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Way of Burning Belly Fat

There are a number of reasons why losing belly fat is on top of the list of the majority of the dieters. While a bulging belly is bad to look at, fat in the abdominal area can also cause several health related problems. Therefore, dieters must aspire for a flat stomach and work hard towards achieving it. However, working hard and putting in effort does not just mean doing thousands of crunches. Rather, it involves several steps and only then do the results come. Here are some of the best ways to burn the belly fat.

1. Stop focusing on spot reduction

It is a common sight in the gym to see overweight people lying on the floor doing crunches of all kinds in the hope that it would help them get a flat stomach. While crunches help strengthen the abdominal muscles, they are not an effective way of losing belly fat as spot reduction does not work when it comes to losing weight. Focusing on the stomach only is not a good idea because losing fat requires a complete body workout. Moreover, crunches require a lot effort yet they only burn a few calories, making them largely ineffective for obese people.

2. Eat healthy and avoid junk food

Having junk food is considered the single largest factor for gaining belly fat and it must be avoided at all costs. The reason why junk food is such a big contributor to a fats in the stomach is that it contains large amounts of refined carbohydrates and sugar, causing an immense increase in the blood sugar levels. This increase in the blood sugar levels in turn causes less fat to burn, leading to weight gain.

A diet consisting of healthy foods on the other is beneficial for losing belly fat because these foods do not contain unhealthy properties and they also have low amounts of calories. Thus, by eating these healthy food items dieters can lose weight, which results in the loss of fat from the abdominal area as well. Hence, dieters aiming for a flat stomach should refrain from having processed and unhealthy foods and consume more of healthy foods.

3. Getting more sleep

Contrary to the popular belief, sleeping more is actually beneficial for weight loss and there are a number of reasons why. When people stay up late in the night, they tend to indulge in unhealthy snacking which leads to weight gain. Also, when the body is tired due to a lack of sleep, it produces a hormone known as ghrelin, which increases cravings for sugar and fat building foods. Moreover, a lack of sleep also causes a hormonal change in the body and alters the cortisol level, leading to insulin sensitivity. This insulin sensitivity in turn results in more gains in the abdominal area.

4. Reduced alcohol consumption

For losing belly fat, drinking is as crucial as eating and for this reason alcohol consumption must be reduced. Alcohol is found to be detrimental to health because it has zero nutritional value. Thus, drinking alcohol results in the storage of fat. Alcohol is also a prime reason for a pear shaped body and a beer belly.

5. Exercise

Exercise is crucial for weight loss and it is no surprise why it is recommended by so many fitness trainers. Exercise is important because it helps burn greater amounts of fat by increasing the metabolism rate. While spot reduction does not work, certain types of exercises such as Cardio helps reduce belly fat greatly. Doing crunches strengthen the abdominal muscles and makes apps more visible. Moreover, in order to burn belly fat, people need to stimulate all their muscles and exercise helps them do exactly that.

Credit : Jafar Adam

Symptoms and Risk Factors of High Cholesterol

High cholesterol is bad for your health and even can be one of major warning signs that your risk of heart disease increases. Therefore, it is important to consider what you eat and do regularly tests (once in five years if you are over the age of 20 or should be more frequently for men who are over the age of 35 & women who are over the age of 45)! And one of frequently asked questions when talking about cholesterol is the symptoms of high cholesterol!

You might also like to read about normal cholesterol levels by age, how to lower cholesterol naturally and foods to lower cholesterol, before continuing!

And before discussing about the signs or symptoms of high cholesterol, it's much better to completely understand what actually high cholesterol is!

What is high cholesterol?

The body needs certain amounts of cholesterol. But if the level of this fat-like substance is too over -- this can be a serious problem that can interfere with the function of your arteries. High cholesterol will generate more plaques in the arteries, which eventually will influence the performance of the heart muscle.

These plaques can make the arteries harden. Poor performance of arteries can cause shortness of breath and chest pain, and even these plaques can make the arteries stop working (in the severe stage) which then can cause a serious heart attack!

LDL or low-density lipoprotein is a kind of cholesterol that can create more plaques in the arteries (artery clogging). That’s why LDL is always referred to ‘bad cholesterol’.

There is also another type of cholesterol that familiar called HDL or high-density lipoprotein. Unlike LDL -- HDL is always referred to ‘good cholesterol’. Higher levels of HDL are better for your health, because it can be so helpful for your body to remove low-density lipoprotein from the blood.

In other words, the ideal of your cholesterol to promote good health is higher in HDL and lower in LDL!

Symptoms of high cholesterol

Unfortunately there are no any symptoms that you experience when you have high cholesterol. Therefore, as mentioned before you should regularly screening test to keep monitoring your cholesterol. The cholesterol tests are also familiar called lipid profile blood tests.

No any symptoms of high cholesterol are the reason why this condition can be so lethal because people with high LDL are more likely to don’t know it, especially for those who don’t have regularly screening tests!
For more detailed information how often you should do a cholesterol test, talk with your doctor!

Risk factors

There are some conditions or factors that can increase your risk of having high cholesterol which then can cause heart disease! Some of these conditions may include:
  • Eating a lot of unhealthy foods that are high in cholesterol (poor diet), like full-fat & red meat dairy products.
  • You are an individual who have a family history of heart disease.
  • You have high blood pressure! Increased pressure in the walls of arteries can speed the buildup of fatty deposits.
  • You are smoking. Some studies found that smoking may decrease the level of your HDL /good cholesterol!
  • You have diabetes! High level of blood sugar can contribute to decrease HDL and increase LDL!
  • Poor exercise! We all agree that having regular exercise is so important for your health, including for helping your body to lower LDL and boost up HDL.
  • Being overweight! If BMI (Body Mass Index) of your body is 30 or more -- your risk of having high cholesterol is higher.

Tips to Get Rid Of Tummy Fat

The cycle of weight loss and gain happens when you are able to lose 5 pounds but holiday seasons came and you went to different family gatherings, you ate here and there, you met with friends and ate out. You had drinking session with friends consuming 5 bottles of beer and then you then felt sleepy, you slept and the next thing you know, you felt so heavyAnother cycle is telling us a logic that if the amount of calories eaten are equal to the amount consumed, then the weight won't change.Weight gain can only happen if you consume more calories than what you burn. Thus, weight loss happens when you burn more calories than what you consume.

As the saying goes, "Too much of something is bad".Most often, when people are offered with delicious but unhealthy foods, they do not care about how much they eat.They always feed themselves too well without an awareness of how much amount of calories, fats, sugar and all other unhealthy contents they are putting into their body.There are people that is genetically thin and so even eating anything more than normal cannot make any change on their figure.But majority is still having so much concern about their tummy fat. You are conscious wearing body fit tops and would want to cover them up with their bags.Most often than not, you always find clothes that fit for you; something stretchable and dark. You might get so insecure with others and depressed as you do not feel like going out elsewhere because of your big tummy.If you have a hard time dealing with it, try to question yourself of whose fault is really it? Is it your personal cravings and eating habits? So what do you do now, start blame gaming or do something to get rid of tummy fat?

1) Shed off calories in the body

The calories we get from food is actually an energy from it that is released. Most often, we eat without knowing how much calories we put into our body, but this time, it is very important that you will be able to measure the amount of calories you eat and the amount of calories you spend.How to burn such calories may include:
  • Running (jogging)
  • Tread milling
  • Aerobics
  • Swimming
  • Walking
2) Lessen the beer night session

With regards to beer, it can cause bloating or beer belly so this time, the article emphasizes the need to avoid or at least lessen the amount of beer to drink or else your tummy will always be bulging and bloating especially if drinking beer is becoming a habit.More so, we all know that beer is bad for our health but we cannot even give one reason why, so here are some necessary reasons for you to know:

Beer has high calorie content without containing essential nutrients.It can cause fatty liver Beer belly and bloating are two consequences of beer drinking especially when it is usually done almost everyday.

3) Avoid consuming sweets

Foods with so much sugar content are to be prevented.Sugar found in cakes and chocolates are the number one and most wanted food for everyone.More so, sugars that are found among sweetened beverages are burnt quickly, while those found in fruits and vegetables are burnt slowly.

As such, if your body is processing sugar for energy use, but you're not using your body to burn, those sugars will be converted into fats which make up your tummy fat.

4) Enroll yourself in a gym if you can

A lot of people have proven effective that going to gym is a real help for losing weight.If you specifically want to lose tummy fat, you need to have an abs program.Aside from the abs program, you also have to undergo total body workout. As you do the workouts (abs program + total body workout) with the goal of losing weight and losing tummy fat, do it consistently.

5) Have some regular exercise

It is very important to consider regular exercise a habit because once you do, it will make its way for weight loss and tummy fat loss. Ideally, these exercises are greatly done early in the morning, 1 hour before breakfast.Even if going for a vacation, you can also do simple exercise. You need to consider walking as a good exercise.During your vacation, you can't deny the fact that you will eat more and more each day but your long walks can compensate with your voracious eating habit. Walking or any other form of regular exercises can really help you burn fats and eventually decrease tummy fat.

There are times that eating has become a compensation over stress and depression because of work or love. However, too much of everything is bad; this is very true because it  is the same as saying, when you eat more than what your body requires, you will gain weight, you will not be physically fit, and blood pressure will increase thereby increasing risk of heart disease.Eating is not at all a sin; you can eat and treat yourself with foods but do not do it often as you eat beyond normal. After all the holiday seasons with so much food you eat, you know you gained weight, so starting today, do some moves to get rid of tummy fat.To lose weight is all your choice because you are what you eat; eat less and lose or eat more and gain.

Credit : Stepfanie Wayne

Top Ten Tips For Reducing Stress

Being stressed impacts on your health and wellbeing. It also impacts on your dental health increasing your risk of dental decay, gum disease, mouth ulcers, clenching and grinding, facial pain, cold sores and poor oral hygiene. A holistic approach deals with the underlying cause of a problem as well as the symptoms that result. When you feel under pressure try these fabulous tips to decrease your stress levels and take care of your health.

1. Stay calm and centered. Remember to stay calm and take it easy. When you feel stressed close your eyes and breathe gently in and out through your nose, make your breaths long and steady but gentle.

2. Care for yourself. No one can take care of you as well as you can. Say when you need a break, take time out for you and do things that help you unwind

3. Sleep well live well. Having the right amount of sleep changes your outlook on life. You feel more alive, less reactive, more productive and much more joyful. Aim to prepare well for sleep by winding down and relaxing before bed. Choosing not to stay up late and waking early leaves you feeling the most rejuvenated.

4. Eat well and avoid stimulants. Food is our best medicine or worst poison. A healthy diet keeps the body strong and is perfect for wellbeing. Watch those double shot lattes and avoid sugar and processed foods full of additives. Caffeine and nicotine put more stress on the nervous system by producing adrenalin and cortisol. Repeated use of stimulants adds to the stress of modern life.

5. Stop the clock. Constantly telling yourself that you are short of time speeds up your biological clock resulting in faster heart rate, increased blood pressure and more adrenalin production. Stay in the present moment and focus on the task at hand, your body clock will slow down, and time seems to expand for you.

6. Take control of anxiety. When we expect the worst and expect things to go badly it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Instead of focusing on the negative, picture how you would like things to turn out and put a positive outcome in its place. This helps you to overcome negativity and feel less reactive to situations and people.

7. Avoid conflict and hostility. The stress of extended and unresolved conflict is as dangerous as smoking. So get honest, look at what is behind the conflict, deal with the issues and seek resolution.

8. Let go of perfection. There is no such thing as perfect. Be able to let things go and accept them for how they are without the need for control or perfection. Make mistakes and learn from them. Setting unrealistic expectations is setting you up for more stress.

9. Connect to nature and the Divine. Instead of drinking or using drugs, try walks in nature, meditation or prayer. Stress tends to dissolve away when you connect to your inner most.

10. Go with the flow. Stress is not something out there in the environment; it is in how you handle it. So prepare yourself to deal with life; have fun, laughter, connection, exercise, sleep, meditation, and love in your life and you will be better equipped to deal with whatever the World throws at you.

Credit : Dr Rachel Hall

Health Benefits of Amla

Amla is the most potent natural source of Vitamin C. In fact, this tiny fruit has as much Vitamin C as two oranges. Vitamin C, when taken in the form of supplements, is not always easily absorbed. But when you eat an amla berry, the Vitamin C present is easily assimilated by body. So the next time you think of reaching for a supplement, think again and reach for an amla berry instead.

Vitamin C is an excellent anti-oxidant and as amla is so rich in Vitamin C, it has strong anti-oxidant properties and helps combat free radicals. Free radicals are unstable ions in the body, responsible for ageing and cell degeneration. Amla stabilises these free radicals and is believed to be themost powerful rejuvenating agent known to man. Just like most berries, it is low in sugar and has a high fibre content, making it an ideal daily fruit for almost anyone. However, if you have a heart condition, you may want to check with your doctor before taking amla regularly. This is because amla stimulates the heart.

Iron and various other minerals are not always easily absorbed by the body. You require a certain combination of meals to reap maximum benefits from the food you eat. Unless you are a nutritionist or regularly consult one, chances are that you eat normal, regular food and try to stick to a healthy diet as far as possible. Although numerous people do manage to get adequate amounts of all essential minerals due to various combinations of food, just as many, don't. Amla is a fruit that enhances food absorption and thus helps you get the most out of the food you eat. It helps the body digest food better and assimilate minerals like iron. Another excellent digestive is ginger, but ginger tends to heat the body. Amla does not heat the body, and is gentler on the entire system. Regular intake of amla almost always results in a stronger, healthier digestive system and in improved overall immunity.

Amla also helps boost protein metabolism, so if you exercise and work out regularly you will benefit greatly from regular amla intake. Similarly, people who have a tendency to gain weight easily tend to have poor metabolism. The better your metabolism, the better the body's ability to burn fat and keep you slim. As amla enhances metabolism, it helps you lose weight faster.

Regular use of pain killers, antibiotics and medication, regular intake of alcohol, all cause toxin build-up in the liver. Amla helps strengthen the liver, and rid the body of these toxins. It thus helps purify and clean the blood. This is why amla is good for the skin, and if taken in combination with neem, it can help clear out pimples that are caused due to impure blood. In addition to the skin, amla is also great for the hair. It nourishes hair roots and is believed to prevent premature greying. Thus one often sees amla-based shampoos and oils. In addition, amla helps lower cholesterol, enhance vision, and strengthen the lungs and the respiratory system. It also strengthens the body's central nervous system. It is a gentle laxative and helps cure constipation. These are just some of the reasons to include an amla in your daily diet.

Tips and Tricks to Slim Down

Check out these great tips and tricks to help you lose weight, without trying too hard!

Breakfast
Eat a heavy breakfast. Needless to say, 'heavy' does not include fried foods. Stick to corn flakes, brown toast, eggs and the like, and you will not feel so hungry at lunchtime. The best and healthiest way to go is to breakfast like a King, lunch like a Queen and dine like a pauper. If you're still confused, we'll translate for you: breakfast should be the heaviest meal of the day. Lunch should be lighter than breakfast, and dinner should be the lightest meal of the day.

Dinner
Try sticking to tasty soups, mixed (baked or boiled) vegetables with mayonnaise, and garlic bread, at night. Not only will you lose weight, but you will also give your much-abused digestive system, a much-needed break.

Green Tea
Did you know that green tea helps you lose weight (Not if you add two spoons of sugar with every cup, though!) Opt for green tea without sugar or milk, but with a dash of lime, and try and drink at least 3 cups a day. In addition to helping you burn calories, green tea is known for its anti-oxidant properties, and thus has great health benefits as well.
Spices

Be generous with sprinklings of spices like garlic, Tabasco sauce and green peppers. They actually increase your body's calorie burning activity by 25%. Could there be an easier way to lose weight
Yes! Surprise, surprise

Sleep
Get enough sleep. If you feel your body has a slow metabolism, getting sufficient sleep is a great way to boost it. This does not mean that you sleep for forty days and forty nights at a stretch and expect to wake up skinny as a bamboo stick! Sorry, but you're just not that lucky. However, if your body is not getting sufficient sleep, it slows down your metabolism. Try and catch eight to nine hours of sleep every night; you will end up burning more calories than you did with just six or seven hours of sleep.

Lights
Did you know that dark rooms tend to make you feel low, and also cause you to overeat And if you are one of those people who tend to eat more when they are unhappy, it's time to lighten up! Brighten your room, liven up the atmosphere - don't live in dingy surroundings. Add some cheer to your home! Bin those 60-watt bulbs and place 100-watt bulbs in your room.

Incentives
Need some cutting edge incentive If you have fat upper arms, get a tattoo high up on your arm. You can then work towards losing weight on your arms to show it off. If you want to lose weight on your belly, pierce your belly button or get a tattoo on your waist, just above where you wear your trousers. You will be aching to flaunt it!

Clothes

Choose your clothes carefully:
  • If you have large hips, wear shoulder pads so your hips look like they are in proportion to your body. Make sure the shoulder pads are not too big, nor are they too prominent. One should not be able to make out that you are wearing them.
  • Don't wear clinging stuff in the hopes that it will make you look thin. Stay away from lycra.
  • Don't wear clothes that are too loose.
  • Steer clear from pleats.
  • Wear one colour from top to toe to give an illusion of slimness.
  • Wear fabrics like chiffon, that skim the body and show your curves, yet hide your fat.

How to Effectively Reduce Belly Fat

Jelly Belly. Love Handles. Dunlap Disease. Whatever you want to call it, the excess fat around your midsection that wiggles and jiggles in all the wrong places just isn't pretty. Not only is belly fat unattractive, it can be downright dangerous to your health. Extra fat carried around your abdomen can increase your risk of heart disease. With so many pills, potions and programs flooding the weight loss industry today, many people are left feeling just plain confused about how to effectively reduce belly fat.

The first thing you must know about how to effectively reduce belly fat is that there is no magic bullet when it comes to weight loss. Reducing body fat levels requires a three pronged approach that doesn't come from popping diet pills or gulping down foul tasting drinks. Belly fat also won't come off by trying to spot reduce only doing sit-ups or crunches. It's just not possible to spot reduce, so don't waste your time.

So, the question remains, how do you effectively reduce belly fat? Here is a safe, practical three pronged approach to get rid of belly fat.

1. Healthy Meals. Notice the word diet isn't part of the equation. That's because the word diet conjures up visions of carrots and celery and not much else. The word diet gives us nightmares of deprivation and hunger, and that's not the image we're looking for with permanent weight loss. Just because the word diet isn't used does not mean you're free to gorge on junk food at will. Healthy meals consist of lean protein, lots of vegetables, whole grains and some fruit. Your should consistantly choose foods that are as close as possible to their natural state.

2. Cardiovascular Exercise. Regular cardiovascular exercise will reduce body fat levels. Where should you start? Wallking is great cardio! Put your shoes on and get moving for at least 30 minutes per day. It doesn't matter how fast or how far you walk in the beginning, the most important point is that you're moving your body aerobically on a regular basis. If you don't enjoy walking then ride a bike, rollerskate, jog, run. Participate in whatever aerobic activity you enjoy.

3. Lift Weights. Yes, you did read that correctly! If you're wondering what lifting weights has to do with effectively reducing belly fat, then read on. Regular weight lifting has several beneficial effects for those folks trying to reduce their body fat levels. Muscles burn extra calories. The more muscle you carry on your frame, the more calories you burn in a 24 hour period which translates into extra fat burning power. Muscles take up about one third less space than fat. Muscles give you the power to carry on your daily activities more effectively and with energy to spare.

Learning how to effectively reduce belly fat isn't a difficult task. The three principle keys to getting rid of your gut rely on diet, cardiovascular exercise and weight lifting on a regular basis. Remember, you didn't sprout belly fat overnight and you can't get rid of belly fat in a day, but you can reduce belly fat if you're willing to put forth a bit of effort.


Top 10 Tips For Slimmer Body

Are you serious about losing your weight? Well, if this is the case, it might be the right time for you to know about various slimming options that come naturally. Frequently, popular diets like over the counter products and other technological treatments sometimes fail.

On the other hand, there are many ways on how you could be slim and sexy it could be by using the newest Hoodia Gordonii. Hoodia Gordonii could actually help you out in losing weight faster. However, since Hoodia Gordonii is somewhat hard on the pocket, you might just choose to use natural tips. So, if you are one of those people who are looking out for some weight loss steps instead of taking Hoodia Gordonii, here are some of those that you might want to try on:

1. Proper calorie intake. You should try to take in calories, however, try to make it sure that you are taking them moderately. Once the calories into your body are only in the minimal level, you could try to experience some sort of starvation as well as problems in your metabolism that only lets you to burn a little of it.

2. Decrease the sizes of every portion- if you would like to lose your weight into natural basis, you should try using smaller plate, than what you normally use. Also, if you are used in eating great amount of calories, you should take it into the minimal count.

3. Get an eclectic array of food- if you did not yet tried eating vegetables as well as fruits or even whole grains, it is you should now try to incorporate these kinds of foods into your diet.

4. Regulate your intake of salt, sugar and refined foods- before you purchase any food products, it would be wise if you read labels first, as it is the thing that you pay for. If you see refined carbohydrates, you better replace it with whole grains.

5. Drink water-water is essential, as it assists in flushing out the entire toxins as well as wastes within your body. It cleanses out your bladder as well as kidney.

6. Eat slowly- eating fast is one of the things that make people fat. So, if you would like to lessen down your weight, you should start eating in a slow manner. Take the pleasure in every bite and savor the smell of the food, its texture as well as its taste. With such, you will then feel very full.

7. Give the things that you body needs- right before you eat, try to ask yourself if you are really hungry or not. At times, you are only thirsty, so there is no point that you opt for eating. Try to drink water and feel up your thirst.

8. Get off stressful activities when you are eating- if you are stressed, you will be then compromised in digesting your foods, most especially if you are feeling too much stressed. This could surely lead you into indigestion.

9. Do not skip meals- try to start your day by just eating breakfast and eat minor yet normal gaps throughout the day. It will surely let the metabolism of your body in keeping it going while keeping the levels of your blood sugar steady.

10. Exercise-it is the healthiest thing that you could do to keep your body healthy and sexy. So, try to take simple exercises to make your body moving and sweat it out.

Credit : Raj Kumar