Ingredient in Focus: Kale

You may have heard about kale before. Or not. This member of the cabbage family has generated a lot of buzz in the health and fitness community earlier. Said to be a great weight loss food item, kale also contains a lot of health goodies.

Kale, also called borecole which may have originated from the Dutch boerenkool (farmer's cabbage), is rich in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, lutein, zeaxanthin (a common carotenoid alcohol found in nature), folic acid, vitamin B6, manganese, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. Some say consuming kale on a regular basis may provide significant health benefits like cancer protection and lowered cholesterol. No wonder kale is being dubbed as "the queen of greens," "the new beef," and "a nutritional powerhouse." Kale is one of the healthiest veggies in the world!

Aside from having antioxidants, kale is also low calorie but high in fiber. This is why it helps in encouraging body fat loss.

On the other hand, make sure not to consume calcium-rich food while eating kale because it contains oxalates, naturally occurring substances which interfere with the absorption of calcium, as well. But who needs to eat calcium-rich food while eating kale when kale itself possesses a lot of calcium, right?

Image source: howstuffworks.com

Sources:
en.wikipedia.org
webmd.com
howstuffworks.com

Fun Body Fat Loss Lunch Sandwich Ideas

Raspberry goat cheese sandwich

I've already shared how you can snack properly when dieting, how to grocery shop for healthy food, and how to control yourself when eating out. Now, I'm  here to aid you regarding eating lunch at work. Well, I'm actually here to aid you regarding preparing weight loss packed lunch for work. And nothing spells packed lunch better than s-a-n-d-w-i-c-h. After taking ideas from the healthy grocery shopping post, you might have stocked on a wide array of body fat loss healthy ingredients and healthy food. But how should you prepare it for your daily meals like a packed lunch sandwich?

Balsamic veggie sandwich

 Sandwiches are the most common lunch fare in existence. It can become boring and blah. But if you put a little creativity and healthier options into it, your lunch sandwiches won't be so ordinary and fattening. Instead of the usual white bread, add variety by choosing whole wheat. Oat, rye, and buckwheat are available. The texture and subtle change in taste can add more oomph to your sandwiches. Maybe using whole wheat buns, bagels, and pita bread would be interesting and tastier! Here are tasty sandwiches that would attract your eyes and taste buds.

• Raspberry goat cheese sandwich -This simple open-face sandwich is refreshingly tart and nutty at the same time. Plus, raspberries pack a whole lot of metabolism-aiding fiber. Just spread some goat cheese on your preferred bread and place raspberries on top. (c/o katheats.com)
• Balsamic veggie sandwich - Healthy and surprisingly yummy, the variety of flavors and texture gives you a one of a kind sandwich experience. (c/o buttermilkandpinecones.blogspot.com)
• Crab, Lemon, Parsley, and Caper salad with Ricotta on Crostini canapés - Who says canapés should only be served in parties? Have a party of one at work by trying out this guilt-free tasty canapés. (c/o thebiggestloser.com.au)

Crab, Lemon, Parsley, and Caper salad with Ricotta on Crostini

• Tofu bun -Tofu is the meat of vegans. But even non-vegans can enjoy it as substitute for meat when on a weight loss diet. Here's a mighty tasty take on tofu (c/o vegan.sheknows.com) Or how about really transforming tofu into a burger? (c/o chefinyou.com)

tofu bun

• Guiltless health wrap - Like sandwiches, wraps can be filled with different ingredients depending on your prefence. Wrap some lettuce/romaine, low-sodium deli meat, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, olives, corn, cheddar cheese, mustard, plain yogurt and pepper into a whole wheat wrap and enjoy being on a flavor high! Another favorite version of mine is wrapping low-sodium deli ham, cheddar cheese, barbecue sauce, and banana peppers into a whole wheat pita bread.

guiltless health wrap

The cut of sandwiches can make a difference as well. From whole wheat wraps, to great canapés, take your sandwiches to a whole new different level.

sandwich cuts

Exercising Your Way To Slimmer Thighs

Not feeling too happy about your thighs? It's okay to not feel happy about it but it's not okay when you don't try to do something about it. You won't feel fully satisfied with yourself if you leave unhappy things as they are. Ask your personal trainer for thigh-minimizing routines. Or DIY with these personal training exercises you may want to try for thigh weight loss:

1. Squat - Claimed to be the most effective and quickest way to toned thighs, squatting burns a lot of calories because of the large muscle groups needed for it. Add this to your exercise routine and you'll get toned thighs plus toned legs and butt at the same time.

With feet apart and dumbbells on both hands, squat by bending your knees with your back straightened. Do this 16 times with a normal pace.

Simple Tricks For Quicker Body Fat Loss

Aside from the usual healthy meal plans and personal training exercises, in what more ways can you aid yourself for a quicker way to weight loss? Here are a few simple tips that you could consider trying.

Don't eat while in your pajamas -Eating in very comfortable loose clothes might give you the illusion of being slimmer. Thus, it may lead you to eat more. When you wear more fitted clothes (not necessarily uncomfortable ones), it could help you become more aware about your body and help you watch what you eat.

Smell some citrus, peppermint, or vanilla - According to some researches, the scent of citrus (oranges, lemons, or limes) can help suppress appetite. It helps signal the brain when you're already full (very helpful during binges or emotional eating). Peppermint also helps suppress appetite for it promotes the feeling of fullness. Finally, vanilla helps suppress sweet cravings and drinks.