SUPER FOODS FOR SLIMMING

 

Written by Slawomir (“Swavak”) Gromadzki, MPH

 

– Kelp (seaweed) is beneficial for adding iodine to the diet thus improving metabolism by activating thyroid gland. Obesity is rare among people who incorporate seaweeds as a regular part of their daily diet. Polynesians can be a very good example. As a food additive kelp may also be used to reduce fat absorption and thus obesity. In 2010 a group of researchers in the University of Newcastle found that a fibrous material called alginate in sea kelp was better at preventing fat absorption than most over-the-counter slimming treatments in laboratory trials. Kelp is also known as one of the richest natural sources of vitamins and minerals, omega 3, folate, calcium, or vitamin K. It is believed that instead of being only a weight loss agent, kelp has the ability to normalize body weight, which means that it may help skinny people to gain on weight.

 

– Psyllium seed husks (portions of the seeds of the Plantago ovata) also known as psyllium or plantain, increases the weight-loss effect due to its unique fibre content. In certain Italian study, obese women received three grams of Psyllium in water 30 minutes before meals. As a result they lost more weight than the group who only reduced their daily calorie intake. Take a teaspoonful of psyllium seed husks mixed well with meals, and remember to drink more water between meals.

Recently I’ve met an obese lady who suffered from horrible constipations. She managed to empty her bowels only one or two times a week, which was very dangerous. Since she asked for something inexpensive I encouraged her to mix psyllium husk powder with equal amount of ground flax seed and take 1 tablespoon two to three times a day about 30 minutes before meals with at least two glasses of water. Apart from that I told her to eat about 5 pitted prunes a day at one of the meals. She came back after a week with a smile on her face and said that she could empty her bowels every day without any problem, and also her appetite between meals was greatly reduced, which meant she started losing weight at last.

Please keep in mind that it is very important to drink a lot of water with any additional dietary fiber as otherwise it will absorb all the water in your colon making the stool very hard and extremely difficult to remove.

 

– Chlorella is a microscopic single-cell freshwater algae which has been found in numerous studies to be an amazing health promoting superfood used to improve metabolism, help reduce appetite, increase energy, and even treat some of the most deadly diseases, such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, and AIDS. It is extremely high in chlorophyll through which it helps our body to process more oxygen thus boosting energy and metabolism, detoxifying our blood and promoting repair of tissues. Because it is believed that a powerful phytochemical found in chlorella can even rebuild nerve damage in human brain and nervous system chlorella is being often used in the recovery of patients with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Although chlorella contains less beta-carotene and protein than spirulina, yet it has more essential fatty acids and is twice higher in the nucleic acid and chlorophyll.

According the Journal of Medicinal Food, researchers from Kyoto, Japan chlorella intake resulted in noticeable reductions in body fat, fasting blood glucose levels, and total serum cholesterol. It helps to repair our nerve tissues, enhancing our ability to focus and concentrate.

Chlorella contains more of the extremely beneficial for our health chlorophyll per gram than any plant – about 10 times more than alfalfa and green leafy vegetables and 5 times more than wheat grass. It is also an excellent source of natural iron, iodine, many vitamins and minerals, amino acids, phytonutrients, and essential fatty acids.

Since Chlorella is a powerful detoxifier and energy booster it is better if you start with a smaller dose such as half of a teaspoon or 2 tablets a day and gradually increase the intake every week until reaching the maximum dose of 1 – 4 tablespoons or 10 – 20 tablets (500mg) a day (some sources recommend even higher doses). Although no known side effects associated with chlorella intake were discovered by now, yet due to the detoxification and colon cleansing process or your present state of health you may experience some temporary side effects such as bloating, gas, itchy skin, problems with getting asleep, excitement, or feelings of restlessness.

Suggested dosage: Some specialists suggest that we need at least 4 grams (Eight 500mg tablets) of Chlorella each day to get the optimal benefits it can provide. The recommended daily dose of Chlorella is 2 to 5 grams (1-3 teaspoons or 8-14 500mg tablets). Mix 1 to 2 teaspoons of Chlorella powder with worm water or juice and consume about 30 minutes before breakfast or take 1 teaspoon 2 times a day before meals. Children should reduce the amount to half of a teaspoon daily.

If you don’t like the taste of Chlorella, instead of powder you may also take 8 (500mg) tablets 30 minutes before breakfast one time a day or 8 tablets 30 minutes before breakfast plus 4 to 6 tablets before the second meal. Since Chlorella is a form of highly nutritious food it is advisable and more beneficial to chew or at least break the tablets before swallowing them as it will make easier for the digestive system to process it later.

While taking chlorella remember to increase your water intake. If you experience sleeping problems due to the fact that chlorella boosts energy I would suggest to take it only before breakfast.

 

– Bee Pollen can be helpful in coping with overweight as it reduces craving for sweets and stimulates metabolism.

 

 

Any information or product suggested on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. Consult your primary healthcare physician before using any supplements or making any changes to your regime.