredient though, which you should try if you’re suffering with any of the above afflictions. Naturally, if you don’t see results from these remedies and are still suffering with your symptoms, you should seek further advice from your GP in order to resolve the issue.

Categories: acid reflux, apple cider, apple cider vinegar, blood pressure, Blood Sugar, cider vinegar, diet, health concerns, high blood, stomach acid, sugar levels, Weight Loss

Natural Healing: 5 Remedies to Control Common Health Problems

With health costs soaring, people are increasingly turning to natural remedies to prevent and cure many common health problems. There are a variety of herbs, natural foods and other healthy substances that can help you maintain optimum health. The following are five of nature’s most powerful healers:

 

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

 

Apple cider vinegar has an amazing number of health benefits. Using a small amount on a daily basis is a good tonic for your entire body, and it supports the immune system. It’s also an effective remedy for heartburn or indigestion. In addition to taking it when you have stomach problems, you can take some prior to eating foods that you know cause you distress to avoid the effects it might typically have on your body. Apple cider vinegar is also good to use when you have cold or flu symptoms, since it is known to help clear congestion and relieve a sore throat.

 

 

2. Aloe Vera

 

Aloe vera is a plant that has been used for many different ailments throughout history. Used topically, it can soothe burns and skin problems. Consumed as a juice, it’s very high in vitamins, minerals, amino acids and healthy fatty acids. Many people take aloe vera to aid with digestion as well. It has helped many who suffer from acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome. Aloe vera also helps balance the body’s pH levels since it is more alkaline, which will help your body ward off illness and disease.

 

3. Garlic

 

Garlic is not only a flavoring for many dishes, it’s also a powerful natural remedy. One of the main reasons for taking garlic is to control blood pressure. The anti-inflammatory properties of garlic make it effective for treating or preventing colds as well. Health.com lists garlic as one of nature’s best remedies for the cold and flu. If you are using it for colds, it’s best to eat the garlic raw in small pieces or minced in your food. Garlic loses many of its helpful properties when it is cooked. Used on the skin, it can also help clear up acne and psoriasis.

 

4. Green Tea

 

This is a beverage that has been popular in many Asian countries for centuries. Recently, however, the many health benefits of green tea have been discovered by the rest of the world. The antioxidants in green tea are helpful for supporting heart health. It’s a gentler stimulant than coffee. There is evidence that regular consumption of green tea can aid with weight loss. It may also be helpful for treating or preventing gum disease. For a good selection of natural and healthy green tea products, click here.

 

5. Cayenne Pepper

 

Cayenne is used to make food more spicy and flavorful, but it also has many medicinal uses. It has anti-fungal and anti-allergen properties that can help to clear up many conditions. Some migraine headache sufferers find that cayenne is useful for preventing headaches. It also stimulates the circulatory and digestive systems.

 

Nature is a vast medicine chest that has many helpful plants, herbs and other beneficial substances. The above are some of the most powerful natural remedies you can find. They are all relatively inexpensive and easy to find as well.

Categories: Aloe Vera, apple cider, cider vinegar, common health, green tea, healing, health, Health Benefits, health problems, Natural, natural remedies, powerful natural

Three Simple Kitchen Ingredients to Improve Your Wellness

If you are looking to improve your wellness through diet and nutrition, there are three key ingredients that you should not ignore. These common household staples can make a real difference to your wellbeing, if taken on a daily basis. They are: garlic, honey and apple cider vinegar.

 

When used every day, these three simple products could actually cure many common health problems. You could either take them alone or you can mix them together, and you can either take them ‘neat’ on a daily basis or you can simply ensure that you include them as ingredients in things that you cook on a daily basis.

 

Apple cider vinegar is packed full of minerals and has trace elements of calcium, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, chlorine, copper, sulfur, silicon, iron and fluorine. It’s also rich in vitamins A, C and E as well as B1, B2 and B6 and is packed with amino acids and beta carotene. It has been used for centuries as a cleansing agent and healing elixir.

 

It can boost your metabolism, reduce your cholesterol, regulate your blood pressure and improve your circulation. It can also help with allergies, sinus infections, flu, acne, chronic fatigue, sore throats, gout and arthritis. It’s great for breaking down fats too and can be used for weight loss.

 

Garlic is well known for lowering bad cholesterol. It can help your body to prevent the formation of fatty deposits within the arteries, thus warding off heart disease. Regular garlic can also help you to fight off colds and other infections.

 

Honey is great for boosting the natural energy reserves and supporting a healthy immune system. It is frequently used as a very effective remedy for the symptoms of a cold such as sore throat, cough and respiratory problems.

Categories: apple cider, basis, cider vinegar, daily, daily basis, garlic, health, improve, ingredients, kitchen, nbsp

Natural Health:The What,How and Why of Apple Cider Vinegar

America isn’t really known for it’s ancient wellness practises, but one remedy has really stood the test of time: apple cider vinegar (ACV). From an aid to weight loss to providing heart burn relief, ACV has a range of uses that can truly benefit your wellbeing.

 

Before we go any further, the ACV we’re talking about here isn’t the translucent orange stuff you see on supermarket shelves; it’s organic, raw, unfiltered ACV. You’re looking for a variety that hasn’t been pasteurised and has a cloudy mass settling on the top and the bottom of the bottle (which is known as “the mother”). It’s really up to you as to how you take it, but a good, basic regimen to follow is to add two tablespoons of ACV to an eight-ounce glass of water, and have one of these mixtures three times a day. Some people add honey to taste, as the vinegar obviously makes it quite bitter, while others prefer to put the ACV into a shot glass, and chug it down with a tall 16oz glass of water right behind it.

 

A lot of the evidence as to the efficacy of ACV is anecdotal, so it would be remiss of us not to include some top tips from ACV users. Amy from Hartford, Connecticut, details, ‘I was on prescribed allergy medicine for 17 years. I started the honey and ACV mixed with water three years ago and rarely even have to take an over the counter allergy pill. It takes about four to six days of taking it twice a day to build up in my system, and then I usually only have to take it once a day. I’m a massage therapist and I recommend it to all of my clients who come in with allergies, many of them have become faithful to the ACV too. So glad someone told me about it!’ Shawn from Boulder notes, ‘Mixed with ginger ale and white grape juice, ACV tastes terrific. Very similar in taste to Kombouchu tea.’

 

According to John from Caledon, Ontario, ‘Apple cider vinegar is easiest to palate when mixed with apple juice. It tastes like apple cider, plus you get the numerous antioxidant and natural benefits from the apple juice.’ However, Lara from Milwaukee, Wisconsin writes, ‘I took Apple Cider Vinegar with a shot glass of Welches Grape Juice. It tastes a lot like wine to me this way. Much easier to take this way. I have a lot more energy already and I have only been taking it a few days.’ Lisa from West Plains, Missouri comments, ‘I like the benefits I’m having since I’ve started taking ACV. But I did not like the taste and surely I’m not alone. I tried it with mango tea and one spoonful of the vinegar and an equal amount of honey. It tastes wonderful. I drink it at least four times a day. It’s that good. Lipton tea has mango and I’m sure other brands will work.’

 

So that’s the what and the how, but why should you take ACV? The benefits include:

• Getting rid of acid reflux


• Reducing allergy symptoms


• Lowering your blood pressure


• Rebalancing your body’s pH factor, which helps prevent colds


• Preventing migraines


• Stopping night-time leg spasms


• Lessening gout and arthritis symptoms


• Avoiding food poisoning


• Preventing yeast and fungal infections (Strong ACV can actually cause a yeast infection, so be careful and start slow)


• Natural detox


• Energy


• B Vitamins


• Healthy shiny hair, and a glowing complexion

Categories: acid reflux, Apple, apple cider, apple cider vinegar, apple juice, cider, cider vinegar, detox, grape juice, shot glass, Tastes, Vinegar

Ditch that Dandruff with These Amazing Ayurvedic Treatments

You can try and hide it by calling it seborrheic dermatitis, but the truth is, you have dandruff. Though it’s not really a matter of physical wellness, there is something to be said for the way in which the embarrassment of having dandruff can affect your emotional wellbeing, so what can you do about it? There are several treatments for dandruff around, including shampoos, steroids and anti fungal agents, but even if they work the dandruff always seems to come back. What you need is a complementary wellness therapy which can treat the root problem without any side effects. Ayurvedic remedies work by curing your scalp off its oiliness and removing the fungus and inflammation that triggers the formation of dandruff, so let’s take a look at a few of the best Ayurvedic dandruff treatments.

 

1. Lime peel – Lime peel works to remove the flaky skin and oil that has accumulated on your scalp, as it has a natural acidity.

 

2. Fenugreek seeds – Applying these seeds to your scalp can help to remove any trapped dirt and grime, as well as taking care of the fungal action in the area.

 

3. Apple cider vinegar – This can remove the fungal action on your scalp, as well as any dead and flaky skin, as apple cider vinegar is anti inflammatory and antibacterial acidic solution.

 

4. Yoghurt – As yoghurt contains live cultures of acidophilus bacteria, it works to overpower the fungal action on your scalp.

 

5. Beetroot and ginger – Beetroot has been used as a dandruff treatment for centuries, as it is packed with iron and other skin friendly nutrients. However, combining it with ginger is extra beneficial, as this helps in eradicating fungal action and removing dead skin cells.

 

6. Castor oil – This is another treatment which has been used for hundreds of years, and helps to remove the fungus that causes dandruff.

 

7. Green gram – This herbal soap cleanses your skin and clears your scalp of dead skin cells.

 

8. Sesame oil – As an anti-fungal and antibacterial agent, sesame oil can help to remove the bacterial action on your scalp, whilst also nourishing your skin.

 

9. Neem leaves – Neem leaves are incredibly effective as an anti-fungal agent, and so can protect your scalp from fungal and bacterial infections.

Categories: anti fungal, apple cider, apple cider vinegar, ayurvedic treatments, cider vinegar, dandruff, dead skin, flaky skin, fungal action, lime peel, Neem Leaves, sesame oil, skin cells