January 19, 2014

Drinks That Help Lose Weight ..

. What do I drink? (Get more like this in our Catching Fire Guide) I’m sure you saw the short list under “Beverages” on the grocery list. I know that not everyone is the biggest fan of water. But the fact is, water is always going to be the #1 beverage for your health. Always and forever. Water is essential, its actually a nutrient and every single cell needs water especially our brain!! I recommend that you hydrate often throughout the day, especially before and after a workout.

I’m also a big fan of warm water and lemon in the morning to hydrate and alkalize your body as well as prepare your body for food and enhance digestion. I can’t stress enough that water should be your beverage of choice the majority of the time. Saying all that, I understand the need for variety. The following is a list of other healthy choices you can make. Many need to be used in moderation, but they can certainly be a part of your healthy lifestyle. . Coffee I may be the only holistic nutritionist to admit this. But I love coffee! I just make sure to buy it “Fair trade” and “Organic” as coffee is one of the most heavily sprayed and therefore pesticide ridden crops around! There is basically a study out there to prove just anything. But I will mention that coffee has been shown to enhance fat loss. Drinking black coffee before a morning workout increases this effect. It has also been shown to reduce the risk of several degenerative diseases including cardiovascular. So enjoy your coffee, but try to keep it to 1-2 cups a day.

. Tea Tea is rich in antioxidants which is why it has so many health benefits. This is great because it fights free radical damage, which is responsible for aging and therefore cell damage. Tea has also been connected to a reduced risk of cognitive decline, stroke and osteoporosis. Just remember quality counts, choose organic whenever possible. I recommend you stick to herbal, including rooibos and green tea whenever possible. Kombucha, which is a fermented cold tea is delicious and great for digestion. Just use in moderation. p.s. Green Tea is great for weight loss! . Fruit Water No, I’m not talking about “vitamin water” or the “fruit water” you may find in a plastic bottle next to a bottle of coke. As I’ve mentioned, I recommend you stay far away from those. However, adding REAL fruit to your water is a fantastic way to increase the nutrients and flavour! I use to have a hard time getting my eldest daughter to drink enough water and this is exactly how I overcame that. Just take your favourite fruit, ie.e berries, oranges, lemon, lime, cucumber etc and add it to your water. Herbs are fantastic too, mint is my favourite!!!

Wine For many people, wine is something they are just not willing to give up. Many of my clients are surprised when I tell them that in fact, they don’t have to. For the average person having a glass of wine here and there is totally ok and not going to throw all your hard work out the window. In fact it is full of antioxidants and has shown to be beneficial to your health in moderate quantities. But too much and you're on a slippery slope that will likely throw off the next day and derail your motivation. Note: Alcohol in and of itself will not make you fat. Sounds crazy, but it’s true. You just have to be mindful of your choices while drinking and understand how it’s metabolized! When you drink alcohol, your body metabolizes it first. Any food you eat while drinking will not be metabolized until the alcohol is! My advice is to save your glass of wine for “dessert” and give yourself an hour to digest. This will also help reduce your overall intake. Above all else, curb the 1:00 am “food truck” binges and be mindful of what you are eating. It’s the poor choices that alcohol influences that are the biggest issue. . Coconut Water I am crazy about all things coconut. Always have been. I use coconut oil for cooking, baking and as a conditioner for my hair too! All parts of the coconut are good for you. The water is fantastic and is a great alternative to sugary sports drinks. It is also rich in potassium and great for electrolyte balance. It has a very low glycemic index and is relatively low in calories. However, I generally save it for a workout on a hot summer day or when I need added sweetness in a smoothie. Enjoy in moderation.

If you still need a reason to drink more water, here are 10! Name any body part and you will find water is essential to keep it ticking! Our bodies need H2O because we are 70% water – so drink up. . Some reasons to love your water! ... . 1. Keeps Headaches at bay: Three quarters of your brain is water so if you need a top-up, this is one of the first places that will feel it. If your headache is caused by alcohol, then drinking lots of water – particularly before bed – will help get rid of it by flushing out toxins and re-hydrating the brain. . 2. Reduces Infections: The lymphatic system is your waste disposal system, breaking down toxins like caffeine before passing them into the bloodstream. Dehydration weakens the flow of lymph in the system and makes the body less resistant to infection. With Water, lymph flows properly again, fighting infection and lowering feverish temperatures. .

3. Gives you better skin: Skin needs water for elasticity, so too little water leaves it looking dry, looking lined and feeling delicate. . 4. Keeps up your concentration: Your body needs water to help flush out poisons from things like junk food and additives. If you are dehydrated, toxins hang around in the liver, making you tired and unable to concentrate. Water swills the poisons out and gets the system moving again. . 5. Banishes Bags: Sunken eyes and under eye circles are signs that you need water. Eyes sink because there isn’t enough water to keep them suspended in the eye socket. Under-eye circles are due to thin skin being bruised as fluid drains away. . 6. Stops Cramps: Blood transports oxygen to the muscles for activities such as exercise. If there isn’t enough oxygen in the blood, the muscles create lactic acid which causes painful cramp. Drinking more water helps to keep blood pumped with oxygen.

. 7. Reduces Cystitis: A healthy hydrated body removes waste with light yellow virtually odourless urine. If you are not drinking enough, the darker urine is more highly concentrated and waste products linger in the bladder, leaving you prone to cystitis and kidney infections. . 8. Keeps Bowels Healthy: Without Water the contents of the colon (lower intestine) can dry out and get stuck, eventually causing diverticulitis. Constipation can also be a problem, because water is needed to bulk out faeces. Drinking water, along with taking in water from Fruit and Vegetables, helps to rehydrate this waste. . 9. Prevents Fluid Retention: When you are feeling puffy as women often do before a period, drinking water isn’t your immediate thought. But it’s the best treatment for reducing fluid retention. If your body doesn’t get enough water, it senses there is a shortage and begins to retain every drop it needs for vital daily processes.

. 10. Keeps your breath Sweet: Bad breath is a classic sign that you need to boost your water intake. Saliva helps cleanse the teeth of bacteria and keeps the tongue hydrated. Lack of water dries the mouth, leads to furry tongue and prevents bacteria from being washed away, all of which can cause halitosis. .

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