Cinnamon – A weight loss wonder

Cinnamon figures among the most ancient spices in world. This small evergreen tree is cultivated in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Egypt, Brazil, Indonesia and India. It is prepared in two ways. It is prepared either by drying the cinnamon bark and rolling it into sticks (quills), or by crushing it into powder. Cinnamon's peculiar taste and smell stems from cinnamaldehyde, a substance contained in the bark's oil.

Cinnamon has one of the highest antioxidant levels of any spice, and many foods, too. You'll get as many antioxidants in one teaspoon of cinnamon as a full cup of pomegranate juice or a half-cup of blueberries, two foods known for their antioxidant content.

Millions of people are searching for ways to help lose weight, and drinking cinnamon tea or eating cinnamon in other forms for weight loss can definitely help many shed pounds.

How does cinnamon cause weight loss

Cinnamon is a spice commonly used during festive winter times as it "warms" the body. This thermogenic response possibly speeds the body's metabolism resulting in weight loss. Cinnamon actually creates heat within the body due to a chemical reaction. The body's metabolism speeds up to counteract the excess heat and balance body temperature. Excess calories are burned throughout the process.

According to another theory, cinnamon decreases blood sugar levels, which increases the level of insulin. The higher amount of insulin is believed to shrink fat cells. Some experts believe cinnamon tea weight loss is especially effective for people with diabetes as they need more insulin. The fat cells in the abdomen are particularly sensitive to high insulin levels, and are very effective at storing energy – far more so that fat cells you’d find in other areas such as the lower body (i.e. hips, rear end, thighs). Because abdominal fat cells are so close to our digestive organs, and there is an extensive network of blood vessels circulating in the abdominal area, it’s even easier for fat cells to store excess glucose there. 

Recommended quantity

Typical recommended dosages of ground cinnamon bark are 1 to 4 g daily. The German Commission E monograph suggests ½ to 3/4 teaspoon (2–4 grams) of the powder per day. A tea can be prepared from the powdered herb by boiling 1/2 teaspoon (2–3 grams) of the powder for ten to fifteen minutes, cooling, and then drinking. Cinnamon oil is generally used at a dose of 0.05 to 0.2 g daily.

Cinnamon tea is also touted as a weight loss remedy when made with other ingredients. You may get better results with this recipe for Cinnamon and Honey Tea. Create a regular cinnamon tea and add 1 tablespoon of pure honey after the tea sits for half an hour so the boiling water does not destroy honey's beneficial properties. It is recommended to drink all cinnamon teas both before bed and first thing in the morning.

Citrus fruits and obesity

Weight loss benefits…

Citrus fruits include grapefruit, lemons, limes, tangerines, and oranges. They are best eaten fresh and are high in vitamin C as well as a wide range of nutrients and protective phyto-chemicals like pectin and naringenin. When eaten raw they are a good source of soluble and insoluble fiber. By adding Citrus Fruits to the daily diet, one can greatly increase metabolism, increase ability to get rid of fat and, hence, citrus fruits can be called as an effective weight-loss weapon.  It has been shown that people can actually eat large quantities of food without consuming too many calories by choosing foods high in fiber and water content. Besides being a refreshing source for the mind and body, citrus fruits have been also recognized for their numerous other health benefits.

How do citrus fruits help in weight loss?

According to researchers, Vitamin C & naringenin, found abundantly in all citrus fruits, have a fat burning quality.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C reduces the effectiveness of fat. It reduces its content and can liquefy or dilute fat. By diluting the fat, it makes it less effective, and easier to flush out of your system. Vitamin C also works on cholesterol deposits. Vitamin C can help burn out the cholesterol, hence, making it difficult for cholesterol deposits to form in blood vessels.

Naringenin – A phytonutrients present in citrus fruits

Citrus fruits mainly consist of various water-soluble plant pigments collectively called as flavonoids. Of all the flavonoids, the most abundant one is naringenin, a naturally occurring alkaline compound in all citrus fruit, but most significantly in grapefruit, orange and tomato.

Naringenin has a significantly positive bioactive effect on human health as a fat blaster (weight loss agent), antioxidant, anti-inflammatory agent, carbohydrate metabolism promoter and immunity system modulator. 

US study – Naringenin, a key to fighting obesity

In 2006, a scientific study was performed by the Florida Department of Citrus at the California Scripp's Clinic. It was found that by adding 4 ounces of grapefruit juice or half a grapefruit to meals, participants had an average weight loss of 3 1/2 pounds a week without altering their diet in any other way.  Researchers believed a compound, naringenin, in the grapefruit helped the liver lower cholesterol and also helped regulate insulin levels. Both of these factors had a significant impact on overall weight reduction of the subjects.

It should be noted that obesity constitutes the main part of the “metabolic syndrome” that is also characterized by hypertension, elevated blood cholesterol and disturbed glucose and insulin metabolism. 

Canadian study – Naringenin, as an effective weight reducer and maintainer

In another study performed at the Roberts Research Institute at the University of Western Ontario, the study mice were divided into four groups. They fed one group a normal, healthy diet. The second group received a high-fat, high-calorie diet. The third and fourth groups received a high-fat, high-calorie diet along with a naringenin supplement.

After just four weeks, the mice on the high-fat, high-calorie diet became obese. In addition, they became insulin and glucose intolerant. On the other hand, the two groups who received the naringenin supplement fared much better. Despite the same high-fat, high-calorie diet, these mice did not gain weight like their counterparts. In addition, the naringenin mice did not develop key health factors linked to Metabolic Syndrome. In fact, they lowered their triglyceride and cholesterol levels. They also continued to metabolize glucose normally and they never developed a resistance to insulin. At the end of the study, it was found that naringenin had marked lipid- and lipoprotein-lowering potential, without affecting caloric intake or fat absorption.

It was also found that naringenin, in concentrations far above levels found naturally, makes the liver burn fat instead of storing it. These effects were independent of caloric intake as the mice ate exactly the same amount of food and the same amount of fat. There was no suppression of appetite or decreased food intake, which are often the basis of strategies to reduce weight gain and its metabolic consequences.

As a conclusion, it was suggested that naringenin metabolizes hepatic VLDL (very low density lipoprotein) production, improves glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity and prevents obesity associated with high-fat diet. 

(Mulvihill et al., Diabetes journal, July 10, 2009)

Dealing with childhood obesity

Dealing with childhood obesity

Your child must lose…to win!

Do you know that more than 17% American children and adolescents suffer from childhood obesity? In fact, the problem of obesity or abnormally high weight is continuously rising among children. This has resulted in a growing concern for both health care providers and the parents. What is even more alarming is that not many people are fully aware of the consequences of this problem. The complications which may arise due to uncontrolled obesity include diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, sleep apnea, arthritis, and reduced mobility and life expectancy.

For the same reason, it is vital for the parents to address the issue as early as possible as, after all, prevention is better than cure. Read on to discover some simple, easy and cost-effective measures to deal with the condition.

So, what makes your kid fat?

Your child’s body gets the energy it needs from the food he / she eats (Input). This energy is used to perform physical activity (Output). The unused energy is stored in the body is stored as fat. Therefore if, for some reason, this input is more than the output, it will cause your kid to become fat or obese.

What are the risk factors?

Some common factors that may cause your child to become overweight or obese include:

Food preferences: Foods rich in fat and sugar
Lack of physical activity: Sedentary lifestyle

Family history: If parents are obese, children have more chances of being over weight

What you can do?

Remember, being closer than anyone, parents have the main influence on the diet and life style pattern of their children. Therefore, simple measures and easy tactics in the home can have a significant impact on reducing your child’s overweight or obesity. It is always better to address the problem as early as possible as most overweight children become overweight adults as well.

Following recommended measures are of utmost importance in managing the overweight or obesity of your child.

Enhancement in physical activity

TV viewing should be limited to no more than 2 hours per day, discourage TV in kid’s room.

Plan and execute activities that kids and family view as fun. Walking the dog is great daily exercise that also teaches children about having the extra responsibility of something in their care.

Develop plan for increasing activities, such as family outings to parks. Alternatively, you can suggest indoor activities such as dancing or jumping rope. Children also love to play games like skipping, hide and seek, hopscotch and tag.

Suggest gifts/rewards that promote physical activity, such as active games, music CDs, or DVDs. With a little incentive you could get the kids doing chores like sweeping the yard, cleaning the family car or even weeding the garden.

It is, however, important to remember that when you child is involved in long exercises; they should include a gradual warming up and cooling down periods. Examples of warming up exercises are brisk walking or jogging on the spot. Similarly, when cooling down, stretching exercises help to restore the muscles resting length.

Improvement in eating habits

You should choose a balanced diet for your child, essentially representing the major food groups of whole grains, vegetables, fruits and legumes. It should also include dairy products, fish, meat and poultry.

Look for unhealthy dietary habits. Limit fast foods or providing lower fat alternatives, eliminating soft drinks or switching to low calorie drinks, changing to 2% or skimmed milk, substituting low-calorie, high-fiber snacks (low-fat popcorn, fruits, or vegetables) for the high calorie ones.

Never let your kid skip his / her breakfast.  However, you should limit your kid’s daily food consumption to frequent small meals instead of a fewer large meals. A difference of three hours between two meals is mostly recommended, constructing 4 to 5 small meals each day.

In short, if managed early and properly, childhood obesity can be successfully controlled. Necessary measures, if taken early by the parents, can change the outcome for obese children or even prevent it happening in the first place. However, such change should be gradual and parents must plan for small, single changes at a time.

Fiber – For effective weight loss

Dietary fiber, found mainly in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, is probably best known for its ability to prevent or relieve constipation. But fiber can provide other health benefits as well, such as lowering your risk of diabetes and heart disease and promoting significant weight loss .High fiber diet promotes weight loss through less calorie intake while you eat normal amount of food. Fiber intake ensures that you don't get hungry and tempted to eat foods which are not a part of your diet. So, you stop thinking of eating more all the time as you did before. Fiber foods take a long time to be chewed properly. Though this does not directly contribute to weight loss, the dieter feels as if he/she has eaten a substantial meal than the usual one. Further, it also takes longer time to finish this meal which in turn helps. Intake of fiber foods make a positive contribution towards your health by aiding the food to move expeditiously through your body.

How does fiber help in weight loss?

One Swiss study determined that consuming a high-fiber meal reduced hunger more than eating a meal lows in fiber. You can find a number of sources for fiber. 

Fiber makes us feel full sooner and stays in our stomach longer than other substances we eat, slowing down our rate of digestion and keeping us feeling full longer. Due to its greater fiber content, a single serving of whole grain bread can be more filling than two servings of white bread. Fiber also moves fat through our digestive system faster so that less of it is absorbed.

Studies show that people who have included fiber into their daily diets have had better weight loss results than those who have dieted without including fiber.

List of high fiber foods

• Grain, Cereal and Pasta
• Spaghetti (cooked)
• Whole-wheat (cooked)
• Bread (whole wheat or multi-grain)
• Bran (known to have the highest fiber content. Can be consumed as corn bran, wheat bran, bran flakes)
• Whole-wheat pastas
• Popcorn (air popped)
• Barley (cooked)
• Bown rice (cooked)
• Fruits
• Dates
• Apricots
• Raisins
• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Blueberries
• Apple with skin
• Pear with skin
• Banana
• Orange
• Vegetables
• Dark green leafy vegetables like spinach is the best.
• Peas (cooked)
• Kidney beans
• Lima beans
• Carrots (raw)
• Tomato paste
• Potato (with skin or baked)
• Sweet corn (cooked)
• Dried Fruits and Nuts
• Almonds
• Pistachio
• Pecans
• Seeds
• Split peas (cooked)
• Lentils (cooked)
• Black beans (cooked)

Recommended quantity

Physicians believe you should consume anywhere from 25 to 35 grams of fiber daily, although most Americans eat 15 grams or less.

Flax seeds – Fast weight loss

Flax seeds, like all seeds, are a good source of polyunsaturated fats and mono-unsaturated fats. In addition, flax seed is very low in carbohydrates, making it ideal for people who limit their intake of starches and sugars. And its combination of healthy fat and high fiber content make it a great food for weight loss and maintenance -- many dieters have found that flax seed has been a key to keeping them feeling satisfied. Flax seed is also high in most of the B vitamins, magnesium, and manganese, all vital to human health.

Today, flaxseed is found in all kinds of foods, from crackers to frozen waffles to oatmeal. Although flaxseed contains all sorts of healthy components, it owes its healthy reputation primarily to three ingredients:

• Omega-3 essential fatty acids, "good" fats that have been shown to have heart-healthy effects. Each tablespoon of ground flaxseed contains about 1.8 grams of plant omega-3s.
• Lignans, which have both plant estrogen and antioxidant qualities. Flaxseed contains 75- 800 times more lignans than other plant foods
• Fiber. Flaxseed contains both the soluble and insoluble types.

How do flax seeds help in weight loss

It has been seen that adding flaxseed oil to foods, or seeds taken with a meal, creates a feeling of satiation (feeling of fullness and satisfaction following a meal). The essential fats in flaxseed oil cause the stomach to retain food for a longer period of time as compared to no-fat or low-fat foods. The addition of flax oil to food also results in a gradual release of this combination into the small intestine. The physiological effect is a slow, sustained rise in blood sugar, then a prolonged plateau of blood sugar. Ultimately, the blood sugar undergoes a slow and gradual drop. You will experience a corresponding feeling of prolonged energy, stamina and satisfaction with no immediate hunger pangs following the meal. The net result is that you feel fuller, longer, and actually eat fewer calories in the long run than if you would have chosen a no-fat, low-fat diet. 

Recommended quantity

It may be healthy to add one to two tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseed to your cereal in the morning for potentially controlling weight as well as for other health benefits. Flaxseed that’s freshly ground will have more active lignans than flaxseed that’s already pre-ground, so it’s best to get a small flaxseed or coffee grinder to grind your own flaxseed.

Garlic – Great weight loss benefits

An expert review

Garlic is a simple and powerful health solution for a number of illnesses and as health benefits that cover a range of ailments because of the several unique compounds it contains, especially the allicin. Garlic also contains small amounts of vitamins A, B, C and E, and the minerals potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, and iron. Garlic has been, for long, known for its health benefits such as prevention of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes etc. In fact, Garlic’s most common uses as a dietary supplement are for high cholesterol, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Garlic is also used to prevent certain types of cancer, including stomach and colon cancers. Now, researchers say that garlic may help in weight loss. Garlic contains the compound allicin which is supposed to suppress the appetite and aid in weight loss.

How is garlic used?

Garlic cloves can be eaten raw or cooked. They may also be dried or powdered and used in tablets and capsules. Raw garlic cloves can be used to make oils and liquid extracts.

Composition and nature of garlic

Garlic contains more than 200 chemical compounds. Some of its more important ones include: volatile oil with sulphur-containing compounds: (allicin, alliin, and ajoene), and enzymes: (allinase, peroxidase and myrosinase). Allicin is what gives garlic its antibiotic properties and is responsible for its strong odor. Ajoene contributes to the anticoagulant action of garlic. Garlic also contains citral, geraniol, linalool, Aphellandrene and B phellandrene. The allyl contained in garlic is also found in several members of the onion family and is considered a very valuable therapeutic compound.

How does garlic help in weight loss
Garlic acts as an appetite suppressant as it gives the brain signals of satiety when it is eaten. Hence, a person would be less inclined to eat. Garlic also increases the body’s metabolism. Garlic is supposed to stimulate the nervous system to release the adrenalin hormone – thereby increasing the metabolism. High metabolism can in turn help you to burn calories and lose weight.

Recommended quantity

Studies have shown that an average of 900 mg garlic/day (as little as one half to one clove of garlic) could decrease total serum cholesterol levels by approximately 9%. Dieticians suggest that a normal adult should not eat more than 3 cloves a day.

How many calories a day to lose weight?

The bio-mathematics of weight loss

If you are an overweight or obese adult, you probably eat too much i.e. more than you actually need. As a matter of fact, your body needs a certain amount of calories to keep itself functional and active, and if you eat or drink more than that, you will likely gain weight. Likewise, if you consume fewer calories than you expend, you will lose weight.

So, the question is, what number of calories you actually need to consume daily to lose weight?

If you are one of those billions around the globe who are trying their best to get or maintain an ideal body weight and minimize extra body fat, this is the first and the most vital aspect you should consider.

The answer:

Your recommended per day calorie intake primarily depends on your age. If you are an adult man with average height and built, you need to take 2,500 calories / day. Similarly, if you a woman with average weight and height, you will need to take 2,000 calories daily. Do remember; however, that these calories should come from cumulative sources i.e. you should eat a healthy, balanced diet consisting of foods from all major groups e.g. proteins, carbohydrates, fats, nutrients and minerals.

If you are eager to lose weight, a good rule of thumb is that a caloric deficit of 3,500 calories leads to a weight loss of approximately one pound. Therefore, you could begin by taking five hundred less calories day, providing you are taking a healthy, well-balanced diet and performing your physical activity / exercises regularly. Simply saying, to get rid of one pound per week, you need to reduce your calories by 500 per day. There are two simple ways of doing this; eat / drink 250 lesser calories daily and burn additional 250 calories by performing physical exercise (e.g. walking or jogging for 2 to 3 miles daily).

Another way to cut back on calories is to watch your portion sizes. Go for relatively smaller, leaner, pieces of meats, perhaps. Eat as much vegetables as possible as they are low in calories but contain higher quantities of vitamins and nutrients) and avoid deep fried food (cheese burgers, fried chicken, French fries etc.). Doing these easy things will have a dynamic impact on your weight.

It’s important to remember that you don't have to starve yourself to lower your calorie consumption. As mentioned above, just take smaller portions of the foods you currently enjoy. If you need to burn those extra calories, again, you do not necessarily need to run miles a day or join a fitness club. Just remember to use the stairs, or park your car away from the door when going to work.

Last but not least, calories - knowing how to find them, how to count them and how to cut them, are key to lose weight on your own. By doing simple mathematics and implementing your diet and exercise plan accordingly, you can successfully lose your weight and maintain it for long term.