We often think of muscles like a rubber band; pull them harder and they will stretch longer. The problem is that most of our muscles are old, rigid rubber bands that will snap the minute you pull them too far. Another problem is that our muscles don’t work exactly like rubber bands. So how do our muscles function and how do they stretch longer? Enter flexibility: range of body motion that loosens us up.

What flexibility is… and what it is not

Before we can pull our muscles every which way in our yoga poses, we have to loosen them up.

Believe it or not, our flexibility is not determined by our muscles; the nervous system determines our flexibility. Take tight hamstrings as an example. Say you have tight hamstrings and you do a deep forward fold. Your brain will send the flashing red “danger” signal to your hamstrings (via your nervous system) and your hamstrings will respond by contracting. They do this as a survival mechanism; when they contract they may lose flexibility, but they gain strength, which they use to protect you.

Your first instinct might be to push past this feeling into a deeper stretch. But pulling yourself deeper won’t improve your flexibility and could actually cause you to get injured. Yoga for flexibility is not about pulling on our muscles until they grow longer, it’s about teaching our muscles to relax when we hit our limits. A relaxed muscle is a loose muscle, and that is where you find flexibility.

Why flexibility is important

Regularly practicing Yoga poses for flexibility have many health benefits. Stretching is a great way to increase your mobility, improve your range of motion and reduce the risk of injury. Flexible exercises are an important part of any workout routine. They help you avoid injury and keep your body limber. You should also stretch before and after workouts to prevent soreness and muscle fatigue. Stretching helps increase blood flow, improves circulation, and increases joint mobility. Flexibility is essential for maintaining a healthy spine and avoiding back problems.

Stretching helps us release tension and stress. It improves overall physical health and mental health. Yoga poses are great for correcting poor posture, improving sleep quality, cultivating body awareness and boosting mood.

How to improve your flexibility

I constantly remind my students that flexibility does not come from pushing past your limits, but from reaching your edge and staying there. The number one way to improve your flexibility is to keep practicing. Keep these flexibility tips in mind during your next yoga practice.

• Play with your limits—While you do not want to force yourself beyond your limit, you also do not want to stay too far on the other side. The only way to learn (and expand) your body’s limits is to play along the edge.
• Use your breath—With every inhale, focus on alignment and check on the integrity of your posture. With every exhale, think about letting go and sinking a little deeper into the posture.
• Remain calm—A lot of our muscle tension comes from a fearful brain. This turns on the sympathetic nervous system, which triggers muscle contraction. Keep your breath long and smooth and remind yourself that you are safe so your brain and nervous system can relax. This will inevitably lead to your muscles relaxing.
• Stay awhile—Maybe yin yoga is not your thing, but there is quite a bit of science that supports the argument that your muscles need time to relax. Staying in a pose for five breaths is good for your muscles, but stay for five minutes and you might be amazed by how much deeper your muscles relaxed at the end compared to when you started.

Whether your regular practice consists of intense vinyasa classes or relaxing yin classes, if you follow these tips you will see shifts in your flexibility. Just remember—stop worrying about lengthening and focus on relaxing!

How does yoga help improve flexibility?

Yoga isn’t just about stretching. Yoga is an ancient practice that combines physical movement, breathing techniques, meditation, and philosophy. Yoga differs from just stretching because it focuses on safety, form, and the variety of poses that target both major muscle groups and deeper-seated stealth muscles. Yoga emphasizes proper alignment, attention, and the awareness of your body.

It helps us to understand our bodies and minds better. It teaches us to focus on our breath and body while we move. It teaches us to calm down and relax. And it teaches us to become aware of what we’re doing and why.

12 yoga postures for flexibility

Most asanas have a balance of both strength and flexibility, but there are a handful of positions that will be most helpful to increase your flexibility. These poses require minimal effort so you can focus on relaxing, breathing and relaxing into the stretch. Start with just a few of these poses each week until you feel comfortable enough to add more.

Bound Angle pose

Baddha Konasana is a great pose for beginners because you get to stretch your hips while opening your chest. Holding this asana for several deep breaths will stretch the adductors, inner quadriceps, and hamstrings. Feel your heart expand as. you let your shoulders drop down and your spine lengthen. This pose helps you release any tension and stress in your body and stimulates the reproductive, nervous and respiratory systems. It also helps you prepare for meditation and other seated yoga postures.

Wide Legged Seated Angle pose

This hip opening pose is perfect for those who struggle with tight hamstrings. Upavistha Konasana opens up and stretches out your inner thighs while stretching the entire back side of the body: legs, back, and arms. It also helps Strengthens the calves, ankle, hamstrings, glutes, abdomen, and spine. If you find this pose difficult, try placing a folded blanket under your hip bones or use a bolster under your chest.

Triangle pose

Utthita Trikonasana is a great pose for stretching out your muscles in your legs and in the sides of your body. Triangle pose can increase stability by activating your core muscles. Keeping the lower hand lightly touching the floor engages your core strength which helps you gain confidence and feel stronger. Triangle pose stimulates your organs, including your digestive system, which can improve your metabolism. It reduces stress by targeting the lower back, which can cause tension and pain. It can also help relieve stress, anxiety and help stabilize emotions.

Child’s Pose

Balasana is a great pose to relax the entire body, and it’s a great resting pose after practicing a challenging asana. Child’s pose is a simple yet effective position that gently stretches the low back muscles. Breathing deeply in this pose also massages and tones the abdominal organs to help them function properly. It also helps reduce stress by calming the mind and soothing the nervous system.

Supine Pigeon pose

Supta Kapotasana is a great pose for beginner students or for people with tight hips. Reclined pigeon pose provides an opportunity for us to gently stretch the hips, thighs, and low back. It helps prepare us for backbends, as well as for sitting meditation. It allows us to open the front side of the pelvis, which is often tight and contracted when we sit still for extended periods of time. Reclined pigeon pose provides us with a great opportunity to practice patience and surrender.

Standing Forward Bend

Uttanasana is a great pose to lengthen your hamstrings. Standing Forward Fold stretches the hamstrings, hip flexors, and calves. It stretches the backside of the body, which improves posture and spinal alignment. It calms the mind and relieves stress. It also stimulates the liver and kidneys and helps improve digestion.

If you’re feeling your legs or low back extra tight, bend your knees slightly. To relax deeper into the stretch, grab opposite elbows and let yourself hang upside down.

Seated Head to Knee pose

Janu Sirsasana improves flexibility in your back, hip, and thigh muscles. It also increases blood circulation in the lower abdomen and relieves stress. Seated Head to Knee is a great pose to stretch the hamstrings, the muscles of the inner thigh and groin. It helps to calm the nervous system, eliminate mild depression, and improve digestion. Janu Shirshasana helps us release tension in the hips, knees, and lower back. It’s a great pose to practice when you feel stressed out, anxious, or depressed. Use a yoga strap around the foot of the straight leg if you cannot reach your toes.

Half Lord of the Fishes pose

Ardha Matsyendrasana elongates and aligns the spine and strengthens the core muscles. This seated twist provides a great stretch for the back muscles along the spine. It improves posture and provides relief from lower back pain. It can help with digestion, constipation, and indigestion. This asanas’ twisting action is said to stimulate heart, kidneys, liver, spleen and lungs.

Cat-Cow pose

Bitilasana and Marjaryasana is an easy movement for beginners to warm up the spine and stretch the hip flexors, abdominals and back muscles. It creates coordination, improves focus, and invigorates prana by activating the diaphragm and breathing deeply into the belly. It improves digestion, relieves stress, and calms the brain. Flowing with the breath between arching and rounding the spine creates emotional balance by helping us release pent-up emotions and feelings.

Pyramid pose

Parsvottanasana is a great pose for stretching the hamstrings, calves, quads, hips, glutes and back muscles. It strengthening the legs, hips, ankles and the feet to maintain the stability of the body. Parsvottanasana improves blood circulation in the head, which calms the nervous system and improves brain function. Deep conscious breathing in this asana further encourages the release of tension in the lower back, legs and hips, as well as in the shoulders and upper back. This asana opens the throat chakra, which is associated with communication and expression. It also activates the sacral chakra, which is related to creativity, sexuality, and self-expression.

Cobra pose

Bhujangasana stretches the entire front side of the body, including the hips, abdominals, chest and the tops of the feet. Cobra Pose has been shown to improve sleep quality, reduce stress, and increase energy. It’s a great posture to practice before bedtime, as well as during the day if you need some extra energy. It can help reduce back pain and inflammation. It also builds muscle strength in the arms, core, and upper body. In addition, there’s evidence that practicing Cobra Pose regularly improves posture, self-esteem, and symptoms of depression.

One Legged King Pigeon pose

Eka pada rajakapotasana is a deep hip opener that improves flexibility in hips, legs, pelvis and groin. It stretches the thighs, psoas, glutes, hip flexors, and piriformis muscles. This asana helps to release tension in your hips, lower back, shoulders, and chest. If your hips are tight, you can place blocks or blankets under your hip bones for support.

Breathing deeply in Pigeon Pose improves nervous imbalances and stimulates the internal abdominal organs. According to Ayurveda, stress, sadness, and worry are stored in the hips, so this asana encourages an emotional release and regulation. Regular practice of this pose may help relieve anxiety or stress.

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When an interviewer asks you about your work-related strengths, do you know what to say?

You know roughly what you’re good at and where your biggest strengths lie, but what strengths should you emphasize in a job interview? 

This is where a list of personal strengths comes in handy.

When you reach the end of this post, you’ll know how to answer any question about your fitness for the job you want.

Let’s get started. 

What Is the Best Answer to “What Are Your Personal Strengths?” 

When someone asks you, “So, tell us something about yourself,” you know they’re not asking you for your life’s story.

But if you’re not prepared for the question, you’re likely to stammer your way from one scattered point to another. Not a good look. 

If a sweet job is at stake, you want to be prepared with a compelling answer when an interviewer asks, “What are some of your strengths?” 

To get your mind working on ideas, start with some personal strengths examples like these:

• “I’m a self-starter. Once I start something, I make a plan and carry it out. And I never miss a deadline…. ” 
• “I love collaborating with others because I know the other people on my team have strengths that can make up for my weaknesses, and vice-versa.”
•  I’m a strong writer, and I never run out of ideas. I’m always working on something, and I’ve sold hundreds of copies of my books. I don’t get bored.”
• “I get lost in coding for hours at a time, just working on pet projects — mostly mobile apps. I’m always learning, and I love using technology to make life better.”
• “I treat customers the way I want to be treated. I’m a people-loving problem-solver. I make it my mission to listen and make sure every one of them feels important.”  

Personal Strengths List: 31 Top Qualities For Your Next Interview 

Look carefully through the personal strengths list below and identify your top five.

Then narrow it down to one or two at a time and draft your own answers to the question, “What are your strengths, and how do they relate to this (particular) job?” 

1. Action-oriented / Entrepreneurial 

You’re not afraid to take risks to go after what you want. You get an idea, learn more about it, and take action to pursue it if it seems worthwhile.

You’re not one to wait around for someone else to blaze a trail for you. You take what you’ve got and forge ahead. 

2. Appreciative / Grateful / Mindful 

You make it a point to show appreciation for the good in your life — including and especially the people who make every day better or who challenge you and help you grow.

You can always find something to savor — and plenty for which to feel grateful. 

3. Bold / Confident 

You’re not afraid to stand out or speak up for yourself and your ideas. You know that shrinking violets don’t get very far, and you want more out of life than the bare minimum.

So, you seize opportunities and put yourself forward as the best person for the job. Because if you’re not now, you soon will be.

4. Brave / Courageous 

What you may lack in confidence or star-power you more than make up for with courage and a readiness to step outside your comfort zone. You know the importance of challenging yourself, and you surround yourself with people who challenge you. 

Better to be left out in the cold than comfortable inside a cage. 

5. Creative / Innovative / Imaginative

Ideas are never far from your mind. You make time for creativity and enjoy using your imagination to design things, tell stories, or find innovative solutions to problems.

You like to try new things and make new connections between things, people, and ideas. And since creativity loves company, you love sharing new discoveries with others. 

6. Collaborative / Cooperative

You like being part of a team, and it shows in the way you collaborate with others, treating them as you want to be treated and respecting their ideas and perspectives, as well as the strengths they bring to the group. 

You look for ways to make sure everyone gets a chance to shine. 

7. Committed / Devoted

You’re committed to giving your best effort and getting the best possible results in your professional life. You seek to improve your relationships and make time for the people in your life. 

You know you still have plenty to learn, but nothing will stop you from doing your best. 

8. Curious / Inquisitive / Investigative

You have an inquiring mind, and you’re not afraid to ask questions. You’re also ready to do some investigating of your own if necessary (or even if it’s not). You love making discoveries and learning more about things that interest you. 

And you never run out of things that interest you. 

9. Detail-oriented / Meticulous / Thorough

You don’t miss a thing. You have an eagle eye for the tiniest details and the slightest thing out of place, and then you do something about it.

You take pride in meticulous work and don’t mind putting more time and attention into it. The results speak for themselves. 

10. Diplomatic / Tactful

Some folks pride themselves on their bluntness, but you see nothing wrong with using language to facilitate connections rather than endanger them.

If you can get people on the same page, you see that as a victory for everyone. You use words to build bridges rather than fences, and you’re proud of that. 

11. Focused / Diligent

You know how to create a focus-friendly environment. And when you’re focused on something, you really focus — to the exclusion of all else. You get lost in it, losing track of time.

People know they can count on you to get things done, done on time, and done well. 

12. Decisive / Quick-Thinking

You can think and act quickly when the need arises. You assess the situation and consider your options with quiet efficiency before deciding and taking quick action.

You put aside any internal conflicts and are single-minded in your determination to follow through. You don’t torture yourself with doubts or paralyze yourself with second-guessing. 

13. Determined / Driven / Resolute

You don’t discourage easily. When you’re set on doing something or going after something, you might consider the risks, but you don’t let them stop you. You know what you have to do, and nothing can get in your way. 

You see what you want, and you can almost taste it. So, why settle for anything less?

14. Empathetic / Emotionally Intelligent

You empathize with other people easily — sometimes too easily. If you don’t learn to separate them, other people’s emotions feel too much like your own.

You feel more invested in helping those who are hurting because your empathy makes it easy to step into their shoes. You find it easier to understand the emotions behind their actions.

15. Energetic / Zestful 

It’s not unusual for you to hear people say they wish they could bottle your energy or absorb some of it themselves. To them, you seem inexhaustible. You’re still going strong when others are ready to quit. And it doesn’t take much to light a fire in you. 

16. Fair / Just 

Justice and fairness are important to you. You take inequitable treatment toward anyone personally because you know you could just as easily be in their place. You don’t see yourself as any kind of savior; you just can’t or won’t accept that injustice is “part of life.” 

17. Flexible / Versatile / Adaptablity

You value your ability to adapt to changing circumstances and changing needs. You learn quickly and pivot when you need to.

Change can be uncomfortable, especially when you’re grateful for things as they are, but when it strikes, you get over yourself and get to work, all the more quickly if people depend on you. 

18. Good Listener / Attentive

You’re a thoughtful and attentive listener who cares more about understanding the other person than about being right or winning arguments.

You know the importance of being fully present for others, listening to every word, and paying attention to nonverbal cues. You’ve become adept at picking up on what they’re not saying out loud. 

19. Honest / Straightforward / Forthright

You pride yourself on your honesty and straightforward approach to telling people how things are, what they’re facing, and what’s needed. You don’t see a point in mincing words or dancing around the issue.

You get right to it. Your language isn’t always what anyone would call diplomatic or tactful, but it’s clear as crystal and BS-free.

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20. Insightful / Perceptive

You get a sense of things and people. You see unexpected connections, and you pick up on things many people miss. You care about what every moment, every encounter, and every mistake is trying to teach you.

And while you know you’re a work in progress, you’re always happy to share what you’ve learned. 

21. Leader / Charismatic / Strategic 

You’re a natural leader with a gift for rallying other people to your cause. You see the strengths in others and motivate them to put those gifts to work.

You’re the glue that holds everyone together and keeps them moving toward the chosen goal. And you know what needs to be done to get there.

22. Passionate / Enthusiastic / Idealistic

Exuberance may or may not be part of your whole thing, but you’re undeniably passionate. You’re all in and ready to exhaust yourself for the people you love or for a cause you’ve chosen.

Unless self-care is one of your passions, you likely need someone in your life who loves you enough to hold you to that.

23. Patient / Compassionate / Gentle

You’re patient with others, knowing everyone works and learns at their own pace. And you’ve learned the importance of being patient with yourself, too. You know your limits, and you know others have their own. So, you’re more likely to trust that they know their own process better than you do. 

24. Persistent / Tenacious / Persevering 

You don’t give up. It’s not just about determination for you; that’s enough to get you started and give you a decent headstart. Persistence or tenacity keeps you going on the days when it feels pointless. 

You keep taking action toward your goal, even when you don’t see any measurable results. 

25. Persuasive 

You know just what to say to dissolve the doubts in another’s mind. Or you know exactly what someone needs to hear to persuade them to take action on something. You have a gift with words. And you can use this gift to help others see the benefits of working toward the same goal. 

26. Problem-solver / Resourceful 

You’re good at using what you have at your disposal in surprising and ingenious ways to solve problems — yours and those of the people you’re helping.

You have a knack for identifying their problems and finding creative solutions. And if you’re able to, and it makes sense, you’re happy to take action and solve that problem yourself. 

27. Organized / Systematic 

You like an organized and tidy environment. And while you don’t expect others to share that preference, you’re happy to help them establish and maintain order if they ask. You’re excellent at developing systems that make it easier to keep things organized and ready. Being organized helps you feel prepared and ready for anything. 

28. Respectful / Considerate / Thoughtful

You treat others with respect and consideration because that’s how you want to be treated. You don’t claim more respect for yourself because of your age, authority, or professional status. You believe everyone is equally entitled to be treated with respect. 

You’d hold the door for anyone, and you appreciate it when others do the same. 

29. Resilient / Unsinkable 

Nothing can keep you down for long. When life trips you up or knocks you sideways, you get back up, dust yourself off, and keep going, even when it hurts.

You know the cost of staying down or giving up is higher, even when it seems like the easiest and most sensible thing to do. 

30. Self-disciplined / Self-directed / Goal-oriented

You don’t need anyone else to give you a worthy goal to pursue. And you don’t need anyone else to make sure you get up on time, get out the door, get things done, etc. You direct, discipline, and motivate yourself. And you cultivate your own daily habits to help you in this. 

31. Warm / Caring / People-oriented 

You exude warmth and welcome, drawing people in with your genuine smile and readiness to include people. You care about what others are feeling and about lightening their loads if you can. You want every soul to know they’re not alone. 

Now that you’ve looked through the personal strengths list, we hope you found your top five or your top three. As you craft your own replies to the usual interview questions, keep those in mind. 

Now is not a time for false humility; own your gifts, and practice talking about them. 

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With a unique blend of herbs and spices, you may find different kinds of delicious teas to lose those extra pounds. Tea is a timeless beverage. For many people, it is no less than a necessity. The tea culture continues in the diet industry under the marketing claim of slimming tea. However, you don’t need expensive tea leaves to attain the benefits. Tea probably works best for any weight loss plan when you pair it with adequate exercise and a healthy diet. For sure, drinking tea for weight loss is very subjective.

Top Six Teas for Weight Loss

Green Tea

All weight-loss conversations begin with green tea. A study shows that people who consistently drank two cups of green tea daily delivered a lower body fat percentage than non-regular green tea drinkers. It is considered the most effective weight loss tea. 

Green tea is high in catechins that increase fat burning and boost metabolism. The calorie-burning nature of green tea is a blessing in disguise for obese and overweight people.

Black Tea

One of the most potent tea varieties on the market, black tea contains a good amount of flavones which makes a fantastic beverage choice for people trying to reduce weight. A study shows that drinking tea with high flavonoids promotes lower body mass index than those with lower flavones. Therefore, infusing the black tea leaves in water makes a perfect drink to support weight management. In addition, black tea contains much less caffeine than black coffee as a weight-loss diet tip.

White Tea

The catechins in white tea and green tea are comparable, making them ideal for weight loss. Drinking white tea extract prevents the formation of new fat cells and promotes the breakdown of existing ones. Furthermore, it is the least processed tea out there, meaning that white tea retains fat-burning properties.

Oolong Tea

Oolong tea is a partially oxidised, traditional Chinese tea that is milder than black tea and bolder than green tea. It has a fruity flavour and fragrant aroma. Oolong tea enhances weight loss by speeding up metabolism and burning fats. 

A clinical study shows that drinking oolong tea at breakfast and lunch for two weeks straight stimulated a 20% increase in post-meal fat burn. Moreover, oolong tea has antioxidants and lipid-lowering properties essential for weight loss.

Hibiscus Tea

Drinking hibiscus tea supplies you with certain plant compounds that help to boost fat elimination and regulate the lipid metabolism genes. Hibiscus tea is a good option for those who don’t like to drink green tea. You should drink 3-4 cups of hibiscus tea a day, without adding sugars, half an hour before your main meals. You can expect better weight loss results if combined with physical exercise and diet. Hibiscus extract may keep your weight at a healthier level.

Pu-Erh Tea

Native to Chinese tea culture, Pu Erh tea inhibits your body from producing more fats. The best time to drink Pu-erh tea is one hour after a meal so that it can eliminate hard-to-digest fats and excess grease from the body. If you drink Pu-erh tea at the wrong time, it causes weight gain instead. You may experience noticeable weight loss from drinking Pu-erh tea without adding other additives and sweeteners.

Could Tea Work for Weight Loss? 

Different types of tea show characteristic fat-burning properties. However, are they enough to achieve that ideal body weight? Probably not. Herbal tea has become an easy way to lose weight, especially among the youth. Although drinking herbal teas alone won’t lead to weight loss, it does indirectly help you shed those extra kilos. It is not valid to say that a single addition of tea to your diet is the secret to weight loss. No matter how much tea you drink, your lifestyle and diet are equally important. 

You can follow an active fitness routine for over two hours daily. Apart from this Always follow an energy-releasing diet rich in fruits, veggies, healthy fats, and whole grains.

When to Drink Tea 

You may have a nice cup of green tea in the morning and later in the evening. To obtain better results, drink a cup or two of green tea before the workout session. Avoid drinking green tea at night as its caffeine content stimulates a sense of alertness, making it difficult to fall asleep. That said, the same is valid for yellow tea, white tea, oolong tea, and black tea. Not to mention the toilet break that comes from drinking fluids before going to bed. Some people may drink green tea two hours before bedtime to avoid possible sleep disturbances. However, it may not be handy for everyone.

As for drinking tea in the morning, hold off drinking it on an empty stomach if you have a sensitive stomach. It is to prevent any gastrointestinal distress. A common practice in most Indian households is to kick start the morning with heavy milk tea. Be it tea or coffee, never start your day with caffeine. They create an imbalance between the acidic and alkaline levels of the stomach. It may keep you troubled throughout the day. Try to avoid drinking tea with meals if you’re diagnosed with anaemia as it interferes with iron absorption.

If you have liver problems, drinking tea after a meal is best. So, should you consume tea right after a meal? No, that’s not how it works. Instead, keep some time gap for the food to get digested. One must maintain a minimum gap of around one hour between meal and tea consumption. However, herbal teas are relatively safe to drink right after the meal, unlike regular milk tea.

Traditional Way of Drinking Tea in India

Besides the different types of beverages in India, there’s also an authentic style of tea. It’s called masala chai. Masala means spice, and chai means tea. And that is what Masala Chai is—Spiced Tea. The essential ingredients are spices, sugar, milk, and black tea. The combination of herbs like peppercorns, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and cardamom makes masala chai different from the standard cup of tea. 

Here is the breakdown of how masala chai may help you with weight loss.

• Black pepper in masala chai is an antioxidant that contains piperine, which boosts metabolism and prevents fat accumulation.

• Cinnamon may help you manage glucose levels, leading to weight loss. 
• Its anti-inflammatory property aids in metabolic health. A good metabolism is equivalent to efficient weight loss.

• Cardamom promotes weight loss by fighting to bloat and regulating digestion. 
• Furthermore, its melatonin content supports the fat-burning process in our body.
• Fennel seeds flush the toxins and keep you feeling full for a more extended period. Both these properties support the weight loss process.

All the spices said above are readily available in your kitchen! A word of advice; do not add any honey or sugar into your tea as high in calories. Contrary to popular belief, honey does add up calories to your diet. One tablespoon of honey contains 64 calories, while the same quantity of sugar has only 49 calories.

Healthy Tea Recipe for Weight Loss

1. Green Tea with Mint and Lemon

• Serves: 1
• Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• Water: 1 cup
• Mint leaves: 6-7
• Green tea leaves: 2 tablespoon
• Whole lime: 1

Method of Preparation

• Add water and mint leaves to a saucepan and heat the water until it boils.
• After five minutes, switch off the gas and add green tea leaves.
• Let it soak for five minutes and remove the leaves later.
• Squeeze the lemon into the tea and pour it into the cup. Drink while it’s hot.

2. Black Tea

• Serves: 1
• Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• Water: 1 cup
• Black tea leaves: 1 teaspoon
• Lemon juice: 1/2 teaspoon

Method of Preparation

• Boil the water with a teaspoon of black tea leaves. 
• Steep it for a few minutes and simmer it for around 8-10 minutes.
• Strain the black tea into a cup and add lemon juice. Do not add any sugars for better benefits.

Things to Remember

• Weight loss tea or detox tea is not proven explicitly for weight loss. However, falling into the claims of the diet tea industry may cause you serious harm. Slimming teas can trigger nausea, constipation, weak colon, and diarrhoea.

• Conventional tea brands may have hidden additives and added sugars. Though moderate tea consumption is beneficial, drinking too much tea causes reverse effects.

• How much tea is too much? Well, try to limit it to 3-4 cups a day. However, this varies from person to person and the type of tea. For example, to attain maximum benefits from Green tea, you may drink around 6-7 cups a day.

Conclusion

Knowing when to and when not to drink tea makes a difference in sleep quality and how you feel in the morning. Drink tea after a meal, not before. Of course, drinking green tea before you work out can be helpful. Developing the habit of enjoying herbal teas, minus any sweetener or sugar will assist you in the weight loss journey. However, just drinking tea alone is not enough for weight loss. Pair those fat-burning herbal teas with an active lifestyle and healthy diet.

Tea can be a hydrating, low calorie, and healthy beverage option for workout routines if you skip the sugar and milk. Some of the best teas for weight loss are green tea, black tea, white tea, oolong tea, hibiscus tea, and Pu-erh tea. However, tea is not a magical elixir for weight loss. In conclusion, a balanced diet, exercise, and herbal tea make a great weight loss plan.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Which tea is best for weight loss?

A. Green tea is considered the most effective for weight loss. It is rich in an antioxidant called catechins. Catechins control blood pressure, help control weight loss and improve brain health. In addition, it boosts your metabolism and helps burn more fat in the body.

Q. Which tea makes you lose belly fat fast?

A. Herbal teas are an excellent way to lose weight. Green tea and Pu-erh tea (Chinese black tea) are some of the best herbal teas to reduce belly fat. Furthermore, green tea helps burn 3-4% more calories, even at rest, making it one of the best belly fat reducing teas. At the same time, Pu-Erh tea inhibits your body from producing more fats and increases your metabolism. 

Q. Can drinking tea help you lose weight?

A. Drinking tea can help you shed those extra kilos when combined with a healthy diet and exercise. Some herbal teas have fat-burning properties. In addition, green tea increases your metabolism and helps detox your body. However, drinking tea alone cannot lead to weight loss. If you want to shed your extra kilos, a healthy diet and exercise are the prerequisites.

Q. What is the healthiest tea to drink daily?

A. Green tea is known to be the healthiest tea you can drink daily. It supports weight loss by boosting our body’s metabolism and burning body fat. It acts as a detox for the body and is an excellent source of antioxidants. Furthermore, it is less processed than other teas. However, you cannot ignore the benefits of different tea variants like chamomile tea, white tea and black tea,  which also have a lot of health benefits. 

Q. Does tea at night help lose weight?

A. Drinking some herbal teas before going to bed can help you lose weight and help you sleep better. Lack of sleep can disturb the metabolism, the breakdown of food in the body. Therefore, it can lead to weight gain over time. Tea like chamomile tea is known for its relaxing properties. However, you should also avoid adding sugar to your bedtime tea because sugar can make you feel more energised and awake and add to your calorie consumption.

Q. What is the best tea to drink before bed for weight loss?

A. Several studies suggest that drinking two cups of oolong tea before going to bed can help you burn your body fat while you’re asleep. Although it contains some caffeine, it is not a sleep disruptor. Instead, it increases the breakdown of fat in the body.

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The travel industry in particular felt the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic hard. However, the year 2022 sounds promising as the pandemic-driven lifestyle shifts hint at encouraging travel industry trends this year.

According to the Deloitte 2022 travel industry outlook, in 2022, air passenger volume and hotel occupancy will increase as travelers return to holiday destinations. That looks plausible because COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted in Britain and Denmark. Additionally, Austria and the Netherlands have eased lockdown measures. Even the EU has recommended no testing or quarantine for vaccinated residents. As for the US, major travel industry organizations have asked the federal government to remove the testing requirement for U.S.-bound vaccinated travelers.

As the restrictions are getting lifted, all that travelers need to do is to plan as they did before and head out. Let’s say you are in the UK where the restrictions have been lifted, and you are planning a trip to Middlesbrough. All you need to do is check the COVID guidelines and Middlesbrough weather to know how the weather will be in the coming days before planning the trip. Having up-to-date information about the weather will help you better plan your itinerary.

The trip will help you a great deal in taking your mind off the stress of your daily life. Also, it will be beneficial for your mental wellbeing. After having been cooped inside for a better part of the last two years, being able to travel again comes as a good respite.

Here’s how traveling to a new destination will benefit your mental health:

Promotes Self Care

Thanks to lockdown fatigue and the resulting stress, it’s quite easy to feel anxious and undeserving of nicer things. Treating yourself to a vacation – no matter how long or short, close or far – can be an empowering act of self-love.

Anxiety can make traveling difficult but planning a trip is a good way to push through that initial resistance and give yourself a sense of purpose. Apart from the excitement and focus that travel planning brings, the trip itself can be very therapeutic. It offers the freedom to do what you love, provides time to relax, and encourages you to live in the moment.

As such, travel isn’t limited to being a leisurely activity for some but ends up becoming an exercise in achieving a healthy mindset.

Boosts Confidence And Self-Esteem

Any traveler worth their salt will tell you that traveling isn’t always a walk on the beach, pun intended. In some cases, it might involve treading massive crowds in dingy lanes, getting lost in an unknown city, experiencing culture shock, overcoming language barriers, and more.

Dealing with these challenging aspects of travel helps people cope in their day-to-day life much better. When you are suffering from anxiety and deal with these travel challenges, it gives context to smaller tasks in your routine life that often feel overwhelming. To illustrate, traveling to another side of the world makes taking the subway across the city look trivial.

Reduces Stress

While all that everyone has been doing for a better part of the last two years is to sit at home, the increased workload and working hours have been nerve-racking. Sometimes all that the human mind and body need is rest. Being able to dissociate from work for a few days and head to a relaxing beachside vacation spot is a great stress buster.

Leaving the work stress and sedentary routine of everyday life behind for afternoon naps, walks along the ocean, and having nothing to do but relax will do your mental health a great deal of good. Take your family or friends with you and add to the overall feel-good factor of the vacation.

Changes Perspective

One of the best outcomes of travel is experiencing different cultures and the heritage of the places you visit. It can change the way you view life and how to live it. Something as simple as a different way to spend the downtime can have a dramatic effect on your mental health.

Travel can make you challenge the norm of everyday life back home and inspire you to implement positive changes. You can experience calm in madness during travel and realize it’s the way you respond to a situation that determines the outcome. And it’s all under your control.

If you have the luxury and resources to travel any time soon, it’s advised that you do so. Traveling to a new place and completely dissociating from the humdrum of your routine life, even for a few days, will do a world of wonder to your mental health.

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Many therapy services are currently available online, and thus, patients are tasked with locating one that is appropriate for their requirements. We evaluated the best virtual counseling sites based on reliability, proper communication, accessibility, and availability of caregivers to help ease your selection. So here is a comprehensive list of the top teletherapy platforms that may be of service to your mental health needs.

Calmerry

The platform was established in 2019 to combat COVID-19’s challenges at the time. Professional counselors are available throughout, resulting in more flexible sessions. A premium subscription package comprises four weekly video meetings. It is also essential to note that your location does not affect the subscription cost.

The site’s mental wellness practitioners help with issues like:

• Anxiety;
• Depression;
• Fatigue;
• Relationship glitches.

The registration process is straightforward. You’ll answer questions concerning what’s troubling you and the type of therapist you prefer. The assessment answers will pair you with a suitable specialist. After being assigned a mental health specialist, you can immediately proceed with your counseling meetings.

Talkspace

Since 2012, Talkspace has been providing internet counseling. It has connected one million patients with approved and experienced mental health specialists, notwithstanding their condition or location. Counseling meetings on these platforms are held through unlimited texts, video, and audio calling. Therapists at Talkspace use various methods to help their patients, including mindfulness and psychodynamics.

Clients are first provided a complimentary consultation to walk them through the platform’s services. After that, they are matched with a suitable therapist. Additionally, if you require more medical care, you will be connected with a specialist who will prescribe medication.

Weekly charges range from $49-$79. Even better, Talkspace is in partnership with a few insurance providers to ensure you do not dig into your pocket for services. Thus, it would be imperative to check if your insurance is usable. Therefore, from this Talkspace review, it is evident that if you want to minimize consultation fees, counseling, and prescription medications, Talkspace is the one-stop-shop for you.

BetterHelp

BetterHelp’s qualified mental health specialists are licensed to address various problems, including:

• Trauma disorders;
• Anxiety;
• Substance dependence;

The service gives clients various options for contacting mental wellness specialists. Unlimited conversation in a private chat room and synchronized meetings via audio and video calls are included. Clients access services through the platform’s mobile app for further convenience.

The price range for acquiring therapy is between $80-$100, billed monthly. The initial phase of the registration process is answering questionnaires and providing some information about yourself, including details of your condition.

It helps the counselors to get a preview of your problem and in matching you with an appropriate practitioner. If you have any preference on the mental health practitioner you would like to work with, you can mention it at this stage.

After completing registration, clients are paired with a like-minded counselor from a pool of more than 12000 licensed counselors. Noteworthy, patients can also request a new counselor if the one they’ve picked isn’t a suitable match.

Regain

Even the smoothest of relationships can hit rock bottom at times. Regain comes in useful in this situation. The platform primarily deals with relationships and family matters. It is possible to attend the meetings as a couple or alone. You can also attend the sessions alone and then invite your companion later. Noteworthy, three-way calls aren’t possible, and thus you and your significant other should be together.

Mental health practitioners at Regain handle issues such as:

• Strained communication;
• Infidelity;
• Intimacy challenges;
• Trust issues.

The communication in the private chat room will be available to both parties, including the counselor, for transparency. Means for communicating with a specialist include video, voice calls, and text messaging.

Weekly subscriptions on this platform range from $60-$80. When registering, you are first required to answer questions about yourself and your relationship and the difficulties that need to be addressed. After that, you proceed to pick your preferred expert from a collection of over 5000 licensed experts and begin your meetings immediately.

Teen Counselling

Every teen faces unique challenges depending on their background and social environment. It is why Teen Counseling offers individualized therapy meetings for parents and teenagers. Counseling can be started by either the teen or the parent. Counselors can be contacted via text, email, video conference, and audio calls.

The experts on this teletherapy site include psychologists, certified counselors, and skilled family psychotherapists. They deal with a wide range of challenges, including:

• Family disputes;
• Sexual identity;
• Bullying;
• Eating challenges;
• Sleeping disorders;
• Apprehension;

Pricing ranges from $60-$80 per month. Before acquiring help at the platform, the teen or parent has to answer various questions to let out more information about themselves and the challenges they are going through. After that, they are matched with a mental health practitioner who is appropriate for them.

Amwell

The service focuses on psychological and behavioral counseling. Counselors can be contacted via the platform’s mobile app or official site. You can arrange a sitting or speak with a specialist on the spot. All meetings are held through video and audio calls.

Every mental wellness expert on this site holds a doctorate or master’s qualification. Therefore, prices differ according to the specialists’ qualifications. Psychiatrists have also been brought on board to help with medical management and prescriptions. The site also provides guidance and therapy for youngsters aged 10 to 17.

The upside of this site is that patients can pay for single sessions. Insurance is also accepted to ensure clients do not dent their pockets.

Online-Therapy.Com

Experts on this site use psycho-social techniques and cognitive counseling to help clients manage their situations. Depression, alcohol and drug addiction, and anxiety are among the issues managed on this platform.

Yoga and mindfulness therapy videos and diary exercises are among the free materials available on the site. If you want more attention and one-on-one time with a specialist, you can pick one of the three available packages:

• Basic plan priced at $31 weekly;
• A premium plan for $63 weekly;
• Standard package for $47 weekly.

For the standard plan, patients get one live video meeting weekly and unlimited texting all through the week. On the other hand, the premium package comprises two live video meetings in a week and unlimited responses from the counselors.

Doctor on Demand

The site has certified mental wellness experts as service providers. Psychiatrists on the site can send medical prescriptions to your local drugstore through the internet. The specialists on this platform can help if you’re dealing with:

• Loss;
• Parental issues;
• Borderline personalities;
• Anxiety;
• Trauma disorders.

Signing up for help on the platform is free. The price range varies contingent on your insurance package. Therefore, check whether your insurance package is valid for usage on the platform when signing up for the services. Also, after signing up, you can examine the list of specialists before picking your preferred expert. You are also allowed to switch to a different professional along the way.

The Take-Away

All virtual counseling sites mentioned above offer diverse means for customers to communicate with specialists, ranging from video chats to unrestricted text messaging. Their registration processes are also streamlined.

However, your attitude, interaction with the specialist, and commitment to the course all play vital roles in the efficacy of online counseling. Whichever virtual counseling platform you pick, be sure its services are dependable and accessible, and the communication channels offered are convenient.

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Precious stones have always been a source of inspiration and power in the world. Some people also know that they can be used as a powerful tool to call upon the energies of specific precious stones and incorporate them into their daily lives. But how do you begin to work with these beautiful gems? One of the oldest methods for transforming your life is through spirituality. Many people choose to incorporate precious stones into their spiritual practices, but how do you select which stones are right for you?

How To Choose The Right Stone For You?

There are a lot of stones that are supposed to help us in our spiritual and energetic journey. So, the question is how to choose the right stone for you?

The first thing you need to do is understand yourself, your energy, and your goals. If you want to work with a certain stone but it doesn’t resonate with you, it won’t work. To know if a stone resonates with you, just hold the stone in your hand and feel what it does to your body. If you feel almost nothing or something not so pleasant, then that stone isn’t for you.

Choosing the right stone for you is not a random process. There are some specific factors to consider which will make your choice easier.

There are many different types of stones, each with different properties. The most common stones used for spiritual purposes include almond, amethyst, Apache tear, aquamarine, aventurine, bloodstone, blue lace agate, carnelian, chalcedony, citrine, clear quartz crystal, coral (white), emerald (green), garnet (red), hematite, jade (green), labradorite (black), moonstone, onyx and so on… You can also find genuine specimens of moldavite online right now, whether you like them in the form of a necklace, ring, or just a raw stone.

It is very important to cleanse your stones. There are many ways to do it, but the easiest one is to simply put them in a bowl with some sea salt and leave them there for about 24 hours. This way you will be sure that they are ready for use!

Why Are Precious Stones Important For Your Spiritual Growth?

Precious stones have a special place in the spiritual and religious traditions of various civilizations. They are thought to have magical and healing powers, as well as being spiritual and physical good luck to their owners.

Famous ancient texts like the Bible, Quran, Gita, and Buddhist scriptures mention precious stones. In Hinduism, it is believed that each month corresponds to a different gemstone, which can be worn to attract the energies of that stone. For example, ruby is associated with the month of June and is believed to help with blood circulation.

For people who believe in the power of gems, crystals are considered to be more powerful than precious stones

A Crystal is a natural formation that occurs in the earth and has been made by nature over time. It is considered to be very powerful because it contains concentrated energy from its surroundings and has healing properties. Some crystals are used for meditation, while others are used for healing purposes or as talismans. In fact, they have been found in ancient tombs that date back thousands of years.

According to crystal healers, each crystal possesses its own unique energy and can be used to heal specific parts of the body.

Your Personalized Stone Ritual

Many years ago, people used to meditate near a stone or rock to obtain insight into their own lives and the world around them. Every stone has its own energy pattern and these energies have an impact on our consciousness if we are in close contact with that stone. Rock crystals have a high vibration that can help us to connect with the Divine, bringing us closer to the Earth. The vibrations of crystals are so high that they can actually heal and balance our bodies.

Crystals can be used for healing a variety of conditions. There are many different ways to use crystals in your life; you can keep them in your pocket or place them on a table at home. They also make wonderful gifts! You can have your own personalized stone ritual, or simply use them to energize your space.

Rock crystals are an amazing gift from Mother Earth and the universe, helping us to connect with the natural world. Crystals are a gift that you can use in every aspect of your life, including your spiritual practice. When used in rituals, they help to align you with nature and bring positive energy into your life.

It is easy to think of precious stones as just objects that have little or no value. However, in reality, precious stones can be made into jewelry that not only beautifies the body but also brings special spiritual meaning to the wearer. Precious stones are powerful tools and can help you connect with your spirituality more easily by making it a daily practice.

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Today’s lifestyle and diet have increased the number of people who are overweight or obese around the world. Recently there has been a rise in weight loss diets such as calorie deficit diet, keto diet and juicing. The term ‘Juicing’ is used when a person consumes healthy fruit or vegetable juice instead of consuming a meal.

This juice may include as little as 2 components or as many as 7-8. Furthermore, you may add spices, honey, lemon juice, or seasoning to impart flavour to the liquid. Juicing is a popular health practise that aids in weight loss while also providing a number of other health advantages. 

It is important to note that juicing is an additional step in the weight-loss journey. In order to reach a healthy weight, there are many more steps that need to be taken. Juicing is usually a good way to lose weight because it causes you to eat less calories than you burn. Therefore, it may lead to a loss of water and muscle mass in the body. As a result, juicing combined with regular exercise and a healthy diet is necessary to achieve healthy weight loss.

You can find multiple weight-loss diets on the internet, magazines, and articles, which claim to be a quick action mode. However, these diets aren’t sustainable in the long run and may be detrimental to one’s health. The only natural and healthy way to lose weight is by changing unhealthy lifestyle routines and adopting healthy ones. Consistency is critical; making small changes every day can create a significant impact. 

There are several juice varieties and preparation methods. We’ll discuss 10 of the most popular, nutritious, and affordable weight reduction juices in this article.

Classic Green Juice

One of the most popular weight loss juices is green juice. Green juices are full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Green juice can have different ingredients like green fruits, leafy vegetables and cruciferous vegetables. Usually, these are spinach, green apples, celery, kale and many more. There are many forms of green juices.

Health benefits of Green Juice

1. Removing carcinogens from the body

The green leafy vegetables in green juice contain bioactive phytochemicals. They are called isothiocyanate and sulforaphane. Research suggests that these compounds help produce enzymes that remove carcinogens and other harmful chemicals from the body. 

2. Supplies antioxidants in the body

The antioxidants present in green juice act as scavengers for harmful free radicals present in the body. These free radicals are highly reactive and infamous for causing DNA mutations. These can induce multiple types of cancers. Therefore, antioxidants are necessary to detoxify the body of these reactive species.

3. Detoxification of the body

Drinking green juice leads to weight loss and detox. Green juice provides a surplus of nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants. It creates a feeling of fullness while simultaneously limiting the number of calories. The calorie deficit diet helps to promote weight loss, specifically by reducing the amount of fat found in the body.

A lot of the toxins in our body get converted to fat. Therefore, when the levels of fat decreases, the toxins also reduce. Juicing causes an increase in urine production, which contributes to detoxification.

4. Skin and eye benefits

Compounds like beta-carotene, lutein, and quercetin promote skin and eye repair. Also, the high extent of vitamins such as vitamin A and C are beneficial to the skin. 

5. Reduces inflammation

Cucumbers mainly help in reducing inflammation and swelling. According to research, cucumbers inhibit the activity of pro-inflammatory enzymes. Additionally, because of their high water content, cucumbers are excellent sources of hydration for the body.

Recipes

1. Spinach Cucumber Juice

• Servings: 2 servings
• Preparation time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Chopped spinach (can substitute with kale): 1 bunch 
• Lemons (peeled and sliced): 1-2 
• Ginger (peeled and crushed): 1inch
• Cucumbers (cut into strips): 1-2
• Green apples (sliced): 2 large 
• Honey (optional): 1 teaspoon

Method

• Wash all the fruits and vegetables.
• Blend the ingredients in a juicer.
• Strain through a sieve 
• Add honey to sweeten (optional)

2. Coriander Apple Juice

• Servings: 1
• Preparation time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Large spinach leaves (chopped): 2 
• A handful of fresh coriander 
• Apple of choice (chopped): 1 large
• Peeled Lemons: 2
• Honey (optional)

Method

• Wash all the ingredients well.
• Add each item into the juicer.
• Blend it for about 10 minutes.
• Pour the juice into a glass.
• You can also add honey to sweeten.

3. Celery Pear Weight Loss Juice

• Servings: 1
• Preparation time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Chopped celery stick: 1
• Chopped spinach leaves: 2 large 
• Fennel seeds: 1 tablespoon
• Ginger (peeled and crushed): ½ inch
• Pears (peeled and chopped): 2 
• Honey (optional)

Method

• Wash the ingredients well.
• Put everything in the juicer and blend for 10 minutes.
• Strain the juice into a glass. 
• Add honey to sweeten. 

4. Apple Beetroot Carrot Juice (ABC Juice)

As the name suggests, this juice mixes carrots, beetroot and apple. As a result, it is relatively sweet and tasty.

Recipe

Servings: 1

Preparation time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Apples of your choice (chopped): 2
• Beetroot (peeled and chopped): ½
• Carrot (peeled and chopped): 2
• Crushed Ginger: 1 inch
• Lemon: ½
• Sea salt: 1 pinch
• Honey: 1 teaspoon (optional)

Method

• Wash the ingredients well.
• Place chopped items along with ginger in a juicer.
• Blend for 10 minutes. 
• Strain into a glass and add 1-2 tsp of lemon juice
• Add one teaspoon of honey to sweeten (optional)

Health Benefits of ABC Juice

1. Anticancer effects:

Polyacetylenes, beta carotene, and lutein in carrots have anti-cancer properties. They are good for leukaemia cells. One study found that treating leukaemia with carrot juice extract for three days decreases tumour cell growth and differentiation. Additionally, carrot juice extract can help inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells as well.

2. Antioxidant properties:

Carrots and apples both have a high antioxidant content and a great addition to any weight loss juice. Antioxidants reduce oxidative stress and keep us fit. Consequently, they decrease the chances of mutation-induced cancers. Additionally, they also help reduce inflammation and get rid of reactive species like free radicals.

3. Vitamin A content:

In one serving of the carrot-apple juice, you consume about 2.8 mg of vitamin A. Therefore, it takes care of your daily vitamin A needs. It is almost twice the amount that your body needs. Vitamin A can help improve metabolic processes. Also, it is good for eyesight, skin and hair health.

4. Immunity booster:

Vitamin A and C promote a healthy immune system and assist with a variety of immunological responses. Therefore, it is essential to consume a good amount of vitamin A and vitamin C daily. The carrot-apple juice contains these vitamins in abundance.

5. Provides a high amount of nutrients faster:

Juices contain little to no fibres, and they can be absorbed by the body quickly and much more effectively. Therefore, the surplus of nutrients and vitamins can be available to the bloodstream much faster than meals. Thus, these juices can benefit people who cannot swallow properly or undergo gastrointestinal problems.

5. Amla Turmeric Weight Loss Juice

Recipe

• Servings: 1
• Preparation time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Fresh Amla (chopped): 2 
• Turmeric powder: 50 gm
• Ginger, peeled and crushed: 25 gm
• Pudina leaves 8-10
• Honey (optional)

Method

• Wash all the ingredients
• Put all the ingredients in a juicer along with some water. 
• Strain the juice through a strainer and transfer it into a glass 
• Add honey to sweeten

Benefits of Amla Turmeric Juice

It is an excellent weight loss juice, immunity booster and provides our body with many antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.

Additionally, it can also improve skin texture and help combat acne. It also can be beneficial for boosting immunity and good for COVID-19.

6. Orange Papaya Juice

Recipe

• Servings: 2
• Preparation time: 10 mins
• Calories: 200 cal

Ingredients

• Fresh oranges (peeled): 2 
• Fresh papaya (chopped): 2 cups 
• Coconut milk (can be substituted with coconut water or regular water): ¼ cup
• Honey (optional)

Method

• Wash the ingredients.
• Put everything into the juicer and blend for 10 minutes.
• Strain the juice into a glass. 
• Add honey to sweeten. 

Benefits of Orange Papaya Juice

It contains a high amount of vitamin C,necessary for the efficient functioning of the immune system.

As a result, it’s a great way to combat sickness and a preventative measure for COVID-19. Additionally, papaya is excellent for the digestive system and prevents constipation. 

7. Beetroot Pomegranate Juice

Recipe

• Servings: 2
• Preparation time: 10 mins
• Calories: 200 cal

Ingredients:

• Beetroots- 2 (peeled and chopped)
• Pomegranate: 2 cups 
• Lemon Juice (to taste)
• Honey (optional)

Method

• Wash the ingredients and put everything into the juicer. Then, blend for 10 minutes.
• Strain the juice into a glass.
• Add honey to sweeten.

Benefits of Beetroot Pomegranate Juice

It contains high levels of antioxidants, minerals, nutrients, and vitamins, all necessary to carry out multiple functions in the body.

Additionally, this juice has a high quantity of iron to promote the formation of haemoglobin in the blood.

8. Ginger Curry Leaves Juice

Recipe

• Servings: 2
• Preparation time: 5 mins

Ingredients

• Fresh curry leaves: 1 cup
• Honey: 2 teaspoons
• Ginger (peeled and crushed): 1 inch
• Lemon: 1/2
• Salt: To taste

Method

• Wash the ingredients properly.
• Put everything through the juicer and blend for 10 minutes.
• Strain the juice into a glass.
• Add honey and salt to taste.

Benefits of Ginger Curry Leaves Juice

This juice is an excellent source of folic acid, which helps produce healthy new cells. Moreover, its antioxidants and bioactive compounds may slow down skin ageing and greying of hair. This juice also has mild laxative effects on a healthy digestive system. 

9. Mixed Fruit Juice

Recipe

• Servings: 2
• Preparation time: 10 mins
• Calories: 200 cal

Ingredients

• Oranges (peeled): 4 
• Apple of choice (peeled and chopped): 1 big
• Grapes of preference: 2 cups
• Kiwi pieces (optional): 1 cup
• Honey (optional): 1 tablespoon 
• A lemon wedge 

Method

• Wash all the fruits and ingredients.
• Put the pieces of apple, oranges, grapes and kiwi in the mixer and blend for 2 minutes.
• Add honey and lemon juice if required and blend for one more minute.
• Take out the juice from the blender into the strainer.
• Serve in a glass. 

10. Pomegranate Blueberry Juice

This juice has a relatively sweeter taste due to sweet fruits like pomegranate and blueberries. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Recipe

• Servings: 4
• Preparation time: 30 mins
• Calories: 600

Ingredients

• Pomegranate seeds: 5 cups
• Blueberries: 2 cups
• Water: Half a cup
• Lemon Juice: Half a tablespoon
• Honey: 1.5 tablespoons
• Rosemary: 1 teaspoon

Method

• Wash both the fruits before adding them to a juicer along with the rosemary.
• Collect the juice in a glass and, using a sieve to remove the solid pieces.
• Add lemon juice and honey to the juice, and it is ready to serve

Benefits of Pomegranate Blueberry Juice

1. Anti-cancer Properties

Blueberries’ are anti-cancerous. Studies demonstrate a correlation between proanthocyanidin and cancer. They have anti-proliferative and anti-adhesion effects on cancer. 

2. Antioxidants

The antioxidants present in blueberries and pomegranates help decrease the chances of mutation-induced cancers. They help relieve oxidative stress in the body by eliminating free-radical species. These may also help slow down the skin’s ageing process.

3. Skin benefits

The high amounts of vitamin C found in pomegranates can help rejuvenate the skin by reducing cellular damage. Substances like tannins and proanthocyanidins help in this process.

4. High potassium content

By drinking one cup, this juice can satisfy 11% of the daily value of potassium requirement. Potassium can help promote hypotension in patients suffering from high blood pressure and prevent bloating, swollen ankles, and weight fluctuations.

5. Weight loss

This juice is rich in polyphenols, linolenic acids, and antioxidants. All of which have a combined effect in boosting your metabolism. Additionally, the juice provides a feeling of fullness. It helps suppress your appetite, resulting in a decrease in weight and the fat content in the body.

6. Improves memory

A study found a significant improvement in memory-based learning and subject knowledge among students who drank blueberry juice. However, this strengthens the signalling pathways and makes glucose more available in the brain.

Best Ways to Consume Weight Loss Juices

It’s best to consume freshly made juice because it gives you the highest nutrients. However, you can also store the juices in the refrigerator for up to 3 days after preparation. However, the liquid may lose its nutritional value if you keep them for too long. Also, when the juice comes in contact with air for too long, it may undergo oxidation and lose its nutritional value.

The best way to store juices is in a glass container with a lid, as metal can react with the juice’s ingredients. The best time to drink juices is early in the morning. Substitute it for tea or coffee before or after a workout. 

There are two main ways to blend juices: a regular home juicer, mixie, or a cold press juicer. 

A centrifugal principle works in a juicer where the ingredients spin fast and crush with a metal blade inside the container. However, this method can generate excessive heat, inactivating several beneficial enzymes and causing oxidation. To sum up, using a juicer can reduce the nutritional value. On the other hand, a cold-press method is better to extract juice from ingredients without degrading its components.

Furthermore, juicing involves the process of removing the skin, pulp, and other parts of the fruit or vegetable that contains dietary fibres. Dietary fibres help in the proper digestion and absorption of nutrients. Alternatively, consuming smoothies may offer similar benefits as juicing but with added nutritional fibres and antioxidants.

In addition, smoothies contain pulp and sometimes skin, imparting further health benefits. Although juices are easier to digest and result in lesser calories consumed, drinking smoothies may be a great option as well.

Potential Health Risks of Weight Loss Juices

Drinking weight loss juices can help lose weight by creating a feeling of fullness. Moreover, they simultaneously limit the number of calories you consume to less than 300. Although this accelerates weight loss, juicing is not sustainable in the long run. It can cause a calorie deficiency and a nutrient deficiency in people who religiously consume weight loss juices instead of regular food. If you continue juicing for a long time, these deficiencies can slow down your metabolism. As a result, you can experience a lack of energy, fatigue, and much more. 

Sometimes, the vegetables and fruits used in these juices are non-organic or contain pesticides. Therefore, it can lead to an overload of toxins in the body. As a result, this can be harmful to the liver and kidneys. Although weight loss juices should not be a substitute for meals, you can consume 1-2 cups of these juices once a day only. Also, buy fresh and organic produce.

Relying on just juicing to fulfil your dietary requirements is a wrong choice, as it can do more harm than good. Continuous juicing without a healthy diet can lead to excessive bloating, unhealthy digestion, and a slower metabolism. Therefore, get the main calories from meals and juicing for its immense benefits. Moreover, you must perform regular exercises like walking, jogging, or weight training for the best results.

Summary

Juices made from organically grown produce can have several health benefits. These include weight loss, cancer prevention, lowering blood pressure, improving memory loss, boosting metabolism, rejuvenating skin and hair, and many more.

Preparing these juices is relatively easy, and you can do it every day in under 20-30 minutes. However, be careful when you have juices. Juicing for too long can lead to a slower metabolism.

It can cause problems like fatigue and can be harmful to the kidneys and liver. Therefore, weight loss juices should not be a substitute for meals. Instead, consume 1-2 cups of these juices once a day only. Also, extract juice from fresh and organic produce.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Does juicing help you lose weight?

A. Yes. Combining juicing with a healthy diet and regular exercise can help you lose weight gradually. 

Q. How much weight can you lose in a 3 Day Juice Cleanse?

A. Several studies suggest that juicing for three days may help reduce body weight by almost 1 kg per day. However, it is not a good option to lose weight quickly, as it is neither sustainable nor healthy. Instead, follow a healthy regime with regular exercise, a healthy diet, and weight-loss juices to achieve this goal. Juice decreases lipid peroxidation and increases concentrations. As a result, it helps improve cardiovascular health.

Q. What are the benefits of drinking juice?

A. Juices like green juice, pomegranate-blueberry juice, and carrot-apple juice have several health benefits. For example, it helps lose weight, prevents cancer, improves memory, provides antioxidants, and more.

Q. Is fresh juice good for health?

A. Yes, fresh juice is quite beneficial for health. It may aid with weight reduction, cancer prevention, cognitive enhancement, and antioxidant supplementation, among other benefits. In fact, fresh juice is the healthiest way to consume juices because it contains the highest amount of nutrients than any other form.

Q. Which juice is good for the body?

A. There are many juices that are good for the body. For example, green juice, ABC juice, carrot-apple juice, amla-curry leaves juice have several health benefits. These benefits include weight loss, cancer prevention, improving memory, providing antioxidants, and more.

Q. What happens to your body when you start juicing?

A. Once you start juicing regularly, your body gets many vitamins and minerals. In addition, you consume a calorie-deficit diet. As a result, it essentially helps lose weight, prevent cancers, boost immunity, and much more. However, you must start juicing with a healthy and balanced diet and an exercise regime.

Q. Which juice is best for weight loss?

A. There is no particular juice that you can consider best for weight loss. However, some juices which are effective in losing weight are green juice, ABC juice, amla-curry leaves juice and carrot-apple juice.

Q. Which juice is good for a flat stomach?

Amla-curry-leaves juice, green juice, ABC juice, and carrot-apple juice are some of the best juices for weight loss. Combined with a healthy and filling diet and an exercise regime may lead to a loss in fat content in the body. However, you shouldn’t depend on just the juices, as it can lead to bloating and other health issues. They should be one step in the weight-loss journey, not the only solution. 

Q. Which juice is good for the skin?

A. Juices like apple-beetroot-carrot juice, green juice and ginger turmeric juice are great for the skin because they contain many vitamins and antioxidants. Vitamins and antioxidants help improve skin and eliminate free radicals that damage your skin.

Q. Is drinking pomegranate juice good for you?

A. Yes, drinking pomegranate juice is beneficial to health as it has high potassium and vitamin C content. In addition, it can help decrease blood pressure for people suffering from hypertension and rejuvenate the skin. Also, it contains a good number of antioxidants that protect the body from internal damages.

Q. What happens when you drink celery juice every day?

A. Green juice, which contains celery, can help detoxify the body by eliminating carcinogens and toxins. Additionally, they contain antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals beneficial to our health.

Q. Is drinking kale juice good for you?

A. Yes. Drinking green juice with Kale can benefit you in many ways. First, it helps detoxify the body by eliminating carcinogens and toxins. In addition, it contains antioxidants, minerals and vitamins, good for our health. It also has omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which help increase hair elasticity, growth, and scalp nourishment.

Q. Is it good to drink juices daily?

A. Yes, drinking one cup of juice made from organic produce can benefit health. Therefore, start juicing with a healthy and filling diet and an exercise regime. However, you shouldn’t depend on just the juices, as it can lead to bloating and other health issues. They should be one step in the weight-loss journey, not the only solution. 

Q. Why is juice bad for your body?

A. Replacing meals with juices can lead to a deficiency in calories and nutrients, which can eventually slow down your metabolism. Also, consuming just juices can lead to excessive bloating and unhealthy digestion. Also, the product contains pesticides that may be detrimental to the human body.

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We often see a lot of our clients frustrated with their weight loss. They try really hard to avoid candy, sugary drinks and soda but they still don’t get the results they’d like. It’s so easy to get frustrated and want to throw in the towel altogether. While diet culture may have influenced you to think that you’re a failure if you don’t stick to a certain diet or way of eating, losing weight is so much more than just counting calories and exercising. This article will reflect upon the most commons weight loss mistakes that we tend to make.

It’s a complete mental shift to start thinking of your weight loss as a journey and take all of your health into consideration – starting with eating healthy, nutrient-dense foods, getting regular exercise, getting at least 6-8 hours of quality sleep, supporting your mental health and most of all believing in yourself and your ability to lose weight and keep it off. 

Top Five Reasons That Sabotage Your Weight Loss

1. Hidden Sugar

You might be trying to avoid many sugary foods and don’t realize that there is a lot of hidden sugar in many of the foods you see on the shelves of a supermarket.

The American Heart Association recommends eating no more than 9 teaspoons (36 grams or 150 calories) for men and no more than 6 teaspoons (25 grams or 100 calories) for women per day. Here are some examples of the foods that have added sugar that might sabotage your weight loss goals: pasta sauce, salad dressings, condiments like ketchup, yogurt, cottage cheese and many snack bars. 

For example, you are running late for work and don’t have time to make your breakfast. You go through a Starbucks drive through to get some coffee (Venti Caramel Macchiato has whopping 42.1 grams of sugar (about 11 teaspoons) or Venti Chai Tea Latte (52 grams of sugar around 13 teaspoons) and then you grab a cinnamon raisin bagel (11 grams of sugar) or a blueberry muffin (20 grams of sugar).

Let’s do some quick math: 

• Starbucks Venti Caramel Macchiato – 42.1 grams of sugar 
• Starbucks Blueberry Muffin – 20 grams of sugar 

Total: 42.1 + 20 = 62.1 grams of sugar (14.8 teaspoons of sugar) just for breakfast. You can see where it’s easy to consume too much sugar before you even get to your lunch and sabotage your weight loss goals. 

2. Eating a Big Meal at Night

We see clients often make this common weight loss mistake by eating their dinner late at night and make it the biggest meal of the day. Ideally, you should eat a smaller dinner and around 5 or 6 p.m. Anything we don’t burn for fuel within three hours gets stored as body fat. In addition, eating highly processed, sugary foods will lead to blood sugar issues and make it more difficult to lose weight and keep it off.

We often develop some bad coping habits and eat a lot of salty and sugary snacks while watching TV. The easiest way to help correct this bad habit is to make sure that you stock your pantry with some healthy snacks and get rid of sugary, salty and highly processed snacks. 

It’s very easy to overeat and consume too many calories at night. If you are still hungry after dinner, choose some low glycemic and low carb snacks, such as a handful of berries or fresh veggies with a tablespoon or two of hummus to satisfy your nighttime cravings. In case you feel stressed at night, practice some mindfulness techniques to help you manage stress better. If you notice that you are dealing with stress and anxiety by overeating, find a mental health counselor or a psychologist that can help you deal with negative emotions. We all go through difficult times in our lives and might need some extra help.

It’s also a great idea to go for a walk after your dinner to help move your body and burn extra calories. You’ll also be able to sleep better and have more energy the next day.

Here are some great meals ideas to have at night:

• Salad 
• Soup with some multigrain crackers or toast
• Smoothie 
• Multigrain wrap with some chicken and veggies

3. Weight Loss Mindset

Losing weight is so much more than just counting calories and exercising. Your mindset is very important to achieving your health and wellness goals. 

Optimal health truly begins with a positive mental attitude. Research studies show that the thoughts and emotions we feel on a regular basis determine to a very large extent the level of health we experience, as well as the quality of our lives. Life is full of events that are beyond our control, but we do have full control over our responses to these events. Our attitude goes a long way in determining how we view and respond to all of the challenges of life. We all will be much happier, healthier, and much more successful if we adopt a positive mental attitude rather than a negative view.

Another common weight loss mistake is our mindset. Studies show that individuals with a negative attitude have poorer health, are prone to anxiety and depression, are more frequent users of medical and mental health care, and show more decline in memory and brain function.

When you adopt a positive mindset, you’ll be able to reach your weight loss goals faster. Here are some quotes to help you adopt a positive mindset: 

• “Today, I chose to be the most beautiful version of myself, inside and out.” – Unknown
• “I am resilient and can get through anything.” – Unknown
• “You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” – John Maxwell
• “Be happy with what you have, while working for what you want.” – Hellen Keller
• “Focus on the whole step in front of you, not the whole staircase.” – Unknown
• “There is not failure. You either win or you learn.” – Unknown
• “Talk to yourself like someone you love.” – Brene Brown
• “We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both. Not at the same time.” – Brene Brown

We always encourage our clients to get out of the dieting mindset and quick fix diets, and implement new healthier habits to help lose weight and maintain it. Here are some things to keep in mind as you are trying to change your mindset when it comes to weight loss:

• Strive for progress, not perfection
• Expect defeats, but never quit
• Keep a gratitude journal 
• Find an accountability partner
• Celebrate your wins 

4. Stress

Stress affects all areas of our health and especially your weight loss. When you are chronically stressed, it can lead to imbalanced blood sugar and high cortisol which contributes to higher fat storage and will affect your body’s resistance of weight loss. This indirectly makes up for the next weight loss mistake, that one can make.

We all know that it’s almost impossible to avoid stress in your life. Learning to calm the mind and body is very important in decreasing stress. One of the easiest methods for anyone to learn are relaxation exercises.

The main goal of relaxation techniques is to produce a physiological response known as a relaxation response – a response that is exactly the opposite to the stress response that activates the parasympathetic nervous system.

The parasympathetic nervous system controls bodily functions such breathing, digestion, and heart rate during periods of rest, visualization, relaxation, meditation and sleep. Although the sympathetic nervous system is designed to protect us against danger, the parasympathetic system is designed for repair, maintenance, and healing of our body. 

We often adopt negative coping patterns when dealing with stress:

• Overeating
• Too much TV and phone scrolling
• Overspending
• Excessive behavior
• Emotional outbursts
• Feelings of sadness and helplessness
• Dependence on chemicals: drugs, alcohol, tobacco/nicotene

When we adopt negative coping mechanisms such as overeating, it will often sabotage our weight loss goals. I always teach my clients to learn one of the most popular techniques for producing a relaxation response is progressive relaxation. In progressive relaxation, a person is taught what it feels like to relax by comparing relaxation with muscle tension. 

The basic technique is to contract a muscle for a short period of time (one to two seconds) and then relax that muscle. Continue the process while going through all the muscles of your body, which progressively produces a deep state of relaxation. You start with your face and finish with your feet. This whole process is repeated two or three times. 

Don’t forget to take at least 10-30 minutes a day to practice mindfulness and destress. Some of great ways to do it are daily walks, deep breathing, progressive relaxation, meditation, dancing, spending quality time with your family, reading a book, coloring, massage, deep breathing, yoga, and tai chi. Some of my favorite meditation apps are Calm, Insight Timer, Headspace and Inscape. 

5. Not Enough Sleep for Weight Loss

Sleep is super important for our optimal health and wellness. Sleep issues and sleep deprivation can wreak havoc on mental and physical function. Many health issues, especially depression, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular issues, and chronic fatigue are either entirely or partially connected to sleep deprivation. 

You should try to get at least 6-8 hours of sleep per night. The American Journal of Epidemiology found that sleep-deprived people are more likely to crave sugary foods and have increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and cognitive decline. A poor night of rest increases one of your stress hormones called cortisol, which slows down the production of your growth hormone. Your growth hormone plays an important role in your metabolism. 

A poor night of sleep also affects your insulin sensitivity as it occurs at night. Your body becomes more sensitivity to insulin during sleep. For example, just one single night of sleep deprivation causes a 40% reduction in your ability to handle glucose which can lead to weight gain and blood sugar issues. 

Sleep is also important for the production of your growth hormone. Growth hormone increases our lean body mass. It also helps us burn fat for fuel. Growth hormone improves bone mineral density, blood sugar regulation, liver regeneration, and overall protects our body from aging. This is one more reason why we need to prioritize sleep to optimize our hormones. 

In addition, sleep deprivation will also affect your hormone production (estrogen, progesterone and testosterone). Studies show that women tend to require more sleep than men.

Here are some great sleep tips: 

• Keep your bedroom cool and dark before bedtime
• Eat nutrient-dense meals to support your sleep and to balance blood sugar
• Avoid screen time for 1-2 hours before bed.
• Spend 10-30 minutes outside in the morning to reset your circadian rhythm
• Spend a little bit of time without screens upon waking
• Balance your blood sugar and achieve optimal weight
• Take an afternoon break
• Take a break from social media
• Prioritize sleep
• Practice active relaxation and meditations 
• Write down your worries and to-do list before going to your bedroom 
• Take a relaxing bath with magnesium salts
• Aim to exercise at least 15-30 minutes a day

If you start prioritizing your sleep, you would be able to reach your weight loss goals faster. 

Conclusion

Weight loss is a journey and it takes time to lose weight and improve your metabolism. Don’t give up! Keep moving forward! Being hard on yourself puts your body into an anxiety state, which increases your stress hormones like cortisol and can further lead to food cravings and overeating. Embrace your imperfections and motivate yourself from a place of love. 

Most importantly, if you need support, guidance and accountability, our HealthifyMe coaches would be happy to get you started on your weight loss journey. Don’t struggle alone! Sign up today to get started with your health and wellness goals. 

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