Sunday, November 29, 2015

Flat Tummy Water Recipe

By Unknown • 7:16 AM • 0 Comments

Flat Tummy Water Recipe,flat belly,health,fitness,weight loss
This recipe will not only help you get hydrated, but it will help you flush out toxins, feel full and can lose weight fast.

Please remember any kind of store-bought appetite suppressant can be dangerous and may not necessarily help you with your weight loss goals.

There are so many weight loss recipes out there and it can be very misleading.

A healthy diet, exercise and self-control are key factors to successful weight loss.

New studies show that diet drinks actually make you fat.

Naturally flavored and infused waters are a favorite when it comes to weight management.

They taste deliciously good and you control the ingredients.

Please make sure you use filtered water to get the full benefits.

More: 8 Power Fruits For Better Health 

ingredients :


Cucumbers:

Copyright © diabetes.co.uk. All rights reserved.

They are low in calories, act as a diuretic, high in dietary in fiber, and help keep the body alkaline. Cucumbers are a perfect weight loss food.


Ginger:

Copyright © be-insight.com. All rights reserved.

A study from the Institute for Human Nutrition at Columbia University showed that when participants drank a hot beverage with ginger, they felt more full and had less chance of overeating.


Lemon:

Copyright © essentialoilwizardry.com. All rights reserved.

They are high in pectin fiber, which helps suppress food cravings. It also helps the body eliminate waste products by cleansing and detoxifying it. Lemons are alkaline forming and will aid with weight loss.


Mint:

Copyright © myshishafruits.com. All rights reserved.

You may not have thought of mint as an appetite suppressant, but it is. Not only will it give the water a refreshing flavor it will stop food cravings too.


Water:
Water is life. It keeps the body hydrated, which is important because dehydration can slow down the fat burning process. It lubricates joints and muscles during exercise and helps the blood supply oxygen to muscles. Water also helps feel full during meals, so we don’t overeat.

Flat tummy water recipe:

In a BPA-free pitcher or mason jar, add the following:

  • 6 cups of filtered water
  • 1 tbsp of grated ginger
  • 1 cucumber, sliced
  • 1 lemon, sliced
  • 1/2 cup of mint leaves
Let the mixture infuse overnight

Drink it all the next day and enjoy!

If you don’t finish it all, please keep it refrigerated. it keeps up to 2 days.

Make sure ingredients are organic and the water is filtered.

If you can’t find fresh ginger, you can also use organic ginger root powder.

Use 1 Tbsp.

TIP: You can do this every other day. This is safe and very hydrating too.


It is recommended to stop after 4 weeks.

AS ALWAYS: Check with your health practitioner before you change your diet and see if this recipe or any weight loss recipe you wish to try are right for you. This drink is not meant to replace any treatment or drugs you are taking.



REFERENCES:


1. “Ginger Consumption Enhances the Thermic Effect of Food and Promotes Feelings of Satiety without Affecting Metabolic and Hormonal Parameters in Overweight Men: A Pilot Study.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 2012. Web. 03 Sept. 2013.


Copyright © stepin2mygreenworld.com. Image:wellbeingherbs.com. All rights reserved

Monday, November 23, 2015

10 Effective Fruit and Vegetable Juices for Fast Weight Loss

By Unknown • 7:33 AM • 0 Comments

 
effective fruit and vegetable for fast weight loss lose weight fastly with effective fruit and vegetable juices fat burning with fruit and vegetable

Inculcating certain healthy habits in your daily diet can bring about remarkable changes in your life and health. It is best to clarify a few confusions that are associated with juicing. Juicing on an occasional basis while gorging on unhealthy foods and living a sedentary lifestyle can’t help in losing weight. It is a healthy habit that must be included in daily life to enjoy its health benefits. Consuming natural fruit and vegetable juices is extremely beneficial for detoxifying the body and is one of the best natural ways to lose weight and jump-start the process of fat burning.


Why Should I Juice?

Well, the most common question that circles the health and fitness circle concerning juicing is that whether it is better to have fruits and vegetable juice or have them whole. Having the whole fruits and vegetables is the best option indeed but there are certain reasons why juicing wins the day.

  • Juicing increases overall fruit and vegetable intake which is not possible if we are consuming them whole.
  • Juicing promotes weight loss by boosting metabolism.
  • Certain vegetable juices help in improving cardiovascular health and lower the level of cholesterol in the blood.
  • The high content of antioxidants and fiber helps in reducing the risk of all kinds of cancer.

10 Best Natural Juices that Helps in Weight Loss

Although pills and crash diets are widely available that can promote weight loss apparently, but most of them have been shown to have severe side effects in the long run and therefore it is best to resort to natural remedies that are time tested and have no harmful effects on health.

1.Carrot and Grapefruit Smoothie

The importance of carrot juice for weight loss is well known. Carrots are extremely low in calories and high in fiber that makes carrot juice a perfect vegetable juice for weight loss. Being rich in fibers, it helps keep the tummy satiated for a longer time and prevents mindless cravings, which is one of the main reasons for weight gain. Studies show that eating grapefruit after consuming a meal high in fats can help in cutting out the calories by a fifth. Therefore, a combination of these two superfoods for weight loss makes the ideal smoothie for burning calories.



Ingredients:
  • Pink Grapefruit – 1
  • Carrots – 4
  • Lemon Juice – 2 Tablespoon
  • Ginger – 1 Inch

Peel the grapefruit and cut the inner flesh into rough cubes. Peel and cut the carrots into small cubes. Add all the ingredients in a food processor; add the lemon juice and peeled ginger to it. Mix it for 3 to 4 minutes and pour in a tall smoothie glass and enjoy. This is one of the best home remedies for weight loss that shows great effectiveness when drank once on a daily basis.

2.Beetroot, Carrot and Strawberry Smoothie

Balanced diet plans to lose weight should include beets. Beetroot helps in enhancing exercise endurance and stamina so that you can sweat it out longer in the gym without feeling drained. It contains a high level of both soluble and insoluble fibers that helps in weight loss. Ellagic acid and anthocyanins present in strawberries helps in weight loss by reducing inflammation and restoring the functions of weight-reducing hormones. Anthocyanins stimulate the production of hormone adiponectin that boosts metabolism and suppresses hunger by slowing down the speed of digestion of starchy foods.



Ingredients:
  • Beetroots – 2
  • Strawberries – 1 Cup
  • Carrots – 1

Peel the beetroots and carrot and chop in small cubes, add all the vegetables and strawberries in a food processor, add 1/4th cup water and blend well to form a smooth paste. Pour in a tall serving glass and enjoy.

3.Cucumber and Kiwi Smoothie

Cucumber is an amazing vegetable that helps to lose weight naturally, and a healthy diet for weight loss often includes this juicy vegetable. Being rich in water and low in sodium, it helps in reducing bloating and water retention. Comprising of merely 45 calories, it makes a surprisingly low calorie snack that you can munch any time and also works in bulking up the salads. Kiwi fruits are loaded with energy, nutrients, and vitamins and are low in calories that make it a perfect delicious tart snack for those trying to lose weight. Kiwi is also rich in dietary fibers that help in keeping you satiated for longer, thereby preventing mindless munching.



Ingredients:
  • Kiwi – 2
  • Cucumber – 1
  • Lime – 1/2
  • Mint Leaves – A few

Peel and chop the kiwi and cucumber, add it to the blender, add a dash of lime and the mint leaves; blend well and experience the fat fighting power of this mean green smoothie.

4.Bell pepper and Apple Smoothie

Natural weight loss remedies must include bell peppers. The brightly colored peppers, especially the red ones are rich in capsaicin that provides it with the spicy and burning feature. Capsaicin increases body temperature and speeds up metabolism through thermogenesis that helps the body in burning calories and improving fat oxidation. Eating at least 6 mg of capsaicin on a daily basis increases the burning of abdominal fat in both men and women. Apples are low in fat, calories and sodium and high in fibers and vitamins that make it the perfect natural weight loss food. The water soluble fibers in apples help in extracting cholesterol from the blood stream and keeping the heart healthy.



Ingredients:
  • Red Bell Pepper – 1
  • Red Apple – 1
  • Lemon Juice – 1 Tablespoon

Chop the bell pepper and the apple and add it in a blender, add the lemon juice and blend all the ingredients with 1/2 cup water for a few minutes, pour the contents in a glass and enjoy the spicy and hot taste of this delightful red smoothie.

More: 5 Ways to Burn Calories without Exercising

5.Celery, Cucumber and Apple Smoothie

A balanced diet for weight loss must include raw celery as a crunchy and satiating snack that doesn’t add excess calories to the body. Being extremely low in calories and high in vitamins C, K, folate, potassium and dietary fibers, it also makes an important ingredient for juice diet for weight loss. A combination of celery with juicy cucumber and delicious apples helps in enhancing its effectiveness for weight loss even further.



Ingredients:
  • Celery Stalks – 3
  • Cucumber – 1
  • Red Apple – 1

Chop the celery stalks into medium sized pieces, chop the cucumber and apple and add all the ingredients in a food processor, add ½ cup of water to it and blend well to form a smooth paste. Pour in a drinking mug and enjoy with a dash of lemon.

6.Mint, Watermelon and Kale Smoothie

Any vegetarian diet weight loss must include mint. It not only helps in enhancing the taste of the dishes, but also aids in weight loss by suppressing appetite. Being a natural appetite suppressant, chewing a few mint leaves between meals helps in checking the craving for unhealthy snacks. Watermelon comprises mainly of water and being hydrating, filling and extremely low in calories, it makes a perfect fruit for weight loss. It is also the best fruit for cleansing and detoxing the body. Kale is often called the king of vegetables that are high in fiber, antioxidants and beta-carotene that not only aid in weight loss but also improves cardiovascular health and prevents cancer.



Ingredients:
  • Mint Leaves – A Handful
  • Kale Leaves – 6
  • Watermelon – 2 Cups (Seeded and chopped)

Wash and chop the mint and kale leaves and pour all the ingredients in the food processor along with 1/2 cup of water, blend well to form a paste of smooth consistency, pour in a large serving mug and enjoy with a sprinkle of chia seeds powder on top.

7.Cucumber and Pineapple Smoothie

Pineapple, the delicious tropical fruit with refreshing flavor is useful for weight loss because of its high water and fiber content that aids in achieving the weight loss goals by keeping you satiated for longer. It also helps in suppressing appetite and reducing the craving for unhealthy snacks. Spinach, yet other leafy green vegetable helps in preventing food cravingsand is an important part of low calorie meals such as the GM Diet and 1200 Calorie Diet plan because you can eat a lot of it without thinking about piling up calories.



Ingredients:
  • Cucumber – 1
  • Pineapple – 1 Cup (Chopped)
  • Spinach – 1 Cup

Chop the cucumber and spinach roughly and add all the ingredients in a food processor and add ½ cup water to it. Blend well and pour in a serving glass and enjoy the tangy and flavorful taste of this weight loss smoothie.

8.Broccoli, Cucumber and Lettuce Smoothie

The best diet for weight loss must include broccoli. A cup of broccoli contains only 40 calories and is a rich source of vitamins A, C, K along with dietary fibers and folate. It is also an effective vegetarian source of omega 3 fatty acids that also aids weight loss. Like most green vegetables, it helps in keeping you full without adding empty calories. Lettuce, especially romaine lettuce is extremely effective in burning abdominal fat and speeding up weight loss from the tummy. It is not only loaded with beta-carotene, folate, vitamin C and dietary fibers but is also abundant in chromium that aids fat loss and retains and promotes the formation of lean muscle mass when combined with routine exercise.



Ingredients:
  • Broccoli – 1 Large
  • Cucumber – 1
  • Romaine Lettuce – 1 Head
  • Lemon Juice – 1 Tablespoon

Chop the broccoli, lettuce and cucumber roughly and add all the ingredients in the food processor, add ½ cup of water and blend thoroughly to make a smooth paste, pour it in a tall glass and add the lemon juice to it. Enjoy it first thing in the morning.

9.Tomato, Carrots and Asparagus Smoothie

The best juices for weight loss must include tomatoes. These delicious and juicy red fruits are rich in antioxidants that help in reducing the harmful effects of inflammation and fluid retention in the body. It also helps in reversing leptin resistance in the body that helps regulate metabolism, appetite and the fat burning process of the body. There are various ways in which asparagus helps in losing weight. Being a great source of soluble fibers, it helps in keeping you full and suppressing hunger. It helps in controlling blood sugar by helping in blood glucose metabolization. It is a natural diuretic that helps in flushing out excess fluid from the body and is a natural remedy for bloating.



Ingredients:
  • Tomatoes – 3 Medium Sized
  • Asparagus – 6 Stalks
  • Carrots – 3

Wash and chop all the vegetables roughly and add it to the food processor, add 1/4th cup of water, blend well and pour in a serving glass. Enjoy with a hint of lemon juice and mint.

10.Spicy Pear Spinach and Strawberry Smoothie

Pears are high in carbohydrates but low in calories, that makes it the perfect pre and post workout food that improves lean muscle mass and reduces the craving for unhealthy foods by increasing satiety that makes it a perfect ingredient for weight loss juices. A medium sized pear contains only 100 calories and has 6 grams of fiber that takes time to break down in the stomach and keeps blood sugar under control by constantly releasing a controlled amount of glucose in the blood stream. But you must be wondering, why it is called the Spicy Smoothie, because none of these ingredients are spicy. This is because, we are going to add a dash of cayenne pepper on top of the smoothie to give it a spicy and hot twist that also promotes fat burning through thermogenesis.



Ingredients:
  • Pear – 1
  • Spinach – 1 Handful
  • Strawberries – 1 Cup
  • Cayenne Pepper – A Pinch

Peel the skin and remove the seeds from the pear, chop the spinach and strawberries and add all the ingredients in the food processor, add 1/4th cup of water to it, blend well, pour in a glass and enjoy in the evening.

The best way to maximize the effectiveness of these juices is to substitute them with other solid foods during breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner and have a healthy and active lifestyle to burn fat and have a fit body.


Copyright © thefitindian.com. Image:weightloss5ws.com. All rights reserved.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

10 Benefits of Carrots: The Crunchy Powerfood

By Unknown • 10:33 AM • 0 Comments

Forget about vitamin A pills. With this orange crunchy powerfood, you get vitamin A and a host of other powerful health benefits including beautiful skin, cancer prevention, and anti-aging. Read how to get maximum benefits from this amazing vegetable.10 Benefits of Carrots: The Crunchy Powerfood, health, fitness, weight loss,

Benefits of Carrots

1. Improves vision

Western culture’s understanding of carrots being “good for the eyes” is one of the few we got right. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the liver. Vitamin A is transformed in the retina, to rhodopsin, a purple pigment necessary for night vision.

Beta-carotene has also been shown to protect against macular degeneration and senile cataracts. A study found that people who eat the most beta-carotene had 40 percent lower risk of macular degeneration than those who consumed little.

2. Helps prevent cancer

Studies have shown carrots reduce the risk of lung cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer. Researchers have just discovered falcarinol and falcarindiol which they feel cause the anticancer properties.

Falcarinol is a natural pesticide produced by the carrot that protects its roots from fungal diseases. Carrots are one of the only common sources of this compound. A study showed 1/3 lower cancer risk by carrot-eating mice.

3. Slows down aging

The high level of beta-carotene acts as an antioxidant to cell damage done to the body through regular metabolism. It help slows down the aging of cells.

4. Promotes healthier skin

Vitamin A and antioxidants protects the skin from sun damage. Deficiencies of vitamin A cause dryness to the skin, hair and nails. Vitamin A prevents premature wrinkling, acne, dry skin, pigmentation, blemishes, and uneven skin tone.

5. Helps prevent infection

Carrots are known by herbalists to prevent infection. They can be used on cuts – shredded raw or boiled and mashed.

6. Promotes healthier skin (from the outside)

Carrots are used as an inexpensive and very convenient facial mask. Just mix grated carrot with a bit of honey. See the full recipe here: carrot face mask.

7. Prevents heart disease

Studies show that diets high in carotenoids are associated with a lower risk of heart disease. Carrots have not only beta-carotene but also alpha-carotene and lutein.

The regular consumption of carrots also reduces cholesterol levels because the soluble fibers in carrots bind with bile acids.

8. Cleanses the body

Vitamin A assists the liver in flushing out the toxins from the body. It reduces the bile and fat in the liver. The fibers present in carrots help clean out the colon and hasten waste movement.

9. Protects teeth and gums

It’s all in the crunch! Carrots clean your teeth and mouth. They scrape off plaque and food particles just like toothbrushes or toothpaste. Carrots stimulate gums and trigger a lot of saliva, which being alkaline, balances out the acid-forming, cavity-forming bacteria. The minerals in carrots prevent tooth damage.

10. Prevents stroke

From all the above benefits it is no surprise that in a Harvard University study, people who ate more than six carrots a week are less likely to suffer a stroke than those who ate only one carrot a month or less.

Copyright © i.ytimg.com. All rights reserved.
  • Rabbits love to eat carrots but they shouldn’t eat too much. Remember that a rabbit eating a single carrot is like us eating over 20! They like the sweetness and carrots are good for their teeth and don’t have white sugar but even too too many natural sugars will cause digestive problems and diabetes. They probably would do better with the carrot tops. We would benefit from the tops also but probably won’t eat them!
  • Carrots are the second most popular type of vegetable after potatoes.
  • The biggest carrot recorded is more than 19 pounds and the longest is over 19 feet! You can see them here: biggest carrot – but they aren’t particularly pretty!
  • There are over 100 species of carrots. Some are big. Some are small and they come in a variety of colors including: orange, purple, white, yellow, and red.
  • English women in the 1600’s often wore carrot leaves in their hats in place of flowers or feathers.
  • The name “carrot” comes from the Greek word “karoton.” The beta-carotene that is found in carrots was actually named for the carrot itself!
  • The average American eats about 12 pounds of carrots a year. That’s only one cup per week. We could easily triple that with great benefits if we were also eating a variety of other vegetables.

How To Eat Carrots

The nutrition in carrots are tightly encased in protein sacs that have to be broken by heat (cooking) or mechanical action (grinding, juicing, proper chewing).

Cooking the carrots in fat or oils, or pureeing or juicing them increases the availability of carotenoids by 600 percent.
Fats help the absorption of carotenoids into the blood by 1000 percent as carotenoids are fat soluble.

Recipes with Carrots:

Carrots with Arame: Seaweed recipe for health.
Carrots with Orange: A surprising but delightful combination….and it’s fast!
Chili Con Vege: Diana’s version of chili filled with carrots.
20 Carrot Recipes: A set of recipes.



Copyright © care2.com. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

10 Reasons to Avoid Drinking Soda

By Unknown • 8:44 AM • 0 Comments

10 Reasons to Avoid Drinking Soda,health,fitness,weightloss
The average American drinks approximately 56 GALLONS of soda a year. Some people even admit to drinking more soda than water each day, or no water at all. Soft drinks are a multi-billion dollar product, and they account for a quarter of all drinks consumed in the United States. With Americans consuming this large amount of soft drinks each year, it becomes important to evaluate how soft drinks can influence a person’s health. With a little research, it becomes clear that even moderate consumption of soda can be dangerous.

More: Chinese Weight Loss Secrets

Ten Reasons to Avoid Soft Drink Consumption:

1. A single can of soda contains the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar. This amount of sugar, especially in liquid form, skyrockets the blood sugar and causes an insulin reaction in the body. Over time, this can lead to diabetes or insulin resistance, not to mention weight gain and other health problems. Soft drink companies are the largest user of sugar in the country.

2. Soda contains phosphoric acid, which interferes with the body’s ability to absorb calcium and can lead to osteoporosis, cavities and bone softening. Phosphoric Acid also interacts with stomach acid, slowing digestion and blocking nutrient absorption.

3. In diet sodas, aspartame is used as a substitute for sugar, and can actually be more harmful. It has been linked to almost a hundred different health problems including seizures, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, diabetes, and emotional disorders. It converts to methanol at warm temperatures and methanol breaks down to formaldehyde and formic acid. Diet sodas also increase the risk of metabolic syndrome, which causes belly fat, high blood sugar and raised cholesterol.


4. Most sodas contain caffeine, which has been linked to certain cancers, breast lumps, irregular heart beat, high blood pressure, and other problems.

5. The water used in soda is just simple tap water and can contain chemicals like chlorine, fluoride and traces of heavy metals.

6. Harvard researchers have recently positively linked soft drinks to obesity. The study found that 12 year olds who drank soda were more likely to be obese than those who didn’t, and for each serving of soda consumed daily, the risk of obesity increased 1.6 times.


7. Sodas contain High Fructose Corn Syrup, which obviously comes from corn. Most of this corn has been genetically modified, and there are no long term studies showing the safety of genetically modified crops, as genetic modification of crops has only been around since the 1990s. Also, the process of making High Fructose Corn Syrup involves traces of mercury, which causes a variety of long term health problems.

8. There is absolutely no nutritional value in soda whatsoever. Not only are there many harmful effects of soda, but there are not even any positive benefits to outweigh them. Soda is an unnatural substance that harms the body.

9. Because of the high sugar, sodium and caffeine content in soda, it dehydrates the body and over a long period of time can cause chronic dehydration.


10. Drinking soda regularly causes plaque to build up on the teeth and can lead to cavities and gum disease.

Copyright © wellnessmama.com. Image:jimscherer.com. All rights reserved.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Chinese Weight Loss Secrets

By Unknown • 10:04 AM • 0 Comments

If you have never heared befor about chinese weight loss tips so this is a chance to try them.Chinese Weight Loss Secrets, weightloss,health,fitness

Anglnwu, a certified health and wellness coach says: Ever wonder why Chinese people generally weigh less? Until 25 years ago, before the advent of fast-food in China, Chinese people have the lowest obesity rate. What is their secret to maintaining a trim waistline given their great obsession with food? If you look at their way of life, it revolves around food. Their common traditional greeting, “Have you eaten?” (Ni chi bao le ma?) and the number of people in the family is defined by the number of mouths to feed (kuo-mouths) show the emphasis on food. They even qualify the ability to eat as a blessing.

I was brought up on Chinese food (my grandparents were from China) and have always maintained a size 0 despite eating 5 meals (3 main meals, 2 snacks in between) a day. I analyze the way Chinese people eat and their whole approach to food and come up with some observations as to why they generally weigh a whole lot less. I have also incorporate some tips from Chinese food expert, Lorraire Clissford, author of the book, Why the Chinese Don’t Count Calories.

Forget Calories

To the ruler, people are heaven; to the people, food is heaven ~ ancient Chinese proverb.

A gourmet who thinks of calories is like a tart who looks at her watch ~ James A. Beard (I know he’s not Chinese but who can resist such wisdom?)

Calories? What calories? Chinese people don’t have a word for “calories.” Surprising? Not really, they don’t map out their meals in terms of how many fat calories—in fact a 1990 survey found that Chinese people actually consumed 30 percent more calories than Americans, and they are not necessarily more active. If you do the Math, that spells disaster with the “FAT” word. So, where did the Math go wrong by all reasoning? Chinese people view food as nourishment and enjoyment, they tend to eat a more balanced meal—a little meat, some vegetables and always, rice or noodles. And that’s the way to go when eating. Western nutrition expert, Patrick Holford has this to say, “The latest research into weight loss shows that calorie-controlled, low-fat diets are less effective than low glycemic load diets, which is exactly what a traditional Chinese diet is.”

Verdict: Eat a well-rounded meal with the 3 main groups of foods—some carbs, some proteins and lots of vitamins and minerals (i.e. vegetables and fruits). Avoid waist-enhancing sugary, nutrient-deficient foods.

More: 10 Benefits to Drinking Warm Lemon Water Every Morning

Portion Proposition

The way you cut your meat reflects the way you live ~ confucius

If you eat at a Chinese restaurant, the chances are that they don’t serve huge chunks of protein. They cut their meat up into bite-sizes and they like to toss them with other ingredients such as vegetables or an assortment of spices. Vegetables, as you know, are low in fat calories and high in vitamins and minerals. Spices offer huge favor benefits (some even burn fat like chili pepper, ginger, garlic) without unnecessary calories. If you put all the tiny pieces of meat together—they don’t add to much meat intake. Again, using your Math skill, less meat consumed makes for good dieting, even without you knowing it.

Verdict: Instead of eating huge slabs of steak or preparing hunks of meat, opt for the leaner version—slice them up and you’ll be surprised how little meat you need for a dish. Cost effective and very good for the waistline.

A Toast to Tea

Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one ~ Ancient Chinese proverb.

Chinese’s love affair with tea is a well-known secret and they’re not bashful about it. Since the chance discovery of tea by Emperor Shen Nung back in 2700 B.C. when some leaves fell into his cup of hot water, tea is almost always serve with food. Growing up, the pot of tea was always near, in the kitchen, and instead of soda or juice with a meal, hot tea is often the beverage of choice (actually the only choice with the exception of water in my house).

So, what’s so good about drinking tea? A whole slew of researches have shown health benefits of tea—it eliminates toxin, aids digestion (that’s why it is often consumed at meal times), fights damaging free radicals (because of its potent supply of catechins—powerful antioxidants) and reduces risks of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Tea, especially green tea is a fat burner and it can also freshens breath (another fringe benefit). A recent study in Geneva showed that tea’s catechins and its naturally occurring caffeine help to reduce weight. The study shows that both catechins and caffeine increase metabolic rate and rev up the body’s ability to burn fat.

Verdict: X-out soda and juices or fancy drinks to go with your meal. Elect to drink tea (black, green, white or red) for that extra fat-burning boost.

More: 6 Best Nuts For Weight Loss

Soups

He that takes medicine and neglects diet, wastes the skills of the physician ~ Chinese proverb.

Chinese people love soups—in the morning, noon and night. Not the creamy, heavy version of most western diet but light, liquid based soup with an assortment of vegetables, meat and often, herbs. For instance, they use goji berries, dates, ginseng, galangal, lemon grass and ginger—among others, to flavor their soups. They generally don’t add up to many calories, since water has zero calories and they fill you up to induce a feeling of satiety. Chinese herbs used when preparing soups have various health benefits—from improving immune system, detoxifying toxins to maintaining good eye-sight (see goji berries health benefits).

Another western nutrition expert, Ian Marber says, “I’m a great believer in soups before food. Miso soup, for instance, or anything fermented—these are probiotics, which help release nutrients from the food you are about to eat.”

Verdict: Enjoy soups with your meal. Make it light, make it healthful to enrich health without taking a whole bunch of supplements to make up for nutritional lack.

Yin and Yang

This is the traditional symbol for the opposing,
yet complimentary forces of yin and yang,
sometimes described as 2 fishes swimming
 head to tail.
Yin and Yang are synonymous with the Chinese take on life—they believe in balance—even in their food preparation. Yin “cools” the body whereas Yang “heats” it up. In their food preparation, they often useyin (wet and moist) to balance yang(dry and crispy). A popular dish comes to mind—Szechwan beef—strips of crispy beef stir-fried with cooling celeries and carrots.

Some restaurants (common in Asia) even employ this concept when serving their foods. They actually do a thorough examination (by means of questioning and taking pulses) to determine your yin-and-yang status and then they proceed to prepare a meal for you based on their findings to restore the balance of yin and yang in your body. What a way to dine!

Why the emphasis on balance? According to Holford, it makes good health sense: “Most protein foods are seen as yang, carbohydrates as yin. The combination of these two helps stabilize blood sugar, which is key to good energy (chi) and minimizing weight gain.”

Verdict: Balance is key—as in a well-balanced diet, so utilize this concept in your food preparation.

More: 12 Best Exercises to Keep Your Body Healthy and Fit at Home/Office

Stir-fry Crazy

Sincerely full, the epicure would say, Fate cannot harm me; I have dined to-day ~ Sdyney Smith “Recipe for Salad.”

Sure salads are healthy and rightly so, if they are prepared with nutrient-rich fresh vegetables and healthy dressings. But fortunately, or unfortunately, Chinese people don’t like raw vegetables for the most part. They like to rock their woks with their stir-fries—lightly cooking their vegetables with intense heat. Is it healthier? While it may not necessarily be so, Lorraine Clissford says that sautéing vegetables can make the nutrients easier for the body to take on. She goes on to amplify a Chinese concept regarding raw food: the stomach finds it hard to digest too much raw food and this can lead to bloating and weight gain.

Verdict: Try lightly sautéing your vegetables instead—one more creative way to eat your vegetables and you may be doing your body a great service—since lightly cooking vegetables make nutrients more bio-available.

What’s for desserts?



Red Bean Soup
Eat first, talk later ~ common Chinese saying

Chinese people love desserts too. But desserts is often looked upon as a side, an after-thought kind of arrangement unlike Westerners who view desserts as the grand finale to their meal. For most part, they like to end their meal with a plate of fruits. 

Tofu-like almond jelly 

with lychees
 And if you ever look at their selection of desserts, you may be tempted to say, “You call this dessert?” Their selection?—red beans soup, mung beans with sliced dough sticks, almond jelly with lychees, banana fritters, glutinuous rice balls with sesame paste, and mango pudding—to mention a few—they don’t sound too appealing but maybe that’s a good thing for the waistline. With the exceptions of some, most Chinese desserts are not terribly sweet and some desserts are made with medicinal value in mind—Ginseng sweet soup with red dates and eggs, bird’s nest soup, for examples. They are not piled up with heavy cream or loaded with icing.

Sweet Sesame buns
Verdict: Short of skipping dessert, why not opt for a very healthy alternative—eat fruits as desserts.

Guilty Pleasure?

Well, a full belly conquers all ~ From the film Saving Face

Talk doesn’t cook rice ~ Chinese saying (meaning talk means nothing, if there’s no action)

The rice is cooked ~ another Chinese saying (It’s too late to change, or to regret something. The English equivalent—don’t’ cry over spilled milk)

Chinese people love their rice, especially white, fluffy rice. In fact, if a woman cannot cook good fluffy rice, her culinary skills are often called to question. They also love noodles—oodles of them—they carry auspicious meaning: eating noodles on your birthday ensures a long life. Now, this love for simple carbohydrates doesn’t sound like a good diet plan. Not so, says Clissold-- although rice is high in carbohydrates, it is also low in fat and high in nutrients and it fills you up quickly, so you are not snacking on low-carb and high fat foods, which can translate to weight gain in the long run.

Verdict: So white rice and noodles may not be the best thing about the Chinese diet but if you watch the portion size (should be no more than a quarter of your plate or no more than a small bowl of rice), it can actually fill you up, thereby preventing unnecessary snacking later to quell hunger pangs. Another good alternative is to replace rice and noodles with brown rice or the healthier whole-grain version.

So there, you have it—secrets from an insider, who still retains her Chinese way of eating food, despite the fact that she’s surrounded with fast food restaurants and hamburger joints.

Other Chinese quotes about food I can’t pass up, because they’re so darn good:
  • I just love Chinese food. My favorite dish is number 27 ~ Clement Atlee, former British Prime Minister
  • Tea tempers the spirit, harmonizes the mind, dispels lassitude, relieves fatigue, awakens thoughts and prevents drowsiness ~ The Classic Art of Tea, by Lu Lu
  • We think fast food is equivalent to pornography, nutritionally speaking ~ Steve Elbert
  • There is one thing more exasperating than a wife who can cook and won’t, and that’s a wife who can’t cook and will ~ Robert Frost
  • And I find chopsticks frankly distressing. Am I alone in thinking it odd that a people ingenious enough to invent paper, gunpowder, kites and any number of useful objects, and who have a noble history extending back 3,000 years haven’t yet worked out that a pair of knitting needles is no way to capture food? ~ Bill Bryson
Well, actually they have. Chopsticks is their ultimate diet control solution—how much food can you pick up with a pair of skinny bamboo contraption, that takes even greater effort to maneuver?

Agree, readers? Now, run out and buy yourself some good-looking chopsticks and half of the weight battle may be won, just like that.


Copyright © hubpages.com. Image:gogotravelasia.com. All rights reserved.

Saturday, November 7, 2015

9 Ways to Make Your Clothes Look More Expensive & Fashionable

By Unknown • 3:46 AM • 0 Comments

The problem in you that you dont know how to make your clothes look expensive and fashionable and not that you need a lot of money!

9 Ways to Make Your Clothes Look More Expensive & Fashionable, fashion,
With the beginning of fall comes New York Fashion Week (NYFW), a showcase of every new trend, must-have designer, and, of course, exorbitant prices. But let’s face it: The average American woman isn’t spending a cool $3,000 on a pair of Christian Louboutin boots, no matter how much the fashion magazines crow about their fall faves.

However, even if you have Michael Kors tastes but live on an Old Navy budget, it doesn’t mean you have to feel bad about your non-NYFW clothes. In fact, I maintain that spending a ton of money on trends that will only last a season isn’t only unwise, it’s also a poor use of closet space. Instead, it’s possible to score high fashion based on purchasing clothes that look expensive, but don’t cost more than your budget will allow.

Of course, your individual budget dictates how much you can spend on clothes each season. But with a better eye for quality and a few post-purchase fixes, you can find clothes on the cheap that still make you feel totally indulgent, regardless of how much you paid.

Tips to Make Your Clothes Look Costlier

1. See a Tailor

I often find that women are hesitant to have their clothes tailored. Many women believe that tailoring is expensive; however, in my experience, a simple tailoring fix (such as nipping in a waist or letting down a hem) usually costs between $15 and $20 – but it makes your clothes look like a million bucks.

Designers have the luxury of fitting clothes on models who are one specific size and shape. The average woman has much more average measurements, and therefore clothes are rarely a perfect fit right off the rack. A dress that doesn’t fit your waist or a pair of pants that are a little too long can make even expensive clothes look dowdy and cheap. By investing $20 on tailoring a bargain shopping score, your clothes fit your body better, which automatically creates the sense of better quality.

Copyright © squarespace.com. All rights reserved.

2. Launder Properly

You know that tag on the inside of your shirt? It’s not just there to tell you what size you’re wearing. All mass-market garments come with laundering instructions that should be followed to make the clothing last longer and look better.

Fading, wrinkling, and shrinking are all telltale signs of cheap clothes. However, you can fool everyone by taking great care with all of your garments. Always check your clothing tags to find out how best to care for your clothes so they stay crisp, bright, and expensive-looking.

Here are some general clothes washing tips:
  • Always wash clothes with like colors, especially dark colors that can fade easily
  • Run a disposable razor over wool clothes to remove pilling
  • Never wash clothes at home that specify “dry-clean only”
  • Wear clothes a few times before you wash them to maintain color and shape
  • Invest in a drying rack (less than $30) for garments that fade and change shape in the dryer, such as jeans and dresses
  • Store out-of-season clothes in a cool, dark place
  • Blot (don’t rub) stains out of fabric, since rubbing can ruin clothing fibers
Just by paying attention to laundering your clothes properly, you help them maintain color, shape, and quality, even if you nabbed those pants from the clearance rack.

Copyright © moneycrashers.com. All rights reserved.

 More: The Top 10 Trends of Fall Winter 2015 Ready to Wear

3. Look for Workmanship

When I’m bargain-hunting and see something I love, the first thing I look at are the buttons and zippers. Even cheap clothes should have sturdy workmanship, or you’ll risk ruined clothes, fallen hems, and loose threads.

Always check out the fasteners first: Does the zipper close smoothly? Are there loose buttons and threads? Then, check the seams of the garment for holes and loose threads as well, which are signs that the garment is poorly made and will likely fall apart or lose its shape.

Finally, do a once-over for stains or holes that could have been introduced from other people trying on the item in the store. While some stains (makeup, for example) can usually be washed out, you should be able to find another sans stains.

Copyright © todayifoundout.com. All rights reserved.

4. Avoid Embellishments and Logos

We all love a little sparkle in our lives, but if you’re going for beading and sequins, you risk your clothes looking cheap. This happens for a couple of reasons: First, embellishments can wear over time, which means that beaded sweatshirt is going to look dowdy and old when some of that beautiful beading falls off. Second, embellishments simply aren’t as lasting trend-wise as a crisp, clean look. Sure, that pair of embroidered jeans might look great this season, but a pair of tailored, dark-wash jeans are much more timeless.

The same can be said for logos. Logos are often used as a statement in fashion, meant to declare that the item was expensive. And while you can find deals on logo-emblazoned clothing and accessories, I think a well-made, faux brown leather bag always looks more expensive than one covered in a loud logo.

Copyright © cdna.lystit.com. All rights reserved.

 More: The 50 Best Style Quotes Of All Time

5. Avoid Trends

One thing about trends is that, over time, they’ll fade away into the same place “Hammer Pants” and butterfly hair clips went to die. If you really want to make your clothes look more expensive, focus on purchasing classic pieces that never go out of style.

My must-have classic wardrobe staples look something like this:
  • A pair of dark-wash, straight-leg jeans
  • A well-tailored button-up shirt
  • A little black dress
  • A classic mid-length trench
  • A pair of black pumps
  • A v-neck sweater

These items have all been staples for decades and are unlikely to go out of style anytime soon. By skipping the trends, you can avoid spending money on cheap duplicates and instead focus your clothing budget on items that always look current and well-made.

Copyright © i2.mirror.co.uk. All rights reserved.

6. Mix With Pricey-Looking Accessories

You don’t have to completely go bargain basement when trying to save money on clothes. If you tend to shop for bargains during clearance sales for your main clothes, it’s okay to splurge on accessories to elevate your entire look. Or, if your budget is tight, accessories that look expensive can achieve the same goal.

Take a basic outfit of a white v-neck t-shirt and jeans. Not too exciting right? But add a colorful scarf, a statement-making pair of earrings, and a cross-body bag, and suddenly the outfit goes from boring to lunch date. Or, swap the scarf for a hefty collar-shaped necklace and don a pair of heels for a Friday night look.

Accessories are a great place to allot some of your clothing budget because they can change an entire look. They’re also ideal for testing a trend without spending a large amount of money on something that might go out of style soon. A good rule of thumb for purchasing accessories that look expensive is to go for something that isn’t too obviously fake. A huge necklace made of cheap gemstones would be out of your price range if it were made from real diamonds, but a nice pair of cubic zirconia stud earrings are more realistic, so they actually look more expensive when worn because they’re not obviously fake.

Copyright © moneycrashers.com. All rights reserved.

Here are some cheap accessories you can use:


More: Ways to Not Look Ugly With Your Glasses

7. Go Monochromatic

One surefire way to look cheap is to pile on a ton of different colors and patterns. While I definitely love a splash of color, wearing a monochromatic tone from head to toe creates an idea of quality. You don’t have to wear head-to-toe black, but an outfit made from different shades of gray looks sophisticated and expensive.

Neutral colors look best for this trick: White worn with shades of khaki, or dark-wash jeans worn with a lighter chambray top easily trick others into thinking you spent a fortune on pieces that can be found at a huge discount.

A couple of rules for wearing monochromatic outfits:
If you’re wearing one shade head-to-toe (instead of different shades of the same color), break it up by mixing textures, such as silk, denim, cotton, or leather.
When in doubt, go for black – it’s the easiest color to dress up to look expensive, and will always be in style.

Copyright © figurelifestyle.com. All rights reserved.

8. Add a Little Texture

One of the most exciting things happening in fashion is the sheer accessibility of texture. Leather, animal, and even the softest wool are no longer limited to the uber-rich, even if the cheaper versions aren’t genuine. A little (faux) texture can go a long way in elevating an outfit to “expensive” status.

Look for ways to introduce some texture to your overall outfit. I love python as a print: It always looks expensive when worn as a shoe or handbag. Faux leather accents are another way cheaper clothes look more expensive, so I love leather panels or a super-soft faux leather bag. Just remember that a little texture is enough to create a pricier look, so you don’t need to pile on multiple animal prints or a ton of different textures – that could cause the opposite effect.

Copyright © cdn.shopify.com. All rights reserved.

9. Pay Attention to Grooming

If you really want to make your clothes look expensive, make sure the rest of your look is up to par. It’s much easier to make clothes look a million bucks if you match them with a flawless blowout, a chip-free manicure, and clean, neutralmakeup.

You don’t have to hit the salon on the daily to make sure you have a million-dollar look. Instead, it’s about a clean, classic aesthetic: It’s pretty hard to look expensive with a ton of turquoise eyeshadow and the latest trendy polka-dot manicure. Instead, go for neutral colors and remember that a well-done beige manicure trumps a sloppy design any day, no matter how expensive the outfit. A classic look never goes out of style.

Copyright © weddingchicks.com. All rights reserved.
 Here are some jewelry:

Final Word

Whether your monthly clothing budget is $100, $1,000, or $10,000, the old saying is true: Fashion fades, but style is forever. Don’t let a small clothing budget fool you into thinking you’re not stylish. By paying attention to the quality of even your clearance rack finds, you can make sure that your clothes last, look great, and, most importantly, make you feel like a million bucks when you wear them.

Copyright © moneycrashers.com. All rights reserved.