Quick Tips: Foods To Help With Bloating!

I'm not going to lie: transforming your body from head to toe isn't always the fastest process, because it takes time to burn fat and build muscle. However, there is an exception: With the right diet and workout, you can see a difference in your belly (and maybe even reveal an ab or two!) in just a couple of days. The secret? Beat bloat.

Generally, the best way to avoid bloat is to stay away from soda, alcohol and greasy, salty, fatty meals, which slow the stomach and the intestines from emptying.

Here are 5 of bloat-busting foods:

• Papaya: There's some research that says the enzyme in papaya may aid digestion. Try mixing diced papaya into plain organic yogurt for breakfast.
• Oatmeal: According to recent meta-analysis of a number of studies related to digestion, researchers found that oat bran can be particularly beneficial. It's recommended to have oatmeal for breakfast. Warning: Avoid McDonald's new oatmeal, which has more sugar than a Snickers bar, according to this recent New York Times article. Yikes!

More foods to decrease the bloat, so keep reading.

• Yogurt: The key is to make sure you're choosing a yogurt that has "active cultures," which will increase the number of "good" bacteria in your gut, helping you digest more efficiently and preventing that belly from blowing up.Look for organic plain yogurt (which is very likely to contain the active cultures), and steer clear of anything with "fruit on the bottom." If you need a touch of sweet, stir in some strawberry jam.
• Asparagus: "There's some really interesting new data about asparagus that indicates that it has some probiotic benefits,". So it may ease gas build-up and, because of its diuretic properties, also flush waste and excess water from your body.
• Quinoa: This South American grain is a great source of the minerals magnesium, phosphorous and especially manganese. As a bonus, the potassium in quinoa has been shown to beat bloat (your jeans will thank you).
• Cardio and Yoga: On top of cardio (the fastest way to burn the fat that's covering those dying-to-make-their-debut abs), take a few yoga classes during the week. Certain postures such as "Seated Spinal Twist" and "Triangle" are known for aiding in digestion by wringing out your system and massaging your organs. Whether you're a yoga rookie or a regular, before class, mention to your instructor that you would like to focus on twisting postures.

Have a nice day! :)

10 Foods to Wake Up Your Workday

Lunch was hours ago, and your blood sugar is plummeting. Before you grab a sugar-loaded snack from the trusty office vending machine, consider the top 10 energy-rich foods below...they'll revive you (and stabilize your blood sugar) so you can stay alert until dinner:

• Dried Fruit: Fantastic option for fending off hunger, dried fruits work great by themselves or mixed with nuts.

• Seeds: Pumpkin and sunflower seeds are a satisfying snack, but they won't weigh you down.
• Hardboiled Eggs: Disclaimer: don't eat these at your desk unless you want to make enemies out of your fellow cubicle dwellers. Hardboiled eggs are a great energy food because they're packed with lean protein. Try them with hot sauce.
• Granola: You don't need to eat a lot of granola to get a second wind, but be sure to avoid the kind that's coated with a thick sheen of sugar.
• Veggies: Raw vegetables make great snacks because they can be paired with an infinite number of tasty spreads. Try spicy salsa or a creamy yogurt-based dip.
• Peanut Butter: Peanut butter (or almond butter) offers the same benefits as raw nuts, just with a silkier texture. Throw some on top of an English muffin, or even better a few apple slices.
• Fresh Fruit: Fruit equals fiber, and fiber equals energy. Take an apple to work or whip up a salad the night before work.
• Popcorn: Popcorn (the kind you DON'T get at the movies) provides a satisfying, crunchy alternative to empty-calorie snacks like potato chips
• Nuts: Yes, nuts are the most obvious choice on this list, but for good reason. Brimming with plant-based protein and healthy monounsaturated fats, few foods pack such power. Eat them straight out of the container or make your own variety.
• Bran Muffins: Carbs can be tricky: stuff yourself with the wrong kind and you might wake up face down on your keyboard. Bran muffins, on the other hand, will keep you full without making you drowsy. You can freeze a batch and take one at a time with you to work for an ideal afternoon snack.

Have a nice day! :)

 

20 Things to Make You Smile in 5 minutes!

It’s no surprise that researchers have found that other people will think you’re more attractive if you smile. But did you know that ou feegrinning can also boost your mood, ease pain, and help yl less stressed even if you fake the smile? Plus, it can make other people around you smile, but ask yourself a simpe question:  Can you make someone smile if you forgot how to smile?!

And smile may even earn you a promotion. (People who smile seem more confident and positive, making them more likely to be successful at work.) Here are some easy and inexpensive ways to summon your beautiful smile.

 1- A Smile Makeover
Researchers found that people with more tooth and gum problems showed less of their smile when watching a comedy show. Even if you’re a very busy mom, taking time to care for your teeth brushing and flossing daily, getting twice-yearly checkups, and trying whitening treatments and toothpastes can help you feel more confident about flashing a smile.

2-A Girl’s Night of Pampering
Call a few friends, and break out the nail polish, cucumber masks, and a bottle of wine. We all need time for catching up and treating ourselves like royalty once in a while. For the perfect manicure, treat your hands to a slathering of shea butter, hand balm, or thick face cream. Then file your nails in one direction (not back and forth) with a soft emery board. The best shape to keep them strong: square with slightly rounded edges.

3-A Bouquet of Flowers
Buy yourself a bouquet and set them by your bedside. In one study, women who did this got a mood boost that lasted all day long. In general, the long-lasting cut flowers are alstroemerias, carnations, chrysanthemums, and lilies.

4-A Funny Greeting Card
Visit your favorite supermarket or discount chain store. Go to the coffee bar and get yourself a steaming mug of something, then steer your cart toward the cards. Stick to the humorous section, stocking up on birthday cards, thank-yous, and other funny messages.

5-An Old Photo Album
Toddlers with birthday cake in their hair. Old wedding photos with “dated” bridesmaids’ dresses that were so perfect back then. Grandpa’s old childhood photos with him in a bow tie. It’s all good for lots of smiles, whether you view them alone or with your whole family.

6-A Silly Sitcom or Cartoon
There’s a reason that Friends lasted over a decade. It made us smile. If today’s TV lineup doesn’t have you laughing like the good old shows, buy or rent something from the “TV on DVD” aisle at your local video rental store or discount chain. Or surf for reruns. They’re bound to be on somewhere.

7-A New Shade of Lipstick
Makeup expert Bobbi Brown says that dark, dramatic shades are fine for women in their 20s, but if your lips have started thinning out (which naturally happens as we age), a soft, vibrant tone such as rose, apricot, or berry will help your pout look fuller and more youthful. A bit of clear gloss in the center of your lower lip will also reflect light, adding to the age-erasing effect.

More smiles:

8- Receiving and giving gifts
9-Watching the first snow fall of the season
10. Finding old clothes that actually still fit you
11. Watching a sunrise and a sunset. Maybe not alone
12. Shopping
13. Kids’ laugh
14. Puppies and kittens
15. Breakfast in bed (we can make exceptions, can’t we?)
16. Having someone play with your hair
17. Giving a hug to someone special or Receiving a hug from a friend when you need it
18. A phone call from an old friend
19. Chocolate
20. Pillow fights

Are you smiling now?

Then do one thing - make someone smile today.

Make someone feel cared for, respected, tolerated. Make someone feel loved.