Fitness Friday| The benefits of Green Tea

This weeks Fitness Friday is more health related if you hadn’t already guessed. I don’t know about you but I always find that I can easily commit to being fit but struggle to keep my diet healthy all the time. Personally I try to change small things in my diet one at a time so I can make a habit of it. One of these things is drinking green tea! Since I started working in an office my tea consumption has gone through the roof, and although many say tea is a healthy alternative to drinking coffee, it still has plenty of caffeine in it when drank in large quantities!

So as I have started swapping my builders brew for a green tea when I’m in the office I thought I would share the health benefits to drinking green tea, in the hope that some of you may swap one of your usual brews to a green tea!

• Its a healer- Green tea is packed full of goodies and antioxidants that can help fight against certain medical conditions such as;cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, high cholesterol levels, cardiovascular diseases, and infection.
• Smile- Green tea can help prevent tooth decay and bad breath. Its bacteria destroying abilities kills the bacteria that causes dental plaque.
• Weight loss- Green tea aids weight loss… fact! There have been countless studies across the world which have all found that participants who drank green tea lost more weight than those who did not. Green tea boosts that metabolism of yours, meaning you burn the fuel in your body quicker than before.
• Need a boost? Green tea enhances the energy levels in your body! so when you get to that afternoon slump, instead for reaching for a coffee and chocolate bar, try a green tea instead!
• Depression- Scientists have found that there are goodies in green tea that help fight depression. However like with all teas, those who drink it find that it is relaxing and helps fight against episodes of anxiety.
• Hydration! We all know the importance of drinking water, however I know many of you do not like the taste of it. So how about drinking a few cups of green tea? Green tea provides hydration benefit similar to water… plus it has no calories or sugar unlike some flavoured water!
• Fight the Flu!- Green tea’s high levels of antioxidants along with its Vitamin C consent help fight against infections and keeps cold and flu at bay!
• Super Skin!- Fro you beauty blogger green tea is a must! Green tea helps keep your skin clear, youthful and fresh. Many facials and face cream contain green tea extract because of its ability to keep your skin agile and help prevent the aging  process! Great for your skin

Do you drink green tea already? Do you know of any other health benefits to share with everyone? Would you swap your usual brew after reading up on the benefits to green tea?

Fitness Friday| 2013 The Year of Health

 

It’s that time of the year again, gyms are getting full, health food shops have never been busier, and it appears that everyone is now running or cycling everywhere… all the time! Yes it’s the time of the year when 90% of us pledge that this year we are going to lose weight! So for 4 weeks the gyms are busy, the pubs are empty and we think that we’ve done ourselves some good thanks to our crazy detoxes or exercise regimes. Then it slowly creeps back to drinks after work, skipping a few workouts and before we know it your trainers are collecting dust in the back of your wardrobe and your fridge is fully stocked with wine and cheese!

So this year I am asking you to join me and not pledge to lose weight… no this year we are going to get healthy! You can do this anyway you want, be it small changes such as making your lunch everyday, walking home instead of getting the bus, having a 15 minute run round the block… it all still counts! Or you can really go for it and eat clean, train hard and challenge yourself everyday.

What I am aiming for, and I think you should all aim for is health! If you can change your attitude so you focus of making the correct choices everyday that will make you a healthier and happier person then the weight loss will not only come… it won’t creep back on! If you can teach yourself new habits… no more fizzy drinks, no more wine after a hard day at work, your weight WILL reduce, and it WON’T come flooding back on as it does when you go on crazy diets and detoxes.

What you, I, and everyone needs to remember is that weight loss is a lifestyle change! It is not a 2, 4, or 6 week eating plan, diet or regime. If you don’t learn to adopt healthy habits any weight you lose will just reappear over the year and you will be making the same resolution in 2014… to lose weight!

So my resolution this year is to make sure that next year, 2014, my resolution won’t be to lose weight!

How you learn your healthy habits is very much a personal journey, but for me I surround myself with healthy images, motivating pictures and interesting articles. For me I use my tumblr account where I follow other blogs who post pictures that inspire me to be fit and healthy, plus it’s great for finding workouts, challenges and information. I also subscribe to Zest Magazine on my iPhone, which cost me £19.99 for the whole year, which I think is a bargain! I also enjoy challenging myself and after completing my own Festive flat Tum Challenge and getting some great results, I am now going to follow the Love Your Body Challenge from the Tone It Up Girls. I know that Jayne from Miss Jayne Becca is a huge Tone It Up fan and will be doing this challenge also, so if you want to join us let us know, we can support each other! Having that support and encouragement makes it so much easier to stick to as well!

What do you think? Are you going to aim for healthy this year? How do you motivate yourself? Any tips, let me know!

Fitness Fridays| Ways to detox everyday

I know I have written and article before on detoxing, and whether it is a scam or not. My personal opinion is that tablets, and expensive shakes and syrups are not the answer. Detoxing is being kind to your body, giving it the nutrition it needs so it can function properly. 

Everyday your liver, lungs, kidneys, digestive system and lymphatic system work overtime to help keep your body free from toxins. If you were to improve your everyday routine by incorporating a few of these tips you would be giving your body a helping hand, ensuring you stay beautiful. Following these tips could help you be slimmer, less bloated, and keep your hair, nails and skin strong and glowing.

• Go Organic- This is a big ask, as we all know it can be pricey. But where you can, and whenever you have the opportunity pick organic. To help your body function properly you should feed it premium grade fuel in the form of organic fruit and veg, with plenty of wholegrain fibre and brown rice. 
• Drink more- Very simple, but very effective. You all probably know that drinking water flushes toxins out of your system. You can also get your dose of water from herbal teas, and fruits such as watermelon, cucumber and grapes.
• Bathing Beauty- Having a sauna is a great way to sweat out you toxins, but if you can't get to a sauna, try a couple of handfuls of Epsom Salts in your bath. These salts draw out the impurities and improve you circulation. 
• Brush up- Skin brushing is a great way to detox by stimulating the lymphatic system. Do this with a natural bristle brush for five minutes a day, brush along your body towards the heart in long, smooth sweeps. A added benefit to this is that doing this reduces the appearance of cellulite.
• Hot and Cold- Rinsing yourself alternatively in hot and cold water really boosts your circulation which helps rid nasty toxins in your body. Take a shower for five minutes in very hot water, allowing it to run down your back. Follow this with cold water for 30 seconds,  repeat 3 times, this will really wake you up.
• Work it out- Sweat out your toxins. Simple, free and very effective. Studies have found for those who exercise, the time it takes for waste to pass through the system was increased by 60 per cent, not time for toxins to hang around!
• Yoga Baby- Yoga is not just great for toning. It has great benefits for your insides, obviously the deep breathing used throughout yoga had detoxifying benefits. The yoga poses squeeze, stretch and massage the liver, intestines, kidneys and lungs, this helps you insides eliminate impurities and heal. 
• Snooze to loose- When you sleep your body goes into repair mode, it releases vital hormones that assist in the growth of healthy cells, healing of tissues, and fighting off infections. Studies have shown that those who don't sleep as much tend to be overweight or obese, more likely to develop diabetes, and eat foods high in calories and carbs.

Do you have any tricks you do everyday to improve your health?