I’m never on a “diet” when I feel I could lose a couple pounds. I like to think of it just as “healthy eating”. After all, isn’t that really what it is? Now that I’ve decided to makeover my way of eating and living, it’s just a way of life for me.
Since then, I always seem to have some kind of drink in my hand. Water. Tea. Almond milk. It’s no wonder I have to pee all the time. I like to make everything that goes in my mouth count, so if I can make a drink that helps me lose weight naturally, I’m all there!
Let me tell you about seven drinks that can do just that:
Cinnamon Tea
Did you know that blood sugar level affects how hungry we feel? If your blood sugar is balanced you are less likely to have a super large appetite, and your body will tend to use fat rather than storing it. Studies have shown that cinnamon can help manage blood sugar levels, so a great weight loss drink to make is cinnamon tea.
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1 cinnamon stick
8 ounces of fresh water
Place the cinnamon in a mug and cover with 8 ounces of boiling water. Steep for 15 minutes before straining. I like to have this 1-2 times a week.
Green Tea
Green tea is my best friend. I could preach all day about the benefits of green tea. has long been debated as a weight loss aid, and more research is needed to confirm or deny how well it works. While some studies have turned up nothing, others have identified three main components in green tea that could help manage weight-caffeine, catechins, and theanine. Caffeine is just an overall boost to your system, and speeds up a number of bodily processes, including metabolism related to weight (technically speaking, metabolism refers to any and all biological processes in a living organism needed to sustain life.)
Catechins are considered anti-oxidant flavonoids, and are superior in green tea rather than black tea due to a difference in processing (black tea is fermented.) While the mechanism is yet to be determined, in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that catechins can help lower the absorption of lipids (fats) via the intestinal track. Theanine is an amino acid in green tea that can encourage the release of dopamine, the chemical that makes you “happy” and relaxed. If you tend to eat due to stress, this may be useful. It also counters the caffeine so you don’t get all jittery. The ginger added to green tea will help improve digestion and add a little flavor-no sugar or milk in this tea!
1/2 inch of fresh ginger root, peeled and finely chopped OR ½ teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon of green tea
8 ounces of fresh water
Raw, organic honey (optional)
Directions
Place green tea and ginger in a strainer or sieve and cover with 8 ounces of boiling water. Steeping green tea for too long can leave it with a bitter taste, so don’t exceed 3-4 minutes. You can stir in a little raw honey if you really need to sweeten it, but avoid milk or sugar at all costs. Drink 1-2 cups daily on an empty stomach
Ginseng
Ginseng is any one of 11 perennial plants with fleshy roots belonging to the genus Panax. While there are different kinds of ginseng, the two that you should use –also the ones that have had the most controlled double-blind studies done on them-are American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) and Asian or Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng.) While widely known as a stimulant to speed up a sluggish metabolism, that description doesn’t do it justice. Ginseng’s greatest quality is that it can help fight fatigue and boost energy as well as mental alertness (in a randomized double-blind study in 2010 290 cancer patients at the Mayo Clinic were given ginseng daily and it was found to fight even the crippling fatigue caused by chemotherapy.) This is huge when it comes to weight loss-without energy, it’s hard to exercise. Without exercise, it’s near impossible to lose weight-at least in a healthy way. In addition to boosting energy, there is tentative evidence that it can help manage blood sugar, which also affects energy levels as well as appetite.
1 teaspoon of chopped ginseng
8 ounces of fresh water
raw honey/lemon to taste
Directions:
Roughly chop the root and measure out 1 teaspoon per cup of water. Bring water to a boil and then pour over the ginseng. Strain ginseng and add optional ingredients.
Dandelion and Peppermint
Dandelion and peppermint tea works to help keep your liver healthy. The liver plays a central role in many metabolic processes-a lot of which affect weight. The liver is full of cells that break down fats and turn them into energy and the flow of bile, which helps to breakdown and absorb fats. This also helps regulate blood sugar levels thus, regulating appetite. Dandelion has hepatoprotection constituents. This means that it has an ability to prevent damage to the liver. Peppermint stimulates the production of bile in the liver, helping with digestion and the absorption of nutrients.
1 teaspoon of dried dandelion leaves
1 teaspoon dried peppermint leaves
8 ounces of boiling water
Lemon to taste (optional)
Directions
Add dandelion and peppermint to bowl. Pour a cup of boiling water over the dandelion and peppermint and steep, covered, for 5-10 minutes. Strain and add lemon to taste.
Black Pepper and Lemon Juice
I like to add pepper to my dishes, but just found out that you can add pepper to your lemon water to help weight loss. Black pepper contains a naturally occurring chemical compound called piperine. Studies show that piperine can interfere with the genes that control the generation of fat cells. It also reduces fat levels in the blood stream and helps with absorption of nutrients from our foods. Adding that to your lemon drink (which aids in digestion) will give your G.I. track a helping hand to break down foods.
-Several sprinkles of freshly ground black pepper
-half a lemon
-Fresh water
Directions:
Squeeze lemon juice with water and sprinkle in black pepper. Drink once daily after a meal.
Watermelon Mint Drink
Who doesn’t like watermelon? This magical pink and green beauty helps the body flush out toxins with it’s compound citrulline, an amino acid that has been shown to help the liver and kidneys filter and get rid of ammonia. is a by-product of the proteins our bodies are burning up constantly for energy. This can be quite damaging to our cells! Citrulline also improves the flow of bile from the liver, to the gallbladder, and ending in the small intestine, where it breaks down dietary fats.
On top of that, add mint to help relax cramped up stomach muscles.
1-2 liters’ of water, depending on how strong you want it to taste
Part of 1 watermelon
A handful of fresh mint leaves (approximately 10-13)
Optional: add lemon and lime
Ice cubes
Slice up watermelon into cubes and put into pitcher. Add a handful of fresh, organic mint leaves (optional ingredients as well) and pour in 2 liters of cool water. Let sit overnight in the fridg to let all the flavors infuse into the water. When ready to drink, put ice cubes in a glass and add juice.
As always, buy organic whenever possible, or grow your own ingredients!
Feel that you don’t get in all your recommended vegetables and fruits? I recommend this daily supplement to all my clients.
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