+The Herbal Remedies
Welcome me to Health Check with Oluwabukunolami
This week we shall be discussing POT BELLY..
It sounds funny but not healthy.
Nigerians have this erroneous idea about this issue…Culturally, an average Nigerian man believes that it is a sign of good living or affluence to have pot belly or potruding stomach.
Pot belly is the deposition of body fat localised around the abdomen.Tummy fat is actually totally different to the fat that you have on your thighs, buttocks, arms, and in fact, surrounding your whole body. This fat is called subcutaneous fat, and it is very visible to the eye because its located just underneath your skin. As a matter of fact, thats what the word subcutaneous means — beneath the skin.
The majority of tummy fat is called visceral fat. This is also referred to as intra-abdominal fat. Visceral fat is stored deep in your belly and surrounds your stomach, liver and other organs.One such organ is your Omentum. This is a two-piece membrane, almost like webbing, that hangs from your stomach and covers your kidneys and intestines
Your Omentum plays an important role in your body’s process of storing fat, but when it becomes overloaded with fat itself it stops working properly, leaving your body prone to health problems.
Most women would like to have a slim waistline, but belly fat is more than just a cosmetic problem.
Here are some herbal remedies to help you burn that tummy fat or pot belly as we call it.
LEMON WATER
Lemon water helps to detoxify your liver and increases the production of enzymes by the liver which metabolize and burn fat.
A simple glass of room temperature water with the juice from a lemon squeezed into it is all you need. For the best effect, do this in the morning, just after you get up and 30 minutes before you have a meal.
FISH OILS
Fish oils are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which help in breaking down fat while reducing fat storage around your waistline. You can purchase fish oil capsules at any reliable pharmacy.
GINGER TEA :
It is well known that ginger is a natural digestive aid but it is also a thermogenic agent. Thermogenic agents increase body temperature thus helping burn fat more effectively.
A pot belly may be due to one of the various reasons like overeating, lack of exercise or stress. Ginger aids in solving each of these issues. Ginger also suppresses the production of cortisol, which is a steroid hormone essential for energy regulation and mobilization. If you cannot eat raw ginger ,you can blend it into a drink or have it as tea. Two cups of ginger tea every day should be effective in helping you to get rid of that belly fat.
GARLIC:
Garlic is good for your cardiovascular system as it reduces both systolic and diastolic blood pressure .
Garlic is also very useful when it comes to fighting fat in our bodies, as garlic suppresses the process of making fat. For best effects, eat 3-4 cloves of garlic a day.
LEAN MEAT
Protein makes your body burn fat when you eat it, more especially animal proteins. Thus, lean meats e.g meat with little or no fat are the best calorie burning food. When you eat lean meat, you burn about 30 percent of the calories it contains within it just by digesting the food. It’s wise to include some protein in each of your meal.
This can be lean chicken, beef, or pork, especially in dinner so that you burn most of the consumed calories through digestion at a time when your body’s metabolism is slower. Just don’t fry your lean meat as you would defeat the purpose.
GREEN TEA
Research has shown that having 3-4 cups of green tea daily helped people loose more than three kilograms within a period of eight weeks.
Green tea contains chemicals which have natural antioxidant with many therapeutic applications. They also help in boosting your metabolism.
HOT PEPPER
It contain capsaicin which boosts your body’s heat production and thus uses more energy or calorie. Studies have shown that when peppers are consumed daily, it reduces abdominal fat and improves fat oxidation. So spice up your foods with hot peppers to lose belly fat. The good thing about peppers is that you can add it to practically anything you eat such as soups, eggs, sauces, stew and meats.
COCONUT OIL
The oil extracted from coconut has a unique combination of fatty acids which a positive effect on your metabolism. Coconut oil is high on medium chain triglycerides which are metabolized differently from long chain fatty acids.
These fatty acids directly go to the liver from your digestive tract, where they are used in one of the two ways- either as energy or are converted into ketone bodies. Ketone bodies are used by cells in the body for energy production instead of glucose. This makes coconut oil an ideal replacement when going on a low carb diet.
Coconut oil is also a thermogenic and burns fat. Many studies have shown that medium chain fatty acids when compared to the similar amount of calories from other fats, can improve feeling of fullness. Thus you automatically reduce calorie intake.
Please bear in mind, that coconut oil should be used in moderation, as an overdose can make you put on weight.
Do not take more than 2 tablespoon a day . This has been discovered to be most effective.
SLEEP
It is important to get adequate sleep as a lack of sleep is one of the prominent causes for belly fat accumulation. When you don’t sleep, you crave for sugar and fatty foods. It also increases your cortisol hormone which makes you insensitive to insulin. As a result, you lose your body’s bio-rhythm and pile on the weight. It is recommended that you get about 7-8 hours of sleep each night.
REDUCE OR STOP ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
Alcohol is full of calories but when you consume alcohol you don’t feel full. It’s better not to have alcohol but if you can’t stay away from it at least avoid binge drinking and also reduce the quantity and frequency of your alcohol intake.
DANDELION TEA
It is also good for reduction of belly fats.
Drink a lot of cranberry juice.
Eat more chia seeds
Get proper exercise.
Add more Cinnamon to your diet.
Drink more water
You can also practice these habits as they have proven to be effective in reducing tummy fat naturally.
Good Posture – The Quickest Way to Reduce Your Pot Belly Naturally. …
Strengthen Your Core Muscles. …
Manage Your Alcohol Intake. …
Improve Your Water Balance.
Watch Your Portion Size, that is the portion of food you eat …
Reduce Stress. …
Check Your Carbohydrate Intake.
How to use these herbs….
Some of your belly fat is probably water retention. Dandelion herb can help with this.
Dandelion is a natural diuretic, which means it makes you urinate more. This is good because it flushes our toxins and extra water from your body, especially from your belly.
How To Drink It: The best way to consume dandelion is in the form of tea.
Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of dried dandelion leaves. Let simmer for 10 minutes, then strain out the leaves. Squeeze 2 tablespoons of lemon juice into the tea and add some honey for a sweetener.
If you have blocked bile ducts or any gall bladder related issues, avoid having dandelion tea, because it can cause more harm .
CRANBERRY JUICE
Has so many health benefits. Some of these benefits include: relief from UTIs (Urinary Tract Infections), respiratory disorders, kidney stones, and even cancer and heart disease.
CRANBERRY JUICE
Can be very strong and hard to drink on its own, so you can dilute it with some water if needed to make it more palatable.
It’s also rich in organic acids, which have an emulsifying effect on the fat deposits in our body. Therefore, it is good for anyone who needs to lose belly weight.
How To Drink It:..
Mix 1/2 cup of 100% pure cranberry juice with 2 cups of water. …
GREEN TEA
Is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that do wonders for the body. Green tea improves brain function and memory, and also fat loss.
It can even lower your risk of cancer! Green tea boosts your metabolism which in turn helps you burn fat.
How To Drink It: Steep 1 green tea bag in a mug of boiling water for 5-10 minutes. You can also throw some mint leaves in there while the tea is steeping.
Add honey for a sweetener. It is best to drink green tea before meals.
SPICY FOODS
Are great for fat loss – especially hot peppers! They boost your metabolism which in turns helps you burn fat.
Hot peppers contain a substance called capsaicin which has thermogenic effects. It boosts your body’s heat production, which means it also uses more energy and burns more calories.
You can eat hot peppers raw, cooked, or dried. Habanero peppers have the most amount of capsaicin, but cayenne pepper is great too. You can add these peppers to your soups, stir fries, and other dinner dishes.
CHIA SEEDS
This is an amazing way to get more Omega 3 fatty acids in your diet.
If you are a vegetarian or vegan and don’t eat fish, chia seeds are something you should be consuming.
Chia seeds are also high in antioxidants, calcium, iron, and lots of fiber too. They help keep you full longer.
How To Eat Them: Try consuming at least 1 tablespoon of chia seeds a day. You can easily add them to your smoothies, cereal, or oatmeal, but you can also make chia seed pudding with some water or non dairy milk …
Although Coconut oil is a fat itself, it can still help you lose belly fat. It contains unique fatty acids that have a positive effect on your metabolism.
The fat in coconut oil is used by your body as an energy source. Coconut oil is also thermogenic, so it helps your body burn fat.
Studies have been done comparing different types of oil such as coconut oil compared to soybean oil.
One group of women were given 2 tablespoons of coconut oil a day, and the other group of women were given 2 tablespoons of soybean oil a day.
They continued this study for a month. At the end of the month, both groups of women lost the same amount of weight, but the group that was taking coconut oil lost more weight circumference, and those who took soybean oil had an increase in belly fat.
HOW TO USE COCONUT OIL
Do not add coconut oil to the oils that you already use. You should replace your cooking oils with coconut oil.
Just have 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil a day for best results, more than that can hinder the results.
**Ginger is a natural digestive aid, so it helps with nausea and an upset stomach. Ginger is also thermogenic, meaning it increases your body’s temperature to let it burn fat more efficiently.
GINGER
also suppresses the production of cortisol, which is a stress hormone. Stress causes weight gain, so ginger helps prevent this. Drinking ginger tea daily can really help with losing belly fat.
How To Drink Ginger Tea: The ingredients you need to make ginger tea is 1 tablespoon of freshly grated ginger, 2 cups of water, 1 tablespoon of raw honey or pure maple syrup, and the juice from 1/2 of a lemon.
Put the water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Then add the ginger, and turn off the heat. Place the lid on the pot and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
Next, strain the tea into a mug, and then add the lemon juice and sweetener, and mix. At night before bedtime is a great time to drink this tea.
EXERCISE
Is a very important aspect of losing belly fat. You need to exercise your entire body, not just your belly.
Make sure that you do cardio often to help burn calories/fat. A good cardio exercise would be running or jump rope.
Don’t forget to build muscle with strength training! The more muscle you build, the faster your metabolism will be, so you will burn more calories throughout the day.
HERBS
are amazing things that are not just used for flavoring dishes alone. So get cracking by purchasing your fat burning herbs..
Three popular ones are ginseng, ginger, and mint. These herbs are all fat burners; they boost your metabolism and encourage your body to burn fat.
The best way to consume these herbs would be in tea form. Make a tea with some boiled water and mixing the herbs in them, letting it steep, and then straining them. You can add honey for a sweetener. It is best to drink the tea before eating.
FISH OIL
It is a fatty acid that is derived from the tissues of oily fish. It contains lots of omega-3 fatty acids, including EPA and DHA which are very important for your health.
Fish oil promotes healthy cholesterol levels, it boosts your mood and energy levels, and it helps to maintain strong bones. The acids in fish oil also help in breaking down fat while reducing fat storage around your waistline.
How To Take It:
It is recommended to take around 6 grams of fish oil a day, which is around 1 tablespoon of fish oil. Alternatively, you can eat fish such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna twice a week to get enough omega 3 fatty acids..
LEMON WATER
It is amazing for losing belly because it detoxifies your liver. This is important because when the liver is clean, it works best and it metabolizes fat so the fat doesn’t get stored in your stomach.
HOW TO DRINK IT
A simple recipe for lemon water is 2 cups of water, with the juice of half a lemon. Don’t be afraid to add some of the zest in there as well for added benefits.
All you do is squeeze the lemon into the water, grate some of the zest into the water, and then drink! The best time to drink lemon water is right in the morning before drinking or eating anything else.
CINNAMON
It is a great fat burner. Like ginger, cinnamon is thermogenic. This means that cinnamon produces heat through metabolic stimulation.
Therefore, cinnamon makes your body burn fat. Cinnamon also lowers your blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of diabetes.
HOW TO USE IT
Try to include one teaspoon of ground cinnamon in your diet daily. Cinnamon is great to add to smoothies and oatmeal, and in baking as well. It is also easy to add to pancakes.
GARLIC
It is a true superfood. It is amazing for your cardiovascular system, because it reduces both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Garlic also reduces your triglyceride levels and strengthens your immune system. Garlic even prevents weight gain because it stops your pre fat cells from converting into actual fat cells. Raw garlic is especially beneficial for weight loss.
How To Make A Garlic Infused Honey:
Garlic and honey might seem like a weird combination, but it does wonders for your body.
What you will need is 3-4 heads of garlic, 1 cup of raw honey, and a small mason jar. Start by separating the heads of garlic into individual cloves. Don’t peel the cloves, just remove the outer layer. Fill the jar with the unpeeled garlic cloves.
Then slowly pour honey over the cloves. Use a spoon to make sure there aren’t any air bubbles. Make sure that all of the cloves are covered with honey, then put the lid on.
Allow the honey to infuse for a few days in the fridge or at room temperature. After it’s done, take a spoonful of the garlic infused honey each day on an empty stomach.
PROTEINS
From animal sources are more thermogenic than proteins from vegetables. Therefore, lean meats can help reduce belly fat.
By eating lean meat you will burn roughly 30% of the calories that it contains just by digesting the food!
Try to include some protein in your diet each day such as lean chicken, and lean beef or pork. The best time to eat it would be at dinner time, so that you can burn some of the calories at a time when your metabolism starts to work.
Sometimes eating healthy and exercising just isn’t enough. To see results quicker, you might want to try making a few tweaks to your lifestyle and habits.
A very important one is sleeping properly. A lack of sleep can cause fat to accumulate in the belly because your body doesn’t have time to digest the foods. Also, when you don’t sleep or when you stay up late, you are more likely to eat later on in the evening or snack.
ALCOHOL
It is another major weight loss hinder. Alcohol is full of empty calories that just accumulate around your waistline.
Take time each day to relax and have a few deep breaths. Stress contributes to weight gain, so it’s important to take deep breaths during the day and do things that de-stress you.
.
DRINK MORE WATER
Dehydration can cause more than just headaches. Dehydration can cause weight gain as well.
If you don’t drink enough water, your body will hold onto water and it can cause water weight on your body, which looks the same as fat and causes bloating.
Try to drink at least 2 liters of water a day so your body can constantly flush out toxins and stay hydrated.
Here’s How
Eating healthy is the best way to lose belly fat. Weight loss is 70% diet after all.
SNACKING
If you are hungry, snack on wholesome foods such as fruits and vegetables. Apples, carrot sticks with hummus, bananas, and grapes are all great snacks. These snacks will be full of nutrients too that can help prevent cravings for junk food.
CUT DOWN ON SUGAR
Sugar contains no nutrients; it just provides empty calories that your body doesn’t use. It causes blood sugar rushes and insulin increase. Try to cut down on baked goods and heavily processed cereals that contain lots of sugar.
EATING WHOLE FOODS
It is the easiest way to lose weight. Whole foods are natural, filling, and low in calories. They are full of vitamins and minerals, and fiber which keeps you full and helps you lose weight.
ENRICH YOUR DIET WITH GOOD FATS
We all need fat in our diet, but the source of fat is very important. Choose fats from sources such as avocado, nuts and seeds, and coconut oil.
EAT MORE VITAMIN C:
Consuming more vitamin C can help with weight loss. Drink orange juice, or eat fresh circus such as oranges, clementines, and grapefruits every day.
DON’T SKIP MEALS
Starving your body and depriving it of food will make it hungry, and make you more likely to binge on unhealthy food later on.
DON’T EAT BEFORE BED
Try eating at least 3-4 hours before bed time so your body has time to digest what you eat.
All of remedies can be done in the comfort of your home, but when you are ready to step outside, you’ll be slimmer, healthier, and happier…
Thanks for taking time out to read through the Health Check column this week.
Like I always say, eat healthy, live healthy ,stay healthy.
Discipline is our watchword. We would like to hear from you so can E-mail us on gregatt0305@gmail.com…call or send SMS to 08121456771…
Until next week, I remain yours in good health Oluwabukunolami…
For story submissions and inquiries, please email us at citypeopleonline96@gmail.com