Summer foods have great benefits. Read all about Watermelon today.
Watermelon
is an excellent fruit that effectively hydrates, detoxifies, and
cleanses the entire body on a cellular level. It is rich in vitamins A
and C as well as lycopene, beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin which
are excellent for providing protection from lung, mouth, pancreatic,
breast, prostate, endometrial, and colon cancer. Watermelon is also
known to significantly reduce inflammation, help
flush out edema, aid in weight loss, and alleviate depression.
Watermelon can also boost the immune system as well as strengthen
vision. Watermelon is not nearly as high in sugar as most people think
as it has half the sugar than an apple. Watermelon is loaded with
antioxidants that have the ability to neutralize free radical molecules
and aid in the prevention of chronic illnesses. The rind of the
watermelon is equally beneficial as it is one of the highest organic
sodium foods in nature and one of the best sources of chlorophyll and
can be juiced for a delicious and healing drink. And, if you are lucky
enough to get a watermelon with black seeds, even better! Crunch those
seeds up too, they have an amazing effect on the nervous system, aiding
in relaxing the body and lowering blood pressure and contain helpful
amounts of iron, zinc, and protein.
Burn the Belly Fat and keep your tummy FLAT!
Here are some proven steps to help keep your body fat on the retreat.
1 EAT HEALTHY FATS
When trying to drop fat, it may seem appropriate to reduce dietary fat.
At 9 calories per gram, fats are a denser caloric investment than carbs
or protein. But fats are, in fact, good for you, and consuming enough
of the good fats will help you lose fat, build muscle, and recover
faster from your workouts. Healthy fats also have numerous health
benefits, including being good for your heart and cardio-battered
joints.
Polyunsaturated fats, such as those from fish and nuts,
and the monounsaturated kind, such as those from peanut butter, olive
oil, egg yolks, and fish oil are the ideal choice (especially omega-3s).
2 ADD A HIGH-CARB DAY
When dieting down, most people turn to low-carb diets. (We can see you
nodding your head in affirmation.) But what most seem to forget is that
carbs are your body’s preferred fuel source and adding a high-carb day
now and then can really rejuvenate the metabolism and get that engine
revving again.
A low-carb diet long term can actually end up
having adverse effects as leptin – the satiety hormone -- levels fall
faster when on a low-carb diet and this in turn ends up slowing down
metabolism and actually making you feel more hungry.
Try to
plan your high-carb days around your more intense sessions, such as leg
day, and take down those higher-carb meals pre- and post-workout.
Adding 1-2 high-carb days will essentially mean you are carb cycling and
will help you avoid any plateaus that may be on the horizon.
3 EAT PROTEIN PLENTY OF PROTEIN
This is a no-brainer, right? At only 4 calories per gram, protein is an
ideal choice for keeping your calorie count in check. It also keeps you
fuller longer and rebuilds and preserves muscle. Research has also
found that a high-protein diet increases fat loss because it increases
metabolic rate and decreases hunger.
You should consume a range of .8 to 1.5 grams per lean body pound of weight.
4. HYDRATION IS CRUCIAL
You can try to will yourself into eating less at each meal, or you can
put some proven science to work for you at the dinner table. A 2010
study found that participants who drank a full glass of water before
dining typically consumed 75-90 fewer calories from that meal. It’s not
complicated – the extra water made them feel fuller.
Drinking
more water will also ensure your metabolism is running smoothly and will
ensure that you stay hydrated. Additionally, consuming more water keeps
your body shedding more water. Some athletes find that they retain less
water when they begin consuming more. Aim for half your body-weight in
ounces per day. So a 200-pound individual should strive for 100 ounces.
5. CHOICE OF EXERCISE
I find that mixing HIIT workouts with resistance exercise are the most
beneficial and effective methods for dropping unwanted body fat. The
resistance exercise builds lean body mass. The more muscle the higher
the metabolism runs. and the HIIT training stokes the metabolism up to
48 hours after the training session. So make sure you hit the gym 2-4
times a week and perform some HIIT exercises 2-3 times a week as well.
