7 Best Herbal Teas For Weight Loss

The weight loss industry has become a big business... even herbal tea manufacturers are jumping on the bandwagon at this epidemic phenomenon. 7 best herbal teas for weight loss explores the nature and 'actions' of popular herbal tea blends that help with weight loss and weight control.

Having to consider losing weight and hearing that four lettered word... D-I-E-T... is something that makes the majority of us cringe with despair. Whether it's starving you on the latest fad diet, or spending ridiculous amounts of money on the newest weight loss program - that make big (yet mostly false) claims to radically reduce your weight in the quickest amount of time - most of us will succumb to this false ideology that looking slim is 'in'.

Herbal teas are a cheaper and healthier alternative to helping with weight loss. But don't be fooled for one second that just solely drinking herbal teas will achieve this. The truth is, there is no magic drink, or pill, or lotion or potion for that matter that can help you lose weight without much effort on your part. The keyword is 'helping' and herbal teas are considered an excellent tonic for aiding weight control and in maintaining a healthy body.

The mantra of regular exercise and a balanced diet may be hard work to fight the bulge but at least it wouldn't compromise your health in the long run.

Dandelion

Known as the "little plant that roars", it has natural diuretic and laxative properties to remove water and food weight before digestion begins and help your body reduce the feeling of 'feeling bloated'. Many avid dieters believe that diarrhea keeps their bodies from absorbing calories or fat but this is not the case and could lead to dehydration and dependency on laxatives. Dandelion is also a beneficial aid for digestion and because of its mild laxative properties, it can help in bowel movements to become more regular.

Chai Tea

Chai tea for weight loss has been debated by many experts. Some individuals are not favored with the idea that indeed Chai tea can help you sculpt your body and remove excess weight. They would say that the concoction would rather make you gain extra calories due to the milk and sugar added in the blending.

Chai tea is basically a combination of black tea, milk, honey and other herbs that are beneficial to your body. If Chai uses sugar instead of honey as a sweetener, then perhaps you have the reason to doubt its effectiveness in aiding weight loss.

Green Tea

Despite not being classed as a herbal tea (as its leaves come from the actual tea plant 'camellia sinensis'), Green Tea has had the most extensive research carried out that has been proven to be very effective in weight loss. This is due to the 'polyphenol' component which is responsible for its slimming effects. It also contains caffeine which gives the drink its stimulant effects and can increase metabolism which helps to burn fat and calories. It is these reasons why the ingredients in Green Tea are widely used in popular diet pills.

Those suffering from anemia should take caution when drinking Green Tea, as it could lead to a reduction in iron absorption in your body which could cause iron deficiency.

Guarana

Guarana's main ingredient is 'guaranine' which is identical to caffeine. It can act as a stimulant to accelerate body functions such as increasing the heart rate, digestion, and respiration due to its caffeine content. It is also a diuretic and can stimulate the nervous system and help you fight depression and cope with stress, thus it may help you to avoid 'emotional eating' which is one of the main causes of weight gain. Due to its high caffeine content, those suffering from sleep disorders and anxiety problems should be wary when taking this in large doses.

Hoodia Gordonii

Hoodia Gordonii is known as a 'natural appetite suppressor' and has been used for centuries by South African Khoisan herders to endure long periods without food or water, whilst they were hunting and gathering. It contains the active ingredient, known as P57 which is responsible for appetite suppression that can "fool" the mind into thinking the stomach is full so you are not tempted to snack as much. Caution should be taken as long-term use could lead to addiction and malnutrition.

Siberian Ginseng

It is known as the "king of tonics", Siberian Ginseng is a popular herb to use for its ability to stabilize blood sugar levels thus reducing the desire to eat sugar and sweets. However, people who suffer from high blood pressure, narcolepsy (frequent and uncontrollable deep sleep) or taking blood-thinning drugs should avoid it.

It can stimulate the nervous system and act on the pituitary and adrenal glands to give you stamina and help combat fatigue. An increase in stamina means you can work out for longer without feeling tired! Also used to treat nervous disorders, exhaustion, strengthen organs, increases mental ability and a powerful antidote to stress and problems with aging.

Camellia Sinensis

The Camellia sinensis contains a rich dosage of antioxidants, essential nutrients like the vitamins and minerals that are crucial to maintaining a healthy body.

The antioxidants present in this tea are the polyphenols. The polyphenols particularly the catechins inhibit your body from gaining weight. As a whole, the antioxidants protect you from free radicals and from different health issues like cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, rheumatism, cholesterol, high blood sugar level, impaired immune system, and even cancers.

Best Benefit Of Cinnamon For Weight Loss Tips You Will Read This Year

Cinnamon is normally used to add delicious flavor to baked goodies, but many are finding that this spice also can provide important health benefits such as lowering bad cholesterol levels, regulating blood sugar levels and helping to lose weight fast.

Cinnamon is produced by a native evergreen tree of South Asia. It has been used for centuries and was once regarded as a highly valued spice due to its medicinal properties. It has been and continues to be used to improve many ailments as well as to boost physical and mental well being. Today it has become popular in helping to lose weight as well as helping to prevent the weight from returning.

When consuming cinnamon, it causes the body heat to increase. This speeds up the metabolism and helps burn calories as well as fat deposits within the body. With this process, weight is reduced and other conditions that can be caused by being overweight such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes are improved. Because cinnamon has been shown in studies to reduce LDL cholesterol and reduce blood sugar levels while raising insulin levels, conditions associated with obesity are improved while weight is reduced.

Cinnamon also provides antioxidant benefits, which also help in weight reduction. This provides a cleansing action to the body, helping to eliminate harmful toxins and fats. For maximum benefits, cinnamon should be combined with honey for weight loss. It can also be helpful with improving conditions such as headaches, colds, urinary and bladder infections, arthritis, heart conditions, migraines, and diarrhea as well as prevent hair loss, bad breath, and digestive problems.

For maximum weight loss benefits, drinking tea with cinnamon and honey can promote rapid weight loss. Tea is prepared by adding one teaspoon each of cinnamon powder and honey to boiled water. If using cinnamon sticks, one to two sticks should be used. Boiled water should be allowed to brew for a few minutes before straining through a filter or strainer.

To understand this benefit, it is needed to look overall effect first. When your blood sugar rises rapidly from the food you eat, insulin is released by your body to neutralize the effects of the sugar. Actually, the primary role of insulin is to carry glucose into the cells stored for future use. Therefore when blood sugar spikes, much insulin will be thrown which result in excess fat storage and inefficient use of nutrients.

As one property of cinnamon to regulate blood sugar level, then this can lead to lower amounts of insulin in the body. The food intake thus has been less stored as fat and been used more efficiently by metabolic processes. The result from a study shows that by taking only 1-6 grams of cinnamon a day for 40 days, blood glucose level is reduced by 18-29%.

Using cinnamon to lose weight fast should be combined with proper diet and exercise. Diet should include plenty of fruits and vegetables, less fried foods, and fewer sugars. Cinnamon can interact with some medications as it does contain anti-clotting factors as well as blood thinning substances. When using cinnamon for weight loss, avoid using large amounts as certain types of cinnamon such as cassia cinnamon can cause liver and kidney damage. Always consult with a physician before starting any new diet plan.

8 Stunning Examples Of Beautiful Healthy Weight Management Tips For Seniors

Obesity is a major epidemic in the United States and in other countries around the world.
In fact, 1/3 of US adults and 18% of kids and adolescents are obese and at risk for serious health complications, such as, Type 2 diabetes, joint problems, heart disease and can lead to premature death.
In addition to the serious health consequences, obesity has a substantial economic impact that affects the country as a whole. The estimated annual health care costs of obesity-related conditions were $190.2 billion in 2010, this equates to almost 21% of all annual medical spending in the United States, and the numbers only continue to rise year after year.
Like anyone else, the senior and aging population needs to address healthy weight management and to be aware how weight gain can cause problems for their health. But, seniors can be even more vulnerable because as we age our metabolism slows and weight gain becomes that much more of an issue.
Loss Of Lean Muscle Mass
Have you ever watched a teenager inhale food like breaths of air and not gain an ounce? A lot of this is due to a higher metabolic rate in our younger years.
Did you know that as we age, our metabolism begins to slow down?
While genetics help determines our overall metabolic performance, having sufficient amounts of lean muscle mass greatly determines metabolism as well because muscle burns more calories per hour than fat, and this means that those who have lean and muscular bodies are able to burn more, even when they are at rest.
Our overall muscle mass decreases as we age, and this slows metabolism by about 2% to 8% per decade. This can be counteracted by performing simple strength training exercises with the use of free weights or weight machines.
Ideally, strength training should take place early in life, but especially as we head into our 40s and 50s because when you maintain lean muscle mass, metabolism is not likely to decrease as much as you age.
Seniors, especially, are more likely to gain weight as their metabolism slows down, which, can lead to obesity and the serious health concerns related to it.
Weight Gain
Lack of activity is the number one cause of weight gain even when we continue to eat as we have our whole lives because of the decrease in metabolism. As our metabolism decreases so do our bodies ability to burn calories. If we keep eating the same amount of food our bodies will start to turn the excess calories into fat. The more overweight we get the less active we become. This, in turn, leads to more weight gain.
Weight Management For Seniors
The Solution
The solution to reversing and preventing obesity is a combination of diet and exercise. A good diet will cut the number calories that you are taking in, while exercise will burn off calories that you eat. Each one will get rid of some of the excess calories. Together they will get rid of a significant amount of calories.
Finding a balance between diet and exercise is the best way to get rid of unwanted weight.
The basic formula is “calories in and calories out” or burn more than you take in.

Diet

To lose weight we also need to change how we eat. As we get older, our bodies start to secrete less digestive enzymes. This changes how our bodies break down and absorb nutrients.
•    Avoid foods that are high in sugar and fat. Fat contains more calories and can lead to high LDL (bad) cholesterol.
•    Eat small portions of food more often. The body really only needs about 300-400 calories in one sitting. Any more than that is turned into fat stores. Eating smaller portions will help with weight loss.
•    Eat more plant-based foods, like fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals that the body needs, which, makes them quality calorie foods.
•    Eat more fiber. Fiber is filling and low in calories. Fiber also aids in digestion. Kale is a super plant food filled with fiber and other essential nutrients. It is very filling and can be eaten raw or lightly sautéed. There are many great plant foods that are filled with fiber, including, broccoli that can be a great weapon in the weight loss arsenal.
•    Drink more water. Many times thirst feels like hunger, and instead of drinking we eat. Also, drinking icy cold water helps to burn little more calories as the body needs to warm it as it passes through.

Exercise

Exercise can help you to lose weight by increasing your muscle mass and speeding up your metabolism.
There are many other practical benefits to being active aside from weight loss and building lean muscle mass. Some of these include increased stamina, endurance, balance, vitality and agility, all of which are helpful in the senior years.
The best exercises for weight loss are aerobic workouts and resistance training.
Aerobic Exercise
An aerobic workout exercises the heart and the cardiovascular system. When our heart beats faster the body burns more calories. The longer you keep your heart rate up to the more calories you will burn.
An aerobic workout strengthens the heart and it increases blood flow to the entire body. This provides the body with a rush of nutrients and energy that causes the body to burn while working out and also while at rest.
It is recommended that you do 30 minutes of aerobic exercise each day, at least 3 days per week, preferably 5 times.
Aerobic activity includes Biking, jogging, walking, elliptical trainers, various fitness classes, just to name a few.

Resistance Training

Resistance training targets the muscles directly. It is used to increase muscle mass and has a longer effect on burning calories than aerobics. By increasing muscle mass we are also increasing our metabolism. This means that our bodies are burning more calories all the time, and not just during a particular workout.
It is recommended that resistance training should consist of 8 to 10 different exercises. Each exercise should consist of 8 to 12 repetitions. Work until the muscles are fatigued, but don’t strain yourself.
These are simple tips that anyone can follow for healthy weight management and an incredible overall health boost at any age, but especially in senior years when the effects of time on our bodies can cause serious health issues.