How to lose belly fat and maintain a healthy weight with honey
Believe it or not, the holiday season is almost upon us - and with it,
the usual overindulgence and weight gain. But we can take action to
offset the damage. Armed with a simple daily detox drink and
metabolism-boosting remedies, we can keep our waistlines in check and
ensure all the festivities won't dampen health.
Effortless weight management
Honey lemon detoxMany have heard of the famous detox with lemon juice and honey that is making the rounds over the Internet. There's a good reason the recipe is such a phenomenal success: it's easy and it works. Even using a scaled-down version of the cleanse is beneficial for enhancing metabolism. Each morning upon waking, drink eight ounces of warm water with two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey. With this daily ritual, the liver is given a supportive, cleansing boost. And when the liver is functioning properly, we can sustain a healthy weight more easily.
Cinnamon with honey
As simple as it may sound, drinking a mug of warm cinnamon tea with honey is one of the best ways to balance blood sugar, spur metabolism and shed excess weight. Since abdominal fat is sensitive to the compounds in cinnamon, it's an ideal choice if you need to slim down in this region. To make the tea, dissolve half a teaspoon of organic, ground cinnamon in a cup of boiling water. Cover and let steep for 15 minutes. Next, stir in one teaspoon of honey and enjoy immediately. For optimal results, practice this habit first thing in the morning and away from food.
Hibernation Diet
Who would have guessed that consuming honey before bedtime could melt away body fat while you sleep? According to British pharmacist Mike McInnes and his son Stuart, a nutritionist, the Hibernation Diet does just that. The duo believe that, when the liver is properly fueled with glycogen in the evening, recovery hormones can do their job during sleep - thereby speeding up metabolism and reducing fat-encouraging stress hormones. Woman's Day magazine notes that, if you suffer from any of the following symptoms, your liver may not be properly primed with glycogen:
- Acid reflux
- Disrupted sleep
- Waking to urinate
- Dry throat in the morning
- Night cramps and/or sweats
- Early morning nausea and weakness
- Exhausted upon waking
The Hibernation Diet recommends ingesting a spoonful or two of pure honey before bedtime to rev up fat utilization, soothe stress response and support nighttime muscle and tissue regeneration.
Gingered honey
Ginger tea in itself is a tremendous metabolism booster, but when combined with honey, it offers a potent elixir for efficient digestion. Drinking a glass of the tea with a teaspoon of honey twenty minutes before a meal will encourage stable blood sugar, optimum digestion and, in turn, favorable calorie utilization and fat burning. To make the tea, peel and grate a one inch chunk of fresh, organic ginger and simmer (covered) in two cups of water. Transfer to a mug and let cool until just warm. Dissolve one teaspoon of honey into the brew and drink promptly. Make sure to consume the grated ginger too for utmost benefit.
Although honey is an astoundingly versatile and beneficial food, it's important to use discrimination when purchasing. Use only the highest quality honey - namely, one that is organic and raw with honeycomb, royal jelly, bee pollen and propolis included. Manuka honey is another excellent option, as it boasts remarkable healing properties.
