7 Tips on How to Avoid Extra Calories Every Day

When summer time is approaching, all women become obsessed with the idea tolose weight in a short period of time and look beautiful. However, it is important to keep fit and stay healthy throughout the whole year. That’s why we should pay attention to the foods we consume daily in order to avoid extra calories that may be harmful to our waistline. The main rule you must stick to is to think carefully before eating certain foods as they may be high in calories which your body doesn’t need. If you want to be in a good shape and improve your health try to follow the tips given below and you will certainly achieve the desirable results.

1. Use a small plate

First of all, I would recommend you to cut down the amount of food you eat daily and keep it under control. The most effective way you can do this is to use a smaller plate than you usually do. This technique will help you to reduce your portion and you’ll avoid unwanted calories. When you see that there is a lot of food on your plate you will have the idea that this portion is absolutely enough for you to satisfy your hunger. Even if you want to eat some more, don’t take extra servings. You’d better drink a glass of water and then your stomach will be full.

2. Drink water

During the day you may have a great temptation to drink various beverages, but water is the best choice for you since other drinks like juice contain a big number of calories. Moreover, water is necessary for your body to stay hydrated and it will help you to slake thirst in hot summerweather. So, drinking water is a nice way to control calories. When you are hungry don’t rush to the kitchen to have a snack, just drink some water and you will eat less afterwards. Regular consumption of water will provide a fresh glow to your skin.

3. Stick to grilled foods

Nowadays more and more people give preference to grilled foods. Without a doubt, this method of cooking is much healthier than frying and it will enable you to get minimum calories. Since we can’t fry without oils, all the foods we cook this way are extremely fatty. Plus, fried foods have a very good taste so that it may be difficult not to eat them. Anyway, you should try to remove greasy food from your eating plan as it can be dangerous to your health. The advantages of grilled foods are evident. While eating them you receive different minerals and vitamins that are preserved even after cooking.

4. Avoid toppings

We often add numerous toppings to our favorite dishes and that is the biggest mistake. Your foodcan be really healthy unless you serve it with toppings. Salad is the most popular dish we cookdaily. Unfortunately, we rarely think that all those ingredients like cheese, meats and croutons may be an enormous source of calories. Make sure you add no more than one topping to your salad and use steamed vegetables as an alternative to fried foods. You should be especially careful with dressings while making salads, make them lighter and reduce the amount you generally add.

5. Dark chocolate

If you have a sweet tooth and you can’t live without candies or other desserts, then dark chocolate will be the best option for you. Surely, this sweet product is beneficial for your health. Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that are known to cleanse the bodyand boost our immune system. One more reason you should switch to this yummy treat is its positive effect on your brain and heart. Plus, it will stabilize your blood pressure.

6. Avoid nuts

On the one hand, nuts are considered to be very good for us as they are packed with healthy fatsand other nutrients that help our body to function well. On the other hand, this delicious snack contains a large number of calories that we should avoid by all means. Usually when we start eating nuts it’s rather difficult to stop it. Due to this you have to limit the amount of nuts you consume and you’ll be able to avoid as minimum 500 calories a day.

7. Don’t eat out of the bag

One of the most favorite activities lots of people do while watching TV is eating chips or other snacks that are packed in bags. When you are watching television all your attention is focused on it and you can’t understand how much you eat. The only thing you need is to control yourself. Don’t eat chips out of the bag, you can take a bowl and put a small portion into it. I think that somefresh fruit will be a wonderful alternative to chips.

I hope that all these tips will help you drop a few unwanted calories faster. To become healthier and happier you don’t need to keep to various diets and tire yourself in the gym. Avoiding extra calories daily is not as hard as it seems to you. Just bear in mind these simple rules and you will certainly succeed. Do you know any other ways to improve shape and avoid useless calories?

Read More

10 Foods to Eat to Burn More Calories

There are many foods that you can eat each day to burn calories and lose weight. The great news is that these foods are super delicious and they boast amazing health benefits. Try adding several of these foods into your daily or weekly diet and don’t forget to exercise regularly. This way, you will burn mega calories and improve your health. Without further ado, here are 10 foods to eat to burn more calories.

1. Grapefruit

Grapefruits speed up your metabolism and help burn a lot of calories. This fruit will help you feel full faster and longer with fewer calories. Moreover, grapefruit is rich in fiber that may help stabilize your blood glucose levels. You can add grapefruit to your fruit salad, smoothies or drink a grapefruit juice.

2. Celery

The secret of celery is very simple: it contains less calories and helps burn more than you eat. Celery mostly consists of water that’s why it is good as a part of a balanced diet. However, this food is not suitable for celery diet only as your body won’t get the necessary minerals and nutrients. So the best decision will be to combine it with some other foods.

3. Whole grains

Studies show that whole grains are healthier than refined grains, it lowers the risk of getting a chronic disease. This type of grains is also a good part of a diet as it takes more time to digest and you won’t get hungry for a longer period of time. Whole grains are rich in various vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates but low in fat.

4. Green tea

If you haven’t discovered green tea as a good metabolism booster than it is high time to do it! This exotic Asian hot drink has become something ordinary in our life but we can’t forget about its healthy properties. Rich in antioxidants, green tea boosts your metabolism and helps lose weight, which is just fantastic, ladies, isn’t it? Simply enjoy a cup of hot fragrant green tea and do a great favor to your body.

5. Omega-3

It has been scientifically proved that omega-3 acts as a metabolism regulator. Omega-3 is a fatty acid that affects hormone leptin level, which controls how fast fat is burned. As omega-3 is not produced by our bodies we can only get it by eating fish (tuna, herring, salmon in the first place) or through special additives and omega-3 supplements.

6. Coffee

I think nobody can imagine their life without a cup of delicious coffee to wake up and start a nice cheerful morning. We all know that it is because caffeine that helps us feel lively and alert. As a dose of caffeine gets into the system the heart rate increases, blood takes more oxygen and more calories burn down. Unfortunately, the effect is spoilt by all kinds of creams and sugar added into the cup. Think of a decent replacement for it, for example, you may try cinnamon instead.

7. Avocado

Avocado is a triple-fat burner. It contains monounsaturated fat that speeds up your metabolism and protects the energy-producing part of the cells from free radical damage. Moreover, avocado has a lot of wonderful health benefits. It reduces cholesterol levels, heals wounds, reduces your risk of heart disease and stroke and is good for your eyes and hair. You can eat half an avocado with tomatoes and sea salt for a healthy on-the-go breakfast, add sliced avocado to a green bean and spinach salad, or make a tasty avocado smoothie with cinnamon and coconut milk.

8. Spicy foods

Any spicy thing belongs to the group of foods that help burn calories faster. They are not rich in calories and they may be a great addition to your meals. These may be cayenne pepper or some hot sauces, just make sure that you read the list of content before you put it into your plate.

9. Chia seeds

Chia seeds are rich in protein, fiber, and omega-3 fats and help boost the metabolism, suppress the appetite, and turn on glucagon, our big fat burning hormone. Just soak some chia seeds for about 15 minutes so that they swell up to ten times their size. Chia seeds will keep you fuller longer and prevent you from overeating. You can add them to your smoothies, salads, yogurt or oatmeal.

10. Brazil nuts

One of the most delicious foods to eat to burn more calories is Brazil nuts. These nuts help speed up your metabolism by converting the basic thyroid hormone into T3, the active form of thyroid hormone. Brazil nuts can also help fight cellulite and boost the immune system. Drink Brazil nut milk with cardamom and vanilla, snack on Brazil nuts, or sprinkle some Brazil nuts on a papaya, mango, and citrus fruit salad.

If you are aware of all the positive characteristics of the foods you eat it may become a powerful tool when fighting extra weight. These foods boost metabolism so that calories burn faster. In combination with physical exercises the effect won’t make you wait for a long time. Please share your secrets of healthy eating that helps losing weight, let’s share our experience!

Read More

Healthy Home Made Summer Refreshing Juices

Why should you start compiling homemade juice recipes? Because the juice you make yourself is more nutritious, delicious, and wholesome than the juice you buy at the store, the coffee shop, or Jamba Juice, of course! You control what goes in and, more importantly, you control what you leave out, like preservatives or too much sugar. Whatever fruits or vegetables you prefer, you'll find that the following homemade juice recipes are fantastic on their own but still endlessly adaptable.

1. Lemon LIME Ginger ale recipe

This is one of my favorite homemade juice recipes, especially come summer time. The lemons and limes give you a serious boost of vitamin C, not to mention a lovely, refreshing zing wonderfully complemented by the ginger. And you get all the sweetness you need from the apple and the grapes. The whole juice is just lovely!

Ingredients:
handful of grapes
1 apple, cored and sliced
½ inch fresh ginger (less if you find the taste too strong)
1/2 lime
1/4 lemon
sparkling mineral water

Directions:
Remove the grapes from the stem. Juice the apple and ginger together, then juice the rest of the fruit. Pour the juice in a large glass and fill to the top with sparkling water and serve with ice.

2. POWER GULP

A lot of these recipes are health driven, starting with this wonderful green juice. The veggies mix beautifully with the fruits, coming together to create a crisp, sweet, refreshing drink that really boosts your energy. Thanks to the kale, especially, you get so many nutrients – it's a super juice made from a super food! Drink this if you're pregnant or around your period, especially if you get really bad cramps.

Ingredients:
1 cup sliced kale (from about 3 large leaves)
1 cup seedless green grapes (about 28)
1 English cucumber, thickly sliced
1 small Granny Smith apple (4–6 ounces), cored and cut into chunks
1/2 cup water

Directions:
In a blender, combine kale, grapes, cucumber, apple, and water; blend, scraping down sides occasionally, until smooth. Strain juice and, if desired, thin with additional water. Before serving, garnish with a fresh kale leaf and a cucumber slice (optional). Refrigerate up to 2 days (shake before serving).

3. TROPICAL MORNING

This juice is very aptly named. It's a fantastic early morning juice. In fact, you might be tempted to give your OJ a rest for good. I love the way the tropical flavors come together. The mix of peaches and mango is excellent, and the coconut water is super healthy.

Ingredients:
1 cup diced peaches
1 cup diced and peeled mango
1 freshly squeezed orange
½ cup coconut water
1 teaspoon agave nectar

Directions:
Blend ingredients until smooth, and pour through a strainer if desired. Serve chilled and garnish with a peach slice.

4. TOTAL HEALTH BOOSTER

This one's aptly named too, because you'll receive vitamins A, B, C, and E all at once. It gives you just the boost you need in the morning, and the mix of ingredients is actually incredible for your skin. If you're on a health kick and trying out new beauty foods, this is the beauty drink for you.

Ingredients:
1 medium apple (8 ounces), cored and cubed
2 medium soft pears (such as Bartlett), cored and cubed (about 1 pound total)
1/2 cup cherries (fresh with pits removed or frozen and thawed)

Directions:
In a blender, combine apple, pears, and cherries; blend, scraping down sides occasionally, until smooth. Strain juice and, if desired, thin with water. Before serving, garnish with fresh cherries, if desired. Refrigerate up to 2 days (shake before serving)

5. HOME MADE VEGETABLE FRUIT JUICE

Vegetables and fruit go together so well in juices. If you're worried about including veggies, don't be – the fruits lend all the sweetness you need. Besides that, both carrots and kale are actually quite sweet, and they lend a lovely, earthy flavor that perfectly complements the apples, oranges, and berries.

Ingredients:
2 gala apples
2 large carrots
1 orange
3-4 large kale leaves
1 cup blackberries

Directions:
Juice all ingredients into a large measuring cup or bowl.
Strain if you have a picky drinker who like thin juices. Serve immediately.

6. ANTIOXIDANT SUPREME

Just as the name suggests, this juice is packed full of helpful antioxidants. They come from the blueberries, although the strawberries do their part as well. The mango provides a much needed dose of tropical flavor, so you'll probably never want another juice. Besides, a glass a day will keep you looking and feeling young and gorgeous.

Ingredients:
1 cup fresh blueberries (or frozen, thawed)
1 cup (about 5) fresh strawberries, halved (or frozen, thawed)
2 cups peeled and coarsely chopped mango (from a 1-pound mango)
1/4 cup water

Directions:
In a blender, combine blueberries, strawberries, mango, and water; blend, scraping down sides occasionally, until smooth. Strain juice and, if desired, thin with additional water. Before serving, garnish with sliced mango, blueberries, and strawberries (optional). Refrigerate up to 2 days (shake before serving.

7. HOME MADE GOOD MORNING JUICE

You'll definitely be off to a good morning with this juice! The spinach is so good for you, and gives you a huge vitamin boost to get your day started off right. The carrots and strawberries provide just enough sweetness to balance out the wonderful tartness of the apples – but then, I prefer Granny Smiths myself.

Ingredients:
3 large and/or extra-large strawberries, rinsed and greens removed
3 medium apples, gala, golden delicious, fuji and empire apples work best to keep it sweet. Use macintosh or granny smith if you prefer a bit of tartness

3 raw large carrots - the long skinnier type is what juices best. The thicker carrots tend to cause the juicer to bounce all over and isn't that great on the blades.

1 cup of Fresh Baby Spinach OR Full-grown Spinach, rinsed & bunched together - no chopping needed

Directions:
Rinse apples, spinach, strawberries and carrots.
Remove stems and greens from apples and strawberries.
Peel one layer off of carrots after rinsing. Turn on Juicer.
Bunch spinach in your hand (using a 1c measuring cup really worked well too) to make as much of a ball as you can, which is actually easier with the baby spinach. Stuff the spinach in the juicer and using the plunger push it all the way through. Add the remaining ingredients in the same manner, pushing through with the plunger.

Drink and ENJOY!!

8. DETOX

Root vegetables are so good for you, so they're perfect to include in your homemade juices. You might not think this juice tastes sweet, but it's delicious! Carrots and beets, in addition to being huge vitamin powerhouses, have inherently sweet flavors that mix flawlessly with the apple. Yum!

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons peeled and chopped fresh ginger (1/2 ounce)
1 medium beet (8 ounces), scrubbed and coarsely chopped
4 medium carrots (8 ounces total), scrubbed and sliced
1 medium apple (8 ounces), cored and cubed
1 cup water

Directions:
In a blender, combine ginger, beet, carrots, apple, and water; blend, scraping down sides occasionally, until smooth. Strain juice and, if desired, thin with additional water. Refrigerate up to 2 days (shake before serving)

9. APPLE AND KIWI JUICE

Both apples and kiwis are chock full of nutrients, including fiber, vitamin C and antioxidants. Add to that the refreshing nature of the combination of the two fruits and you'll have a go-to juice recipe for any day of the week.

Ingredients:
2 apples
3 kiwis

Directions:
Wash the apples, then remove the core and cut into quarters. Peel the kiwis and chop into small pieces. Put the ingredients into a juicer. Stir before drinking.

10. HOME MADE VEGETABLE JUICE

If you love vegetable juice, this is the recipe for you. It's got a tang and lots of flavor you're going to love. Plus, it's loaded with a plethora of essential nutrients. You'll never feel guilty drinking this!

Ingredients:
15 pounds fresh tomatoes
2 cups chopped celery
3 large onions, peeled and cut into chunks
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 medium beets
4 carrots
3 cloves garlic, peeled
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
1/3 cup lemon juice
6 quarts water, or more as needed
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, or to taste
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup salt, or to taste

Directions:
Process the tomatoes, celery, onion, bell pepper, beets, carrots and garlic in a juicer. Transfer the liquid to a large pot and stir in the sugar, pepper, horseradish, lemon juice and water to create a thin consistency. Bring to a boil and boil the mixture for 20 minutes. Spoon the juice into quart jars, leaving a 3/4-inch gap at the top. Stir 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt into the juice in each jar. Wipe the jars, place lids and rings on the them and process in a pressure cooker for 35 minutes.

Read More

Easy Refreshing drinks in summer

                             

Perfect Fruit punch

                             

Making fruit punch is a bit like playing mad scientist -- which is why it's so much fun to do with kids. You add a little of this and a lot of that to a pitcher until you come up with a drink that's "perfect." We made this version in just that manner, with our kids tasting every step of the way. If you don't have what we used on hand, don't worry. Just let your young scientists experiment with substitutions.

What you'll need

• 2 cups cranberry juice
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup grenadine syrup
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1 lemon, cut into thin slices
• 1 lime, cut into thin slices
• 3 1/2 cups club soda, chilled

How to make it

1. Mix the juices and syrup in a large pitcher. Chill for at least an hour to allow the flavors to blend. Right before serving, add the lemon and lime slices and the club soda, then pour over ice. Makes 8 cups.

2. 
   Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie

3. 
   Serves 2 (or one large serving)
4.                           
5.                          
6.                                       
   2/3 cup coconut milk, frozen into ice cubes
   1/2 a large frozen ripe banana (or 1 small frozen banana) 
   1 cup plain or Greek yogurt (preferably full-fat)
   2 T creamy peanut butter
   2 T cocoa powder (not the baking kind, but the kind you make hot chocolate with)
   1 T chocolate nibs or chocolate chips (optional) 
   1/4 - 1/2 cup coconut milk or regular milk
   
   Place all ingredients in the blender except for the coconut or regular milk. Start the blender and slowly add as much of the milk as you need. I try to add as little as possible so that my smoothie is really thick (I like it to be just thinner than a Wendy's Frosty). Blend until smooth. 
   
   Drink up!

7. 
   Pineapple Crush Smoothie               

8. 
   
9. 
   
10.                                  
11. The riper the pineapple and banana, the sweeter your outcome. This smoothie has it all -- fresh, tropical, and an excellent source of vitamin C.

    What you'll need

    • 1/2 cup orange juice
    • 1/2 cup pineapple juice
    • 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
    • 1/2 frozen very ripe medium banana

    How to make it

    1. 
       
    2. Blend all ingredients together. Serves 2.
12. 
    

Read More

Home made ice creams

Chocolate Chip ice cream

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 Tbsp milk

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup miniature chocolate chips

1 cup fat-free vanilla yogurt (I used Oikos vanilla Greek yogurt)

Preparation

1. In a freezer-safe bowl with a tight-fitting lid, combine the butter and sugars with a rubber spatula and stir until creamy. Stir in the vanilla and the milk. Lastly, gently stir in the flour and salt to combine. Dough will be soft. Stir in the chocolate chips.
2. Fold the vanilla yogurt into the cookie dough until fully incorporated. Cover with the lid and freeze overnight.
3. Store the fro-yo, tightly covered, in the freezer. This makes about 2-3 cups of fro-yo.

The texture of this fro-yo is creamy and sturdy.. almost like ice cream rather than the soft-serve kind typically found at yogurt shops. It holds well in a cone and tastes delicious no matter how you serve it–I honestly prefer mine straight from the tub!

And for those of you who dislike cookie dough ice cream for the lack of cookie dough (uh, me), then this is for you. There’s no vanilla in the way–all cookie dough here! Plus, it’s lightened-up so you can justify eating a tub and it’s practically considered health-food.

I hope you enjoy!! Please make this, it’s seriously amazing.

 Vanilla Ice Cream 

     

Ingredients:

• 2 extra large eggs
• 4 extra large egg yolks
• 1/2 cup sugar+2 tbsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 vanilla bean
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Start by setting up a double boiler (a heatproof bowl set over a pot with an inch of simmering water), and prepare an ice bath that the bowl can be set into later. Place the eggs, egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt into the bowl. Split the vanilla bean down the middle and scrape out the seeds, and add those and the scraped vanilla bean to the bowl as well. Cook for about 10 minutes, whisking frequently so the egg doesn't scramble**, until the mixture reaches 160 degrees F on an instant read thermometer. Immediately remove the custard and place it into the ice bath to cool, and remove the vanilla bean.
2. **If you do happen to scramble some of the eggs, don't worry. Just strain the custard through a fine mesh sieve after it's reached 160 and beat air back into it with a hand mixer.
3. In a medium bowl using a mixer, whip the heavy cream until a little frothy. Add in the 2 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract, and whip to soft peaks.
4. Remove the egg custard from the ice bath, and add 1/3 of the whipped cream to it to lighten. Fold in the rest of the cream and pour into a container. Place plastic wrap directly on the surface of the custard so a skin doesn't form. Freeze immediately for 4-6 hours, depending on your freezer. Enjoy your homemade ice cream!!!!

Read More