Make the Most of Your Metabolism

In the effort to shed unwanted pounds people diet, exercise and purchase any miracle product that promises fast results. But the main thing many miss is the importance of catering to their metabolism. This part of the human body is the control center for anything weight-related. Just as keeping the body active is crucial for physical fitness, so is keeping the metabolism in shape. You don’t have to be a nutritionist to get a handle on this part of your lifestyle, either. All it involves are small changes that will produce big results.

In recent years, the transition from eating three, square meals a day to consuming five to six smaller meals has gained a strong following. Making this change alone gives the metabolism a huge boost because this forces it to constantly burn calories around the clock. Additionally, eating more often curbs hunger pangs and prevents overeating in one sitting. However, there are even more tips and tricks to be made that can assist the metabolism even more.

By now you know the importance of drinking plenty of water, such as keeping the body hydrated and revitalizing the complexion. But did you know that water also has the ability to help with a person’s metabolism? The more water you drink on a daily basis, the better your metabolism will perform. Studies show that individuals who don’t drink enough water actually burn fewer calories. This is the last thing you want, so why not do yourself a favor and make that bottle of water your best friend? This is perhaps one of the easiest ways to burn calories that doesn’t require a lot of effort or time commitments.

In addition to water, fiber should be your other best friend. You’ve probably seen all of the television commercials advertising some fiber product or another. Although the commercials are obviously trying to sell something, there is method to the madness. The metabolism and fiber go hand-in-hand in terms of weight loss. Individuals that consume a healthy amount of fiber on a regular basis tend to experience the least amount of weight gain over the years. In fact, fiber alone has the power to propel the metabolism to burn fat by as much as 30%. Squeeze in about 25 grams of fiber per day and weight loss will be the last thing to worry about.

Need another way to keep the metabolism revved up? Start adding more spicy foods into your meals, especially green and red chilies. Sprinkle some red pepper flakes onto your favorite foods and while your mouth may feel like it’s on fire, your metabolism will thank you by going into overtime.

Weight loss should definitely include some form of exercise but physical fitness doesn’t always have to mean sweating the pounds off at the gym. Studies have found that people with office jobs that require them to sit for extended periods of time throughout the day, tend to experience significant weight gain. Why? Because such inactivity negatively affects a special enzyme in the body that is responsible for controlling cholesterol and fat as it relates to the metabolism. Translation: get up and move around more often while at work. Doing so will put this important enzyme into action to boost the amount of fat being burned. Schedule a brisk walk every so often, take the stairs or the long way to the bathroom - whatever it takes so that you’re not just sitting on your rump slowing down your metabolism during the day.

Salad Dressings That Are Healthy & Homemade

As healthy as salads are, oftentimes the ingredients we add to them end up becoming anything but nutritious. If you’ve ever read a health-related article about the various types of salads we enjoy, you’ve more than likely come across information related to how fattening some of our favorite salad dressings are. To remedy this problem you don’t have to stick to buying low-fat or non-fat versions. Instead, create your own nutritious and delicious salad dressing. It’s a lot easier than you think.

Any homemade meal is a good meal for a number of reasons, including the fact that using fresh ingredients means consuming the food items in their most natural state, which provides the body with the richest levels of vitamins and minerals needed for proper nutrition. Any perk to putting together your own homemade meals is the fact that you can tailor the flavor to suit your taste buds - not to mention that the directions for preparation literally only take a few minutes, making it convenient, even for those with hectic schedules. When it comes to salad dressing, there are more recipes than one can count. This makes it easy to find the perfect salad dressing recipe for you.

Love ranch but hate how many calories you’re taking in with each forkful of salad? Why not try a buttermilk salad dressing that still gives you the flavor of ranch but without making you feel guilty? Gather the following ingredients together to get started: fresh or premixed bag of salad greens and other veggies of your choice, 2 cups cottage cheese (2%), 3/4 cup of buttermilk and 1 pack of ranch salad dressing mix. To prepare this homemade salad dressing recipe, combine all of the ingredients (except for the salad greens and veggies) in a blender and process until smooth. Pour into a container with a lid or small bowl and refrigerate at least one hour before serving.

Need a salad dressing recipe that is low on sodium? Then you’ll want to bring together the following ingredients: 3 teaspoons sugar, 1 teaspoon garlic salt, 1 tablespoon canola oil, 1 1/2 cups tomato juice (low-sodium version), 2 teaspoons lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram, 1/4 teaspoon celery seed, 1/4 cup chopped onion, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 teaspoon dried savory, 2 tablespoons chopped green pepper and 3/4 teaspoon dried basil. Combine all of these ingredients together into a blender and process until smooth. Place in the refrigerator and chill for at least four hours before serving.

Enjoy Dijon dressing and want to make your own nutritious version at home? With the following ingredients you can: salad greens (premixed or fresh), 1/8 teaspoon pepper, 2/3 cup mayonnaise (fat-free), 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/4 cup white wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 2 tablespoons fresh minced parsley, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard and 1 minced garlic clove. Set aside the salad greens for now and combine the remaining ingredients together in a bowl. Whisk the ingredients together until thoroughly mixed and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.