Top 10 Liver-Cleansing Superfoods.

The liver, weighing in at about 3 pounds in healthy adults, is one of the body’s vital organs. It is responsible for many important functions related to digestion, metabolism, immunity and the storage of nutrients that the body needs to survive.
Moreover, the liver is a gland that secretes chemicals required by other parts of the body. In fact, the liver is the only part of your body that is both an organ and a gland.
A healthy liver regulates the composition of blood, removes harmful toxins from the blood as well as processes and converts nutrients absorbed by the intestines during digestion into forms that the body can use. It also stores some vitamins, iron and simple sugar glucose.


It is also responsible for breaking down insulin, hemoglobin and other hormones. In addition, it destroys old red blood cells and produces chemicals needed for blood to clot properly.
Because the liver performs so many vital functions, it is important to keep it healthy. An unhealthy diet and poor lifestyle can overwork and overload the liver, leaving it unable to process toxins and fat efficiently.
This in turn can raise the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, chronic fatigue, headaches, digestive problems, allergies and many other health problems.
Many foods can help cleanse, rejuvenate and detoxify your liver. This will help keep your liver healthy and functioning the way you need it to.

Here are the top 10 liver-cleansing superfoods.

1. Garlic

Garlic is great for cleansing your liver. It helps activate enzymes in the liver that help clear out toxins. It also contains two natural compounds called allicin and selenium, which aid in the liver-cleansing process and protect the liver from toxic damage.
Moreover, garlic reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which can overload the liver and hamper its functioning.
To promote liver health, use fresh raw garlic instead of processed, minced garlic or powder.

• Eat 2 to 3 raw garlic cloves daily and include garlic in your cooking whenever possible.
• You can also take garlic supplements, but only after consulting your doctor.

2. Grapefruit

Being a good source of vitamin C, pectin and antioxidants, grapefruit also aids the natural cleansing process of the liver.
It also contains glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and detoxifies the liver. Glutathione also helps in the detoxification of heavy metals. Moreover, the flavonoid naringenin in grapefruit helps break down fat.
Drink a small glass of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice or enjoy the whole fruit with your breakfast daily.


Note: If you are on medications, consult your doctor before taking this fruit as it may interact with certain drugs.

3. Beetroots

Beetroots are another powerful food for cleansing and supporting liver function. High in plant flavonoids and beta-carotene, they help stimulate and improve overall liver function. Moreover, beetroots are natural blood purifiers.

• Simply add fresh beetroots or juice to your daily diet.
• Make a powerful liver-cleansing salad with 1 cup of chopped or grated beetroots, 2 tablespoons of cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil and the juice of ½ lemon. Mix all the ingredients together and eat 2 teaspoons of it every 2 hours during the day for a week.

4. Lemons

Lemons help detoxify the liver mainly due to the antioxidant D-Limonene present in it, which helps activate enzymes in the liver that aid detoxification.
Moreover, the high amount of vitamin C in lemons helps your liver produce more enzymes to aid digestion. Lemons also boost mineral absorption by the liver.
Make lemon water at home by adding the juice of 1 lemon to a jar of water. You can even add chopped lemons to it. Drink this water at regular intervals. If desired, add a little honey.

5. Green Tea

By drinking green tea daily, you can help your body flush out toxins and fat deposits, while increasing hydration levels.
A 2002 study published in the International Journal of Obesity found that the catechins in tea help stimulate lipid catabolism in the liver. This in turn prevents fat accumulation in the liver. This healthy beverage also protects the liver from the damaging effects of toxic substances like alcohol.
Green tea is also beneficial in treating or preventing liver disease. According to a 2009 study published in Cancer Causes and Control, people who drink green tea have a lower risk of developing liver cancer.
Drink 2 to 3 cups of green tea daily. If desired, sweeten your tea with honey.
Note: Avoid drinking green tea in excess as it can have an adverse impact on your liver and other body parts.

6. Avocados

Avocados contain potent chemicals that may reduce liver damage, according to a 2000 study by the American Chemical Society. This fruit is rich in glutathione, a compound required by the liver to cleanse harmful toxins and to function properly.
The high amount of monounsaturated fat in avocados helps reduce low-density lipoproteins or “bad” cholesterol and increase high-density lipoproteins or “good” cholesterol. The liver easily processes good cholesterol.
Moreover, avocados contain many minerals, vitamins and plant nutrients that support overall liver health and help break down fats.
Eat 1 to 2 avocados per week for a couple of months to help reverse liver damage.

 http://www.top10homeremedies.com/superfoods/top-10-liver-cleansing-superfoods.html

The 15 Best Fat-Burning Foods.

 

These are foods that start winnowing your waistline the moment they leave your fork and enter your mouth. They build muscle, promote fat burning, or simply use energy (i.e., burn calories) just to digest them! Stock up today.

By Selene Yeager

 
Almonds and other nuts (with skins intact)
Build muscle, reduce cravings

Dairy products (fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese)
Build strong bones, fire up weight loss

Eggs
Build muscle, burn fat

Turkey and other lean meats
Build muscle, strengthen immune system

Berries
Improve satiety, prevent cravings

Enova oil (soy and canola oil)
Promotes fullness, not easily stored as fat

Peanut butter
Boosts testosterone (a good thing even in women), builds muscle, burns fat

Fatty fish (such as salmon, tuna, mackerel)
Trigger fullness, fire up fat burning

Grapefruit
Lowers insulin, regulates blood sugar and metabolism; be sure to eat the fleshy white membranes

Green tea
Fires up fat burning

Chili peppers
Spikes metabolism

Spinach and green vegetables
Fight free radicals and improve recovery for better muscle building

Whole grains (quinoa, brown rice, whole grain cereal)
Small doses prevent body from storing fat

Beans and legumes
Build muscle, help burn fat, regulate digestion

Whey
Builds muscle, burns fat

 http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/best-fat-burning-foods

How many calories are in fruit?

Calories in fresh, canned and dried fruit:

Below are the approximate number of calories in a variety of fruit (fresh fruit, canned fruit, and dried fruit).

Fresh Fruit

Apple

• Small – 80 calories
• Medium – 95 calories
• Large – 120 calories

Banana

• Small – 90 calories
• Medium – 105 calories
• Large – 120 calories

Blackberries

1 cup = 60 calories

Blueberries

1 cup = 85 calories

An easy way to add fruit to your day is to add blueberries, strawberries, or any other berries to your cereal in the morning.

Cereal and fruit is the most common breakfast among more than 2300 adults (NWCR members) who have lost an average of 70lbs and kept it off. Will eating breakfast help me lose weight?

Cantaloupe

1 cup (cubes) = 55 calories

Cherries

1 cup = 95 calories

Clementine

35 calories

Grapefruit

• Small – 30 calories
• Medium – 40 calories
• Large – 50 calories

Grapes

1 cup = 60 calories

Honeydew melon

1 cup (diced) = 60 calories

Kiwi

40 calories

Mango

1 cup (pieces) = 100 calories

Orange

• Small – 45 calories
• Medium – 65 calories
• Large – 85 calories

Peach

• Small – 50 calories
• Medium – 60 calories
• Large – 70 calories

Pear

• Small – 85 calories
• Medium – 105 calories
• Large – 130 calories

Pineapple

1 cup raw chunks = 85 calories

Plum

30 calories

Raspberries

1 cup = 65 calories

Strawberries

1 cup = 50 calories

Tangerine

• Small – 40 calories
• Medium – 50
• Large – 65 calories

Watermelon

1 cup (diced) = 45 calories

Fruit closest to it’s natural form (for example, fresh fruit and unsweetened frozen fruit) will be naturally higher in fiber and lower in added sugar than canned and dried fruit.

Canned Fruit

Fruit cocktail

• 1 cup (canned in juice) = 110 calories
• 1 cup (in light syrup) = 140 calories
• 1 cup (in heavy syrup) = 180 calories

Peaches

• 1 cup (in juice) = 110 calories
• 1 cup (canned in light syrup) = 135
• 1 cup (in heavy syrup) = 195 calories

Pineapple

• 1 cup chunks (in juice) = 150 calories
• 1 cup crushed pineapple = 150 calories

When purchasing canned fruit, choose fruit that is canned in lite/light syrup, 100% fruit juice, or its own juice.

Fruit canned in heavy syrup can have up to twice as many calories and twice as much sugar as fruit canned in lite syrup or 100% fruit juice.

Dried Fruit

Raisins

1/2 cup = 215 calories

Dried Cranberries

1/3 cup (sweetened) = 140 calories

Dried Apricots

1/4 cup = 100 calories

Dried Apples

1/2 cup = 105 calories

Dried Figs

1/2 cup = 185 calories

Dried cherries

1/2 cup = 225 calories

Adding dried fruit and nuts to plain oatmeal is a great way to add variety and flavor:

• Add raisins, walnuts, and cinnamon to your oatmeal.
• Add dried cranberries and sliced almonds to your oatmeal.
• 13 quick, healthy breakfast ideas

 http://www.fitnessforweightloss.com/how-many-calories-are-in-fruit/

19 Super Foods That Naturally Cleanse Your Liver.

We live in a world where disease is constantly on the rise. This should come as no surprise as the environment we choose to surround ourselves with is extremely toxic i.e. our food, air, water etc. One great example is bleach, it’s one the most commonly used and relied upon cleaners in the world. But it can be very damaging to the respiratory tract just by inhaling the gases it emits from being used.

Another example are pesticides, used en mass on our food, which have been linked to a number of health ailments. Scientists have been concerned about our toxic environment for a long time. Here is research showing how toxins commonly found in the environment can lead to a number of disorders, including autism.

The list goes on and the point remains, you do have a choice. Instead of surrounding yourself in a toxic environment, you can surround yourself in a completely natural, clean and chemical free environment. The importance of detoxification is huge today, and there are a number of ways to clean out your body and its organs from the drastic accumulation of toxic chemicals they retain over a long period of time.

The Liver Is Very Important

This is about detoxing the body’s largest gland, the liver. Without a liver, a person cannot survive. It has a number of functions including, but not limited to:

• Detoxifying the blood to rid it of harmful substances (like toxins, drugs, alcohol and more)
• Stores vitamins and iron
• Converts stored sugar to usable sugar when the body’s sugar levels fall below normal
• Produces bile, a substance needed to digest fats
• Breaks down hemoglobin as well as insulin and other hormones
• Destroys old red blood cells

The liver performs so many vital functions, and as a result it is very prone to disease.

Detox Your Liver With These 19 Super Foods

1. Beets and Carrots: Carrots are rich in Glutathione, a protein that helps detoxify the liver. Both are extremely high in plant-flavonoids and beta-carotene. Eating beats and carrots can help stimulate and improve overall liver function. (Related CE Article: The Mother of All Antioxidants)

2. Tomatoes: They have abundant amounts of Glutathione (see article above) which again, are a great detoxifier for the liver. As a side effect Lycopene in tomatoes will protect against breast, skin and lung cancer.

3.  Grapefruit: Another source of the liver cleansing glutathione. It’s also high in vitamin C and antioxidants, this boosts the production of the liver detoxification enzymes and increases the natural cleansing process of the liver.

4.  Spinach: Raw Spinach is a major source of glutathione that triggers toxin cleansing enzymes of the liver.

5.  Citrus Fruits: Lemons and Lime contain very high amounts of vitamin C, which helps stimulate the liver and aids the synthesizing of toxic materials into substances that can be absorbed by water.

6.  Cabbage:  The isothiocyanates (ITCs) made from cabbage’s glucosinolates provides liver detoxifying enzymes that help flush out toxins. 

7. Turmeric: Turmeric is the liver’s favorite spice and helps boost liver detox. It does this by assisting enzymes that actively flush out dietary carcinogens.

8.  Walnuts: Walnuts are a good source of glutathione, omega-3 fatty acids and amino acid arginine, which support the normal liver cleansing actions, especially in detoxifying ammonia.

9.   Avocados: The nutrient-dense superfood, avocado helps the body produce glutathione

10. Apples: They are high in pectin and other chemicals essential to cleanse and release toxins from the digestive tract. Apples make it easier for the liver to handle the toxic load during the cleansing process.

11. Brussels sprouts: Brussels sprouts are high in sulfur and antioxidant glucosinolate, which forces the liver to release enzymes that block damage from environmental or dietary toxins.

12. Garlic: Garlic is loaded with sulfur that activates liver enzymes that help your body flush out toxins. Garlic also holds high amounts of allicin and selenium, two natural compounds that aid in liver cleansing.

13. Dandelion: Dandelion root tea assists the liver in breaking down fats, producing amino acids and generally ridding it of toxins.

14. Leafy Green Vegetables: Green Veggies are extremely high in plant chlorophyll’s that absorb environmental toxins, increase bile production, neutralize heavy metals, chemicals and pesticides, which lowers the burden on the liver.

15. Cruciferous Vegetables: Eating broccoli and cauliflower will increase production of enzymes glucosinolate in your system that help flush out carcinogens and other toxins.

16. Asparagus: Asparagus is a great diuretic helping in the cleansing process and sharing the detox load of the liver and kidneys.

17. Green Tea: Green tea is full of plant antioxidants known as catechins, a compound known to assist liver function.

18. Olive Oil: Cold-pressed organic oils such as olive, hemp and flax-seed are great support for the liver, providing the body with a liquid base that can suck up harmful toxins in the body.

19. Alternative Grains: Gluten rich grains such as wheat, flour, or other whole grains increase the load on the liver’s detox function and enzyme production. Switch to alternative grains like quinoa, millet and buckwheat.

http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/07/06/19-super-foods-that-naturally-cleanse-your-liver/

Natural Juice To Eliminate Cellulite.

 

 Summer has already arrived, and surely many of you have already begun preparations for the summer, in its attempt to bring the body to perfection. But the biggest problem to achieve that goal, the more women cellulite is that the main culprits are the result of oily foods and physical inactivity during the winter.

In addition we will present you a grapefruit juice, which will help you bid farewell to the cellulite. This juice is very effective thanks to grapefruit to burn excess fat, improve better blood circulation and speed up metabolism and help to expel toxins.

You need only four ingredients:

    1 large grapefruit
    ¼ lemon
    1 piece of ginger
    2 oranges

Preparation:

First wash the vegetables well under running water, then wash and mix it  into blender. Strain and transfer the resulting juice in a glass bottle.

Drink 1 cup in the morning on an empty stomach or between meals.