Monday, August 06, 2012

Tips & Product Suggestions for Weight Loss - Part 3

In our third and final article for the weight loss series, let's talk about the benefits of a few other products that are extremely beneficial towards trimming those extra pounds.


1. Green Tea


Enough and more has been written about the benefits of green tea on our health. According to an article on www.webmd.com, aside from fighting heart disease, cancer, and other diseases, a new study shows that drinking green tea may also fight fat.The study showed that people who drank a bottle of tea fortified with green tea extract every day for three months lost more body fat than those who drank a bottle of regular oolong tea. Researchers say the results indicate that substances found in green tea known as catechins may trigger weight loss by stimulating the body to burn calories and decreasing body fat.


Black tea, oolong tea, and green tea come from the same Camellia sinensis plant. But unlike the other two varieties, green tea leaves are not fermented before steaming and drying. Most teas contain large amounts of polyphenols, which are plant-based substances that have been shown to have antioxidant, anticancer, and antiviral properties. However, green tea is particularly rich in a type of polyphenols called catechins. These substances have also been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties, but recent research in animals show that catechins may also affect body fat accumulation and help increase metabolism.


Where to Buy
You can browse various organic brands of green tea in our online store under the category of Teas.

2. Moringa Leaf Powder


The moringa's role in weight loss efforts may be chiefly attributable to the plant's low-fat, high-nutrient qualities that make it an acceptable, low-calorie substitute for many other foods. Moringa is also high in Vitamins B1, B2 and B3, which your body needs to convert food to energy instead of storing it as fat.


Benefits
Moringa leaves provide dieters with a rich array of necessary vitamins, proteins and minerals that deliver nutrients without unhealthy fats or high-calorie carbohydrates, according to researchers from John Hopkins University. Each oz. of moringa leaves provides a dieter with more vitamin A than an oz. of carrots, more iron than an oz. of spinach, more calcium than an oz. of milk, more potassium than an oz. of bananas and more vitamin C than an orange, according to a scientific study and nutritional analysis conducted by scientists at the Trees of Life organization. The same study reported that moringa leaves contain protein quality at similar levels to whole milk and eggs, without the fat and calories.


Role In Weight Loss
Moringa leaves are low in fat and highly nutritional. Because they are packed with so many nutrients, they offer dieters a healthy alternative to eating many higher calorie foods. Moringa leaves provide 42 percent of the recommended daily minimum requirement for protein, and 125 percent of the recommended daily minimum requirement for calcium. The B vitamins in moringa leaves also help you digest and convert foods to energy and may increase your metabolism, according to MoringaTreeofLife.com. 


Consumption
Moringa leaves are often eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable in places where the tree is native or cultivated, according to the Environmental Society of Australia. Crushed moringa leaves are available in a dry powder that may be stored on a shelf for years without deterioration or loss of nutrients. Dieters may also steep and drink moringa leaf tea daily for its low-fat, low-calorie nutritional value.


Where to Buy
Our store carries various brands of organic Moringa Leaf Powder under the Overall Health section within Supplements.


3. Seeds Blend


You must be already familiar with usage of flax seeds (or flax seed powder) for weight loss. Other than these power packed omega-3 rich seeds, there are others that have unique nutritional value as well - such as pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, etc. Seeds are high in fiber, vitamin E and monounsaturated fats that can help keep our heart healthy and our body disease free. Healthy seeds are also great sources of protein, minerals, zinc and other life-enhancing nutrients. Numerous studies have shown that different types of seeds and nuts can actually prevent weight gain, the development of heart disease and the accumulation of LDL cholesterol. If you are going to add seeds to your diet, I would recommend that you eat only organic seeds, in their raw state. Snacking on nuts and seeds is a great way to win the war against the bad kind of fat, and lose weight in the process. 


According to an article on http://www.globalhealingcenter.com, here are the benefits of the 5 healthiest seeds you should add to your diet: 


i) Sunflower Seeds: 
The perfect phytochemical-rich seed for those of us looking to lose weight, as they promote healthy digestion and increase fiber intake.
Sunflower seeds are also extremely rich in folate, a very important nutrient for women. They are packed full of good fats, antioxidant-rich Vitamin E, selenium and copper, all crucial elements in preventing heart disease, cancer, and other forms of troublesome cellular damage. 


ii & iii) Sesame Seeds (White & Black): 
Sesame seeds are very high in calcium, magnesium, zinc, fiber, iron, B1 and phosphorus, sesame seeds are unique in their chemical structure. Possessing important cholesterol-fighting fibers known as lignans, studies show that these seeds can lower blood pressure, as well as protect the liver from damage. Sesame seeds also may help prevent Arthritis, asthma, migraine headaches, menopause, osteoporosis and PMS.


iv) Pumpkin Seeds: 
Some scientific studies have shown that the components of pumpkin seeds may stop the triggering of cancerous behavior in male prostate cells. Pumpkin seeds are high in a form of antioxidant known as carotenoids, a special plant derivative that enhances immune activity and disease fighting capacities. These seeds are also high in omega-3 fatty acids and zinc, two important nutrients that may play a role in warding off inflammation, arthritis and osteoporosis. Finally, pumpkin seed are high in phytosterols, plant components that aid in keeping stable levels of cholesterol, enhanced immune response, as well as cancer-fighting attributes.


v) Flax Seeds:
Flax seeds are called the miracle low carb whole grain these days. Flax seed is high in most of the B vitamins, magnesium, and manganese, but this little seed is just getting started. There are three additional nutrient groups which flax seed has in abundance, and each has many benefits. Flax Seed is Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are a key force against inflammation in our bodies. Flax Seed is High in Fiber. You’d be hard-pressed to find a food higher in fiber -- both soluble and insoluble -- than flax. This fiber is probably mainly responsible for the cholesterol-lowering effects of flax. Fiber in the diet also helps stabilize blood sugar, and, of course, promotes proper functioning of the intestines. Flax Seed is High in Phytochemicals, including many antioxidants. It is perhaps our best source of lignans, which convert in our intestines to substances that tend to balance female hormones.  


Where to Buy
The unique seeds blend available at our store contains a perfect blend of 5 of these most power packed seeds from mother nature. Once there, you can also read about its usage ideas, dosages etc. in the product description.

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