This is an archived article and the information in the story may be outdated. Please check the time stamp on the story to see when it was updated last.
It’s really easy to get dehydrated. You might think you’re drinking enough water over the course of a day but maybe you’re not. Being dehydrated can slow down your metabolism. Research found that people don’t start to feel thirsty until they lose 2% of their body weight in water. This is around the same time that your exercise endurance goes south. But a well-hydrated body has ample energy to get in a fat-busting workout. Another metabolism buster is inflammation. “Chronic inflammation can negatively affect the hormones that regulate your hunger and metabolism,” says nutritionist Alex Caspero of Delish Knowledge. And we know how that ends: with weight gain and a bulging belly. Stay hydrated with these anti-inflammatory, metabolism-friendly drinks.
Cinnamon Anything
Eating spicy foods can reduce inflammation and kickstart your metabolism because of the rise in your body’s temp when you eat spicy things. It’s formally called thermogenesis – the way your body’s cells convert the energy from the foods you eat into heat. Studies show that the antioxidants in cinnamon have potent anti-inflammatory activity. “Cinnamon also slows the rate at which the stomach empties after meals, reducing the rise in blood sugar after eating,” says Caspero. Add cinnamon to your coffee grounds or cup of tea in the morning before brewing for a healthy burst of flavor. You can do the same with plain water (it’s yum!). Add a cinnamon stick to a bottle of water and you’ll instantly find it more appealing to drink.
Green Tea
If you start the day with an anti-inflammatory hot drink, it can offload the inflammation and slow weight gain. Grab your favorite mug and put a kettle on the stove. “Including a cup of green tea in the morning with your breakfast and not on an empty stomach can possibly help with weight loss,” says Dr. Jennifer Stagg, a naturopathic physician. A clinical study of more than 100 women with excess belly fat who drank green tea for 12 weeks had significant reductions in waist circumference. And aside from the positive body effects it’s incredibly soothing to sip on green tea when your belly feels like a gas-filled balloon. So why do you need to have hot green tea in the a.m.? “It appears green tea should be consumed during the light phase – the morning - of our 24 hour circadian rhythm because that timeframe greatly impacts fat metabolism,” says Dr. Stagg.
Avocado Blueberry Smoothie
It never occurred to us that avocado would make a great addition to a healthy smoothie. But now it makes total sense! They’re an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant packed ingredient that thickens the drink to make it feel like a real treat. Avocados are naturally high in unsaturated fatty acids, fiber, vitamins A, C, E, K, and many B vitamins as well as potassium and magnesium. Plus much of it is composed of water and fiber, and both help keep you feeling full. Blend half of an avocado with fiber-filled blueberries, half a banana and a touch of honey.
Hot Water & Lemon
What hot drink has zero calories tastes refreshing and spurs your metabolism to get moving? Hot water with lemon! A warm or hot cup gets your body moving at a rapid pace and that means your entire body is engaged in creating and using energy that leads to weight loss. “The more lemon water you drink the better for you since it helps food break down easily in your digestive system,” says Suzanne Jezek-Arriaga, a nutrition and holistic health coach. Lemon has vitamin C to aid weight loss. A study found that people who have sufficient levels of vitamin C intake burned more fat than people who were C deficient. Another way hot lemon water helps is simply that people prefer the taste of lemon water to plain water. If the idea of water isn’t appealing, you might have a glass of juice before breakfast. Juice is pure sugar with zero health benefits. But if you think hot water with lemon tastes great, then you’ll have it instead of high-calorie, sugary drinks.
Berry Smoothie
The base of a good smoothie is fruit. “Fruit is packed with vitamins, nutrients, and fiber,” says Andrea Wise, a Chicago-based trainer and nutrition coach.” Berries have antioxidants and are bursting with natural sweetness so you can eat way more of them without worrying about the scale. For example, one cup of sliced strawberries is only 50 calories. The low sugar, high fiber content helps berries regulate blood sugar and insulin levels. Having high insulin can contribute to increased belly fat and cravings. Once you’ve created the perf berry combo add these additional belly fat fighters. First, freshly grated ginger is a sweet and spicy, anti-inflammatory food that aids digestion and helps metabolize excess adipose tissue (that’s a fancy word for fat). It also decreases hunger and bloating. Second, flax seeds have a high concentration of plant-based omega-3s that have been shown to increase good cholesterol and decrease the bad. It reduces inflammation and in turn reduces storage of fat. Flax doesn’t have a potent taste so it won’t compromise the flavor of your smoothie.
[Photos: Shutterstock]
