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It’s really easy to get dehydrated. You might think you’re drinking enough water over the course of a day but maybe you’re not. Being dehydrated can slow down your metabolism. Research found that people don’t start to feel thirsty until they lose 2% of their body weight in water. This is around the same time that your exercise endurance goes south. But a well-hydrated body has ample energy to get in a fat-busting workout. Another metabolism buster is inflammation. “Chronic inflammation can negatively affect the hormones that regulate your hunger and metabolism,” says nutritionist Alex Caspero of Delish Knowledge. And we know how that ends: with weight gain and a bulging belly. Stay hydrated with these anti-inflammatory, fat-busting drinks.
Hot Water & Lemon
What hot drink has zero calories tastes refreshing and spurs your metabolism to get moving? Hot water with lemon! A warm or hot cup gets your body moving at a rapid pace and that means your entire body is engaged in creating and using energy that leads to weight loss. “The more lemon water you drink the better for you since it helps food break down easily in your digestive system,” says Suzanne Jezek-Arriaga, a nutrition and holistic health coach. Lemon has vitamin C to aid weight loss. A study found that people who have sufficient levels of vitamin C intake burned more fat than people who were C deficient. Another way hot lemon water helps is simply that people prefer the taste of lemon water to plain water. If the idea of water isn’t appealing, you might have a glass of juice before breakfast. Juice is pure sugar with zero health benefits. But if you think hot water with lemon tastes great, then you’ll have it instead of high-calorie, sugary drinks.
The Husband Smoothie, Happy Healthy Mama
Don’t let the name fool you: this smoothie is not only for husbands. Or men for that matter! The ladies love it (well, we do!). The protein comes from hulled hemp seeds, which are anti-inflammatory and deliver omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Combine that with the 4 servings of fruit and 2 servings of veggies and it makes a high-fiber smoothie that is incredibly nutritionally balanced. You’ll see the recipe calls for frozen wild blueberries and we highly suggest you stick with that if possible. Wild blueberries are really small but deliver higher amounts of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits than the plumper farm-grown variety.
Lemon Turmeric Smoothie, Evolving Table
Turmeric and chia seeds are both high-powered anti-inflammatory foods. The issue is how can you easily use them? The key is to layer them in a smoothie with a medley of flavors. Dr. Lisa Davis, chief nutrition officer at Terra’s Kitchen, says the fat that sits on your abdomen is no ordinary fat. Aside from being really frustrating, she says that abdominal fat is, “metabolically active tissue that unleashes harmful inflammatory molecules associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes.” Turmeric counters this. It contains curcumin, a natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound. When turmeric and lemon meet in this recipe the flavor is dramatically delicious. Mix in chia seeds just before serving. They have a high concentration of plant-based omega-3s that have been shown to increase good cholesterol and decease the bad. They also reduce inflammation, which in turn reduces storage of fat.
Cinnamon Coffee
Eating spicy foods can reduce inflammation and kick start your metabolism because they cause your body temp to rise. It’s formally called thermogenesis – the way your body’s cells convert the energy from the foods you eat into heat. Studies show that the antioxidants in cinnamon have potent anti-inflammatory activity. Cinnamon also slows the rate at which the stomach empties after meals, reducing the rise in blood sugar after eating. Add cinnamon to your coffee grounds in the morning before brewing for a healthy burst of flavor. You can do the same with plain water. Add a cinnamon stick to a bottle of water and you’ll instantly find it more appealing to drink.
Green Tea
If you start the day with an anti-inflammatory hot drink, it can offload the inflammation and slow weight gain. “Including a cup of green tea in the morning with your breakfast and not on an empty stomach can possibly help with weight loss,” says Dr. Jennifer Stagg, a naturopathic physician. A clinical study of more than 100 women with excess belly fat who drank green tea for 12 weeks had significant reductions in waist circumference. And aside from the positive body effects it’s incredibly soothing to sip on green tea when your belly feels like a gas-filled balloon. So why do you need to have hot green tea in the a.m.? “It appears green tea should be consumed during the light phase – the morning - of our 24 hour circadian rhythm because that timeframe greatly impacts fat metabolism,” says Dr. Stagg.
[Photos: Shutterstock]
