Blueberries Burn Belly Fat

Not only are blueberries full of antioxidants, fiber, and nutrients but did you know that blueberries also burn fat?

A recent study at the University of Michigan found that blueberries change how the body stores and uses glucose. Adding blueberries to our diets can prevent conditions such as diabetes and obesity.

And best of all, they taste great. So add some blueberries to your cereal every morning or make a blueberry smoothie. Your belly will thank you!


Here's a delicious Blueberry Smoothie Recipe:

1 cup fresh (not frozen) organic blueberries

1 Cup Vanilla Soy Yogurt (No Dairy!)

1.5 tablespoons of honey

3/4 cup of ice cubes (made from filtered water)

Blend and Enjoy! Makes about 2 servings.

5 Ways to Speed Up Your Metabolism

If you subscribe to our e-mails you get these Skinny Tips in your inbox weekly. If you like those tips you can check out our new youtube page and subscribe to our videos where I will be uploading new videos full of tips and tricks that I teach my clients every day!

Video Contest

I am excited to announce that Natural, Sexy, Skinny is offering two prizes for the BEST VIDEO CONTEST!

Here's how it works:

Get out your video camera and tape yourself telling the world why they should visit www.naturalsexyskinny.com. You could talk about eating organic, living a healthy lifestyle, anything you feel passionately about from our blogs.

Upload your video to video sharing sites such as youtube and vimeo. Then e-mail us (at thenaturalchick@gmail.com) the link to see your video.

There will be two prizes. $250 each! The first prize goes the the BEST video. The second prize goes to the video that gets the most views. So put your video on youtube, then send the link to all your friends, co-workers and family members! Post it to your facebook, myspace, etc. Whoever gets the most youtube views by May 28th 2009 WINS $250!

For ideas check out all the blogs:
The Skinny on Yoga
The Skinny on Tea
The Skinny on Acai

Also you can go to our website and click on "free Download" to get exerts from the Natural, Sexy, Skinny book!

Be Creative!

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought.” – Buddha

“I am beautiful exactly as I am.”

“I am thin and fit.”

“I am healthy and in shape.”

Every thought you have about your weight and health has made you the way you are today. Your career, your relationships, your health…are all a direct result of your past thinking. If you look in the mirror and think “I’m fat,” then you are sending this message directly to your subconscious and thus you will be fat. If you are constantly thinking, “I need to lose weight,” then you will constantly be in the state of needing to lose more weight.
 
During your weight loss journey give yourself positive mantras and repeat them every day. Even if it seems untrue at the time, keep repeating your mantras. Be patient. Work on your mind. Your body will follow.

When life gives you lemons...

Lemon juice is a natural detoxifier and aids in cleansing and digestion.

When the liver is filled with toxins, it is unable to metabolize fat. By flushing the liver and gallbladder with lemon juice your body eliminates these harmful toxins.

The liver is especially important for weight-loss and overall health and needs to be flushed with water and lemon juice regularly for optimal health.

So a great way to lose weight? Add lemon juice to your water bottle every time you drink. Its refreshing and great for your body!

Holistic Weight-Loss

Everything you put in your body affects your mood, weight, health and state of mind. Want to feel slow, sluggish, and overweight? Then fill your diet with sugar, alcohol and processed food Want to feel vibrant, thin, motivated and energetic? Then make sure your diet consists of natural organic whole foods.

Here are some examples of food that will make you look and feel better:

Fruits and Vegetables, Beans and Lentils, Nuts and Seeds, Oats, Yogurt

Things to avoid:

Sugar, Coffee, Alcohol, Fast food, Genetically modified food, Pharmaceutical drugs

8 Reasons to Add Fiber to Your Diet

We should be eating 20 to 35 grams of fiber per day but most of us eat much less than that. High fiber foods are essential to health of our bodies because they help us to expand the interior walls of the colon to ease and speed up the passage of waste.

Fiber has innumerable health benefits. Fiber is good for your heart, your colon, aids in weight-loss and is an essential part of a good health and weight-loss program. Here are 8 reasons to add fiber to your diet.

1. Fiber aids in weight-loss. Fiber helps to keep our bowel movements regular by moving everything along in our digestive track. When you eliminate more than you consume the result is that you lose weight.

2. Fiber is good for your heart. A Harvard School of Public Health study found that between the ages of 40 to 75 who ate the most whole grains cut their risk of heart disease by 20 percent over a period of 14 years.

3. Soluble fiber lowers cholesterol. Reduce your risk of heart disease by eating these soluble fiber-rich foods: beans, peas, oats, and barley.

4. Fiber protects against colon cancer. And by replacing red meat with pasta, rice and grains you reduce your risk of other cancers.

5. Fiber helps prevent diabetes. The fiber in fruit and vegetables slows sugar absorption and does not raise your blood sugar as much as other carbohydrate rich foods.

6. Eating fiber reduces the total amount of calories we consume in a day. Our bodies do not use energy, or calories, from fiber and makes us feel fuller faster. High-fiber foods take longer to eat and the longer you chew, the less you eat.

7. Fiber prevents constipation. Fiber is a natural laxative and it reduces your fecal matter transit time in half which prevents constipation and aids in weight-loss.

8. Fiber has no calories! That's right: Zero calories. Our bodies lack the enzyme necessary to absorb calories from fiber. So eat as much fiber as you can for optimal health and speedy weight-loss!

Excellent fiber rich foods include: berries, beans, grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables.

Aim to get 20 to 35 grams of fiber per day and be sure to drink 6-8 glasses of water per day for best results.

And although it is best to get your fiber from food and plant sources you can also take fiber supplements while on a weight-loss program to jump-start your success!

Nine Nutrition Essentials for 2009

Strategy 1: Eat smart, be fit, and live longer

Dan Buettner, one of our panel of experts for the 2009 Nutrition Essentials series and author of "The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest," has studied communities he calls Blue Zones (including residents of Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; and Costa Rica) where people live to the age of 100 at a much higher rate than the general population. "Each Blue Zone revealed its own recipes for longevity, but many of the fundamental ingredients were the same," he writes.

What you can do: One of the fundamental lessons from the Blue Zones research: Eat a predominately plant-based diet that offers a balance of healthful fats; a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants; and quality sources of protein that are low in saturated fat, which is linked to elevated rates of cardiovascular disease. Another key similarity between Blue Zone groups: Each makes meals part of the fabric of life, which includes family togetherness, collective effort, and conviviality. And finally, each group has daily exercise in common. Activity balances the calories consumed, helping to keep weight in check.

To read the rest of the article on CNN Click Here.

What Does An Obama Presidency Mean to the World of Natural Health?

It means we finally have a chance to make a difference! But we can’t just sit back and relax. We need to take action now to educate the democrats on natural health issues.

Obama’s Health Care Plan does address the notion of prevention which is extremely important in our work. However, what this can mean is more tests, more drugs, more expenses. OR we can educate Obama supporters about natural methods and begin to cure 90% of diseases naturally.

To read more visit http://natural-health.topsitenow.com!

FREE Ways to Lose Weight

When your goal is to lose weight do you often find yourself spending extra money on weight loss products, gym memberships or exercise equipment? I know I do.

But during these uncertain economic times we all want to save our money. So instead of wasting your hard earned dollars by hiring a trainer, joining a new gym, or buying the latest weight loss pill, get fit for FREE using these tips to lose weight and save your cash!

Get Walking. Go outside. Call a friend you need to catch up with and take a long walk. Walk your dog. Or your neighbors dog.

Swim. If you live near the beach, go take a dip in the ocean. No beach? Try a local pool, or lake.

Yoga in the park. In my city we have a beautiful park where free yoga is offered every day during the summer. Check out your local parks and see if this is offered. If it’s not, why not start your own Free Yoga in the park?

Watch TV. Fit TV, that is. Check your local listings for a channel that offers free workouts all the time. Or pop in a workout DVD. Get off the couch and start moving (in the comfort of your own home!)

Juice: Now is the perfect time to begin that juice fast. Go to your local farmer’s market where you will be able to find inexpensive organic produce. Get a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables and get on your inexpensive way to weight loss!

For more tips go to www.naturalsexyskinny.com and claim your free weight loss e-course where you will receive 7 lessons in 7 days free!

Why The Acai Berry is A Must Have For Super Speedy Weight-Loss

The Acai Berry Contains some key ingredients to help you lose weight:

Amino Acids: Often referred to as the "building blocks" these proteins help your body build muscle and the more muscle you have the more calories you burn even while just sitting at your computer!

Fiber: Fiber helps our bodies eliminate waste and speed up our digestive process. Excess food is eliminated instead of turned into fat. Fiber also keeps your energy levels high, and slows your rate of carbohydrate digestion, which helps you maintain your blood sugar levels.

The Omegas: Omega 3 and Omega 6 are fats that make you fit! These fatty acids increase your metabolism and boost your energy so you can burn more calories throughout the day.

Antioxidants: We all know that antioxidants are essential to our health and well-being but did you know that Acai berries have ten times the antioxidants of grapes and twice the antioxidants of blueberries!

To learn more about the acai berry and it's incredible health benefits visit The Skinny On Acai Blog at http://theskinnyonacai.blogspot.com!

Get Two Free Bottles of Acai!

The Best Fruits and Vegetables For Weight-Loss

Vegetables are also low in sodium so they help reduce water weight. Sodium is present in most processed foods causing the body to retain water and hold onto extra weight. Eating more vegetables and less sodium helps control your weight effectively.

The best fruits and vegetables (for weight loss) to integrate into your diet are:

Grapefruit: Help to detoxify your liver and enzymes in grapefruit help you burn more fat.

Apples: Work as an appetite suppressant and help maintain consistent blood sugar levels.

Carrots: Contain large amounts of beta-carotene, soluble fiber and vitamin A. Try making carrot ginger soup. It is delicious, filling and great for your body.

Lemon: Detoxifies the liver and aids in digestion, help flush out toxins.

The Skinny on Green Tea

Yes, Green Tea helps speed the weight loss process.

Green tea is good for glucose: it slows your rise in blood sugar after you eat. It also contains caffeine which increases metabolism and helps you burn more calories. Green tea also has cancer fighting antioxidants so it really is a great thing to add to your diet.

Don’t be fooled. There are many products out there that advertise weight loss using green tea. Don’t get the pills or the patch. Those companies just want your money. To get the real weight-loss benefits of green tea, you should get it from your local health foods store and brew it your self.

The way I make it is I heat up the water (filtered water not tap) on the stove (don’t use the microwave) then I pour the hot water into a cup then put the teabag in. Dont heat the water with the teabag in it because that makes it “boil out” some of the natural healing properties of the tea. Then I add soy milk and a drop of organic honey for a hot and healthy treat. I try to make two cups a day. Try it!

For more on green tea you can check out my new green tea blog at http://theskinnyontea.blogspot.com

Or to get your free Natural, Sexy, Skinny e-course check out www.naturalsexyskinny.com!

Secret Reason We Are Fat

It is reported that 85% of Americans have parasites living inside of them, but some experts believe it is probably much closer to 95%. A parasite is a living organism that is feeding off the food, vitamins and minerals inside your body, causing you a whole host of problems including sugar cravings, fatigue, weight gain, gas, bloating, and so much more.

Parasites enter our body through contaminated food, especially meat, and hide themselves so well that you probably have no idea that you are infected right now. Parasites deprive your body of nutrients, cause food cravings and therefore keep you fat and unhappy.

According to Dr. Suzanne Gudakunst: “The parasites live a parallel life inside our bodies, feeding off our own energy, our own cells or the food we eat, and even feeding off the health supplements we use.”

If you are sick and overweight you probably have parasites living inside you. But don’t worry. In chapter 3 of my e-book, Natural Sexy Skinny I will teach you how to get rid of those little devils once and for all!

An Apple A Day...

Bored? Hungry? Tired? Eat an apple!

Yes an apple a day truly does keep the doctor away. Apples promote weight loss, strengthen your immune system, aid in preventing cancer, lower cholesterol, prevent tooth decay, improve liver and lung function and are low in calories and taste great. So eat an apple everyday.

Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. You can eat fruits and vegetables all day long and not get fat. And I’ve never heard of anyone ever dying from overdosing on fruits so please eat them freely and frequently.

To learn more about healthy fruits and vegetables for weight loss, go to www.naturalsexyskinny.com!

Yoga For Weight-Loss: Train Your Body, Train Your Mind

The reason that yoga helps you to lose weight is because it is dedicated to helping your body eliminate toxins.

Even though you might not feel you’re working hard enough, beauty truly does begin from within; and what yoga does to your body on the inside helps you look and feel better on the outside.

Not only do you eliminate toxins through the various poses, but since yoga lowers levels of stress hormones and increases insulin sensitivity, your body can then go into fat-burning mode and burn food as fuel rather than store it as fat.

Your mind is the powerful determinant that controls whether or not you give into that cheeseburger and milkshake craving. The more you practice yoga, the more you learn to sit still, meditate and breathe and the more you will train your body and your mind. Imagine being able to quiet that little devil up there telling you to be bad and eat the processed-full-of-dairy-and-sugar-chocolate-chip-cookie-pie. Imagine that you don’t even hear him anymore.

Do you eat when you’re nervous, anxious or upset? Are you an emotional eater? This does not have to be your fate. This is not who you are. Imagine eliminating all of your food cravings. Imagining being able to have one bite of ice cream without eating the whole carton. Imagine yourself as skinny, youthful and beautiful as ever without a care in the world. All of this is possible by training the mind with yoga!

To learn more about the benefits of yoga check out my yoga blog at http://theskinnyonyoga.blogspot.com!

Coffee Does Not Help You Lose Weight!

I don’t care if it gives you energy or if you think coffee suppresses your appetite. I don’t care if it’s a skinny, non-fat and sugar-free. It’s still making you fat. Your body does not know how to digest the acid in coffee so guess where it is stored? Your midsection. That’s right your body stores it as belly fat.

The other reasons coffee is bad for you? Coffee increases your sugar cravings so you tend to eat more sweets. Caffeine increases stress, which increases cortisol which increases belly fat. Coffee makes you fat! Period. Give it up.

Luckily they make lots of healthy alternatives to coffee that taste great. Check your local organic grocery store and start giving up the habit ASAP.

Eat your Veggies!

You should eat more fruits and vegetables than anything else. However make sure the fruits and vegetables you are eating are 100% organic. Fruits and Vegetables grown conventionally are sprayed with herbicides and pesticides. When you eat the fruits and vegetables these toxins and preservatives are then going directly into your body. And what do we know about toxins? They keep us fat. By eliminating toxins, we lose weight and get healthier.

Vegetables are low in fat, low in calories, provide us with fiber and give us extra energy. All these features help control weight effectively. Being low in calories enables us to eat lots of vegetables without consuming excess energy; the high fiber content also helps fill the stomach faster limiting the total amount of food consumed.

The presence of many vitamins and other chemicals in vegetables supply the body with nutrients necessary to boost energy production within the muscle cells. This gives us a natural feeling of vitality and the energy to become more active helping to burn more calories every day.