7 Fat-Burning Foods For Winter

Due to the kind of lifestyle we tend to lead these days, weight loss is a very important topic of discussion all the time. The holiday season is just around the corner and one concern that many people have is how to get rid of the extra weight that is piled up during the holidays. Winter doesn’t only mean cosy days, but it also means less workout and heavy foods and we all know what all these actually comes down to. While there are no magic pills for weight loss, there are a number of foods that you can eat during winter that will help you keep your weight in check. Here’s a look at 7 fat burning foods for winter.

1. Cayenne pepper

Cayenne pepper has been used medicinally since ages. It is believed that cayenne pepper has properties that can induce thermogenesis and increase oxidation of lipids which basically involves burning of fat for energy, a process that is vital for weight loss. But this is not the only benefit you get by including cayenne pepper in your diet. Other benefits include slowing down growth of fat cells and decreasing appetite which can help you maintain a healthy weight.

2. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a commonly used spice, but a number of studies have suggested that it can also aid in weight loss. Cinnamon can lower sugar levels in the blood which is essential for weight loss. You can add this amazing spice to your snacks, tea or coffee for a health boost. Read more

10 Reasons to Start Lifting Weights

Whether you are vying for those big biceps and strong muscles or not, lifting weights is very important. Most people are convinced that you should shun the weight training room if you don’t want to look like The Hulk. But this is not true, especially for women since they don’t have high levels of testosterone like man. Besides, lifting weights offers numerous benefits for the heart and overall health. Here’s a look at the top 10 reasons you must include working with the weights in your fitness regime.

1. Lose more fat

Cardio is important when it comes to burning fat but according to a number of studies lifting weights can help burn more fat. Studies have proven that those who diet without any exercise and those who exercise only to lose weight or perform aerobic exercises lose almost the same amount of weight. However, those who do aerobic exercises plus lift weights as well lose weight of which more is fat. This is because lifting weights promotes fat loss and normal dieting and aerobics results in both fat and muscle loss.

2. Clothes will fit better

People tend to lose about 10 percent of their muscles if they are over 30 years of age. But as they lose muscles, they accumulate more fat. This increases the size of the waist and makes you bigger. Lifting weights helps maintain the muscle mass making you leaner. Read more

What’s the Big Deal about Intermittent Fasting?

We can often hear advice by nutritionists like “eat frequent but small meals”, “don’t starve” or “don’t skip breakfast“, but it turns out that fasting offers a number of health benefits. It not only reduces risk of cancer and improves cardiovascular health, but it also promotes longevity and gene repair. It is quite true that when a person is in “feast mode,” the body forgoes much of the natural rejuvenation and repair programming. It is also true that most of the disease processes that are initiated in the body are a result of eating too frequently.

When the body is subjected to severe calorie restriction, a person is able to achieve weight loss, but for most people a starvation diet is not an appealing approach for weight loss. But, a number of studies have suggested that a method called “intermittent fasting” can offer the same benefits without causing any health problems. In the olden days, our ancestors did not have access to food all the time. There were no grocery stores and they would eat only at particular times. According to research, this kind of eating habit offers biochemical benefits to the body.

So, is intermittent fasting for you? Does intermittent fasting really work? What kind of health benefits are there when you use this approach? Let’s a take a look at what intermittent fasting really is and whether it offers real benefits. Read more