Spices, we all have them in our cupboards, but for most people, we think of them in terms of flavor enhancers only. Most of us think we get our nutrition from meat, vegetables and fruit. But don't underestimate the power of spices. You would be amazed at the nutrient value they have and what they can do for our metabolism.
Take cayenne pepper for example. It comes from a vegetable that really is a chili pepper. It is loaded with vitamin A, vitamins C and B6, it has fiber, vitamin K and manganese. Not only is it nutritious, it is a thermogenic food (burning up of calories) that increases metabolism. This is why it is good for weight loss. All hot peppers contain capsaicin. The hotter the chili, the more capsaicin it contains. Fresh chilis are always best but using cayenne pepper daily will not only spice up your favorite foods but will speed up the metabolism which in turn helps you to lose weight.
Cinnamon is not only a delicious spice but has many health benefits. It can reduce bad cholesterol and triglycerides. It also mimics insulin that lowers blood glucose. This is good news for diabetics. A study was done by the USDA Research Center in Maryland where they were testing how certain foods affected the blood sugar levels in the body. When they tested apple pie they were expecting it to spike glucose levels. To their surprise, it actually lowered glucose levels. It was the cinnamon in it that created this unexpected result. For all of us apple pie lovers, this is fantastic news. Dessert is back! Cinnamon also improves blood circulation which in turn increases getting oxygen to the cells of the body. This also increases the metabolism. (Got to love that cinnamon)
Ginger is another favorite for weight loss. According to the International Journal of Obesity, a study was done to see if ginger could help reduce body fat. What they found was that ginger is also a thermogenic food. After eating ginger, tissues in the body used more energy than they normally would have and therefore creating higher metabolism. As with cayenne pepper, ginger also improves circulation. So go ahead and enjoy ginger. If you have never tried it, you can find some good recipes online to experiment with.
Basil is a spice in most people's cupboards. It is a member of the mint family. This tasty, aromatic spice has anti-bacterial properties. It can be used to wash fruits and vegetables therefore making them safe to eat. It is also high in vitamin A and potassium. As with cinnamon, basil has been shown in tests to reduce glucose levels in the blood. Basil is the main ingredient in pesto and has a wonderful relationship with tomatoes. Basil is a common spice in all Italian foods. Little did we know that basil could help us lose weight.
It is hard for the majority of people to stick to a good diet let alone try to lose weight. A key factor in most weight loss programs is bland tasting food. No one is going to stick to a diet for very long when we are disgusted with what our food choices are. We do have a card to play though and that is tasty, healthy spices! This can make all the difference in our weight loss goals, especially troublesome belly fat. Make your food taste delicious with spices and you will find it much easier to stick to your plan.
Good luck!
Pay special attention to each of the concepts in this article because it will make a huge impact on your results.
We are going to go over 3 tips for effectively and safely losing belly fat fast so that you can look great for that reunion, the trip to the beach, or just to look good in general.
Super Tip #1: Avoid crash dieting at all cost.
When most people try to burn belly fat the first thing they do is make a night and day change in the way they eat. They might go from eating anything they want to forcing themselves to eat 1 meal per day while remaining hungry and miserable.
The only thing you lose when you crash diet is a lot of water weight, muscle mass, and if you are lucky, maybe a little bit of fat too. If you do it for too long your body can go into "starvation" mode and purposely slow down its metabolism. More than likely, you will get tired of crash dieting, have one day when you completely blow your diet, and then it is all over.
If you want to burn belly fat fast then you need to eat more of the right foods. This includes lots of lean protein, vegetables, fruit, and other whole foods that will genuinely be healthy for you. This will ensure that you are always supplied with the basic nutrients that will keep you full and well nourished. Losing stomach fat while trying to crash diet is a surefire way to make bad food choices and go for an all out binge!
You should eat 4-6 smaller meals per day, drink lots of water, and plan your meals ahead of time.
More often than not, those who crash diet lose a lot of weight at first, get tired of depriving themselves of food, blow their diet, and end up heavier than they were before.
At first, crash dieting might seem like it works great, but it is a surefire way to fail in the long term.
Super Tip #2: Strength training will help!
Unfortunately, many believe that weight lifting only makes your body heavier and your muscles get huge. While adding muscle mass might add a few pounds onto your body, it will still be one of the best things you can do.
Having lean muscle mass will make you stronger, increase your metabolism, help you burn more calories, give your muscles a lean and sexy look, and just help you feel better about yourself.
To burn belly fat fast with strength training your best bet is to try circuit training with a series of compound exercises such as pushups, squats, lunges, lat pulldowns, split squats, and many more.
All the best looking movie stars and models strength train. It will help you rev up your resting metabolism after a good workout and have you burning lots more calories throughout the rest of your day!
Super Tip #3: Use interval training for cardio
Interval training is an excellent way to burn belly fat fast with cardio because it is so much more effective than the common slow, boring, and monotonous cardio routine that most people adhere to.
Interval training basically consists of using both high and low intensities at set points in your cardio workout. This means that you might get on a treadmill and go slow for 2 minutes, run really fast for 30 seconds, then repeat 4-8 times (depending on your ability level).
You will feel like you got a better workout in much less time. These short bursts of high intensity during the interval workout do an excellent job of getting your out of your comfort zone little by little. These short bursts also have a huge impact on your metabolism so you will burn belly fat for hours after you are done.
It is time to say goodbye once and for all to the slow and boring 30, 45, or 60 minute cardio workout that so many people use!
Conclusion
If you avoid crash dieting, start circuit training with weights, and replace slow cardio with interval training, you will start to lose fat faster than ever. You can burn belly fat fast without losing all water weight and muscle if you use these techniques. Good luck and keep learning!
Both Willie Jones & Tom Gifford are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Willie Jones has sinced written about articles on various topics from Hair Care, Home Management and belly fat. Willie is a freelance writer and researcher who's dedicated in bringing information on health related issues. She is also co-owner of an online store,