According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 36.5 percent of all American adults are considered obese. This is a significant health problem since obesity has been linked to an increase in risk of heart disease, stroke, type-2 diabetes, and a myriad of other diseases. As such, many people are beginning to gain a better understanding of the risks associated with obesity and are taking steps to shed the excess weight.
Unfortunately, many people have a difficult time losing excess weight, which can be a rather disheartening process. More often than not, this leads to someone giving up on losing weight and restarting bad habits when it comes to their health. Our first goal is to find a way to break this vicious cycle.
Steps to Take
Losing weight does require a little hard work and dedication, but it doesn’t have to be especially difficult for you. There are many steps you can take to help you lose weight as naturally as possible. This may require you to make a few changes to your diet and lifestyle, but the changes themselves aren’t drastic in any way. As you begin to feel the positive effects of the following steps and your confidence increases, you may want to incorporate more difficult adjustment:
Prepare Some Lemon Water
Lemons themselves may scrunch up your face thanks to its incredibly sour taste, but they definitely give your water an incredible health boost. Lemon water is a well-known home detox remedy that has yielded amazing weight loss results over the last few years. This is because lemon water aids the body’s natural detoxification process, freeing up the body to focus on burning calories instead of removing toxins. Furthermore, consuming lemon water introduces a significant amount of vitamin C to your body for better immunity.
If lemons don’t sound very appealing to you, try having other drinks. Fruit detox drinks that contain orange juice, bananas, and strawberries are a delicious option that yields benefits similar to lemon water.
Eat Organic Food
It is no secret that many fruits and vegetables are sprayed with harmful pesticides to help them grow larger. The same can be said for livestock like cows and chicken as they are often injected with a large number of antibiotics. Unfortunately, both substances can be harmful to the human body. Over time, the toxins present in what we eat may accumulate and have an adverse effect on our health.
When possible, try to do your shopping at the organic section of your supermarket. Food products labeled “organic” are certified to have been grown in an environment free of antibiotics, pesticides, and other harmful chemicals. The term “organic” can only be used by companies that have been accredited, so feel free to choose any of the food products you find.
Fill Up on Fiber and Protein
Some people find it difficult to stop snacking in-between meals. If you are experiencing this, try adding more fiber and protein in your diet. Both fiber and protein help trick your stomach and your brain to feel fuller for longer. In many cases, eating enough fiber and protein can help you avoid the urge to snack altogether. Fiber also helps clean and detox your gut.
When consuming protein, choose lean options like baked fish or lean chicken to avoid excess calories from fat. Nuts are another great way to get some extra protein in your system.
Add Some Spice to Your Meals
Do you like things hot? If so, don’t hesitate to add a few extra peppers to the meal you’re preparing. Chili peppers, jalapenos, and the like are rich in capsaicin, a natural chemical compound that has been found to help boost metabolism. This is a good thing since your metabolic rate helps determine how many calories your body burns off naturally. The higher your metabolism, the more calories you burn off.
Peppers aren’t the only thing you can add to your food to help kickstart your metabolism. Other spices you may want to add to your cooking include ginseng, turmeric, ginger, cumin, and cardamom.
Consider Taking Supplements with Natural Ingredients
If you feel like your nutritional intake or weight loss rate is lacking, do not hesitate to ask your doctor about taking supplements. For those who choose to try supplements, take the time to go over the ingredients list of each product you look at. Prioritize supplements that contain natural ingredients that have been scientifically proven to aid weight loss, such as garcinia cambogia or hydroxycitric acid.
You may also like to try taking probiotic supplements and gut cleaning supplements. Both these supplements help improve the absorption of nutrients in the food you eat, a vital step to help you maximize the benefits of eating organic food.
Sources:
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html
[2] http://www.livestrong.com/article/408453-foods-that-have-capsaicin/
Chris Clark is currently the Chief Product Officer and Formulator at Xervéo Group LLC. He is also a certified nutritionist with the International Sports Sciences Association.
