Holidays, like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, are just around the corner. Soon, we’ll be enjoying the festivities where great company and scrumptious dishes are shared with loved ones. But after the merriment comes the guilt.
“I’ve put on a lot of weight after the holidays.”
“I shouldn’t have had that second serving of roast turkey and pumpkin pie.”
“How am I supposed to lose all this extra weight before the year ends?”
Being overweight has many disadvantages. Aside from making you feel heavier than usual, packing on a few extra pounds would also increase your risk of various ailments, including heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, and the like.
Disadvantages of gaining weight
- Difficulty in breathing
Do you ever notice how it’s kind of harder to breathe now that you’ve gain a few pounds? This is one of the major problems of being overweight. It is caused by excess fat preventing the rib cage from expanding, thus making it difficult for the diaphragm to move downward while you breathe. Aside from that, there is a shortage in the supply and exchange of oxygen in the lungs because some of the fat are stored there. This explains why you tend to feel tired after doing daily tasks.
- More at risk of heart disease
When a person weighs more than your Body Mass Index (BMI), you are more prone to heart disease and stroke. This is due to the fact that excess fat could cause obstruction in the arteries, putting pressure on your vital organs, especially your heart. As a result, you have a heightened incidence of heart failure.
- Poor quality of life
When you become easily sick because of being overweight, the quality of your life starts to diminish. Aside from not being able to do the things you used to do or have always wanted to do, you’ll constantly have to monitor your blood pressure, blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels and the like. Plus, you’ll soon start to take medications for varios kinds of diseases. Sure these medicines can extend your life, but being obese can change your lifestyle in numerous ways. This could even hold people back from socializing, resulting in a feeling of isolation, depression and anxiety.
- Doing the things you were used to doing has now become an effort
Running errands, going up and down the stairs, tying your shoe laces and even walking have now become an effort. Imagine carrying around 10 pounds or more of extra weight. The added weight puts more pressure on your feet, hips and knees. This could result in osteoarthritis, as the extra fats in your body could contribute to the degeneration of cartilage in your joints.
- Body pains become more prevalent
Due to the added pressure that the extra weight is putting on your body, you will most likely suffer from chronic pains in the back, legs and other body parts. Although chiropractors may be able to offer pain relief, but this can only be temporary if the weight problem isn’t addressed.
- More prone to life-threatening diseases
Excessive fat deposits in the body could lead to improper functioning of your internal organs, including heart, kidneys, gallbladder, etc. This could result in your body manufacturing obstructions, i.e., kidney stones, gall stones, etc., which could hamper the flow of blood, nutrients and oxygen, leading to failure in various bodily organs.
- Psychological disorders could set in
When you are obese or have gained several pounds over the years, you become more stress because of the imbalance in your body. This could lead to various health problems. Aside from that, being overweight could lead to depression, anxiety, feelings of unattractiveness, isolation, self-pity and the like. And when you are having all these negative emotions, your self-esteem takes a nose dive. As a result, you tend to isolate yourself from the rest of the world, thus making you feel lonelier and more unwanted. All of which could lead to more serious psychological problems.
- Over-sweating and body odor
Not all overweight people sweat a lot or have body odor. But many of them do more than others. This is because skin folds, which many overweight persons have, decrease air flow, causing the person to sweat excessively, resulting in body odor.
As you can see, there are so many downsides to being overweight. Not only does the extra weight make you sicklier but it can also isolate you, preventing you from fully enjoying life. In other words, carrying around excess weight can take a toll on your body. If you don’t want to end up being seriously ill or depressed, you should consider losing weight now.
Ways to lose weight naturally
Although there are lots of products, diet plans and exercise routines that promise to help you lose weight fast, your determination and perseverance are still the key to shedding the extra pounds and keeping them off for good. Here are some tips on how to lose weight naturally:
- Add protein to your diet to feel fuller faster, reducing your appetite.
- Keep away from processed foods as these are high in added sugars, calories and fats.
- Limit your sugar intake, if you can’t do away with it completely. Sugar is linked to some of the most fatal diseases, including cancer, diabetes and heart diseases.
- Buy more of healthy foods and snacks, including fruits and vegetables, whole wheat, nuts and yogurt.
- Drink lots of water and less of caffeinated drinks unless they do not have added sugar. Coffee can help in your weight loss goals by increasing your energy levels and the calories you burn.
- Practice portion control. This helps you maintain a balanced diet that includes as much nutrient as your body requires.
- Always make time for exercise or any physical activities, like walking, jogging, yoga and Pilates. This will help you burn more calories.
- Drink rooibos tea to lose weight safely and naturally.
Now that we’ve mentioned rooibos tea, you might be wondering what it is.
What is rooibos tea?
Rooibos tea comes from the leaves of the rooibos plant, which means “red bush.” It is a broom-like member of the Fabaceae family that grows in South Africa’s natural shrubland or heathleand vegetation. Its scientific name is Aspalathus linearis, which comes from the plant’s needle-like leaves and linear-growing structure. It’s also referred to as the bush tea (Southern Africa) and redbush tea (Great Britain).
The leaves of the rooibos plant are oxidized, producing the distinctive reddish-brown color of the tea. It is rich in ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and does not contain caffeine, unlike other teas. It’s also low in tannin. Aside from that, rooibos contains polyphenols, such as flavanols, flavanones, aspalathin, dihydochalcones, flavones and nothofagin. Once the leaves are processed, they contain cinnamic and benzoic acids, as well as antioxidants and trace amounts of minerals. It has a distinct fruity, nutty flavor.
Rooibos tea has many health benefits. But its most important is its ability to help you lose weight. This is why it is considered as one of the super healthy drinks.
Rooibos tea and weight loss
Although known as red bush tea, rooibos tea does not have theine, which caffeine in teas. This means that this drink is not a tea, but an infusion. It is one of the most popular natural ingredients due to its slimming effects.
- It helps improve digestion. As a result, all the food you eat is digested properly, which means that there are no fat deposits that sit in your belly area making it look big.
- Its antioxidant properties boost the metabolism of cells, ensuring that all nutrients are distributed properly throughout your system.
- It is a natural diuretic, which means that it effectively eliminates toxins, reduces fluid retention and cleanses the body.
- It helps facilitate intestinal transit, preventing constipation, which is one of the causes of weight gain.
- It has been known to suppress your appetite, if you drink this tea on a regular basis. You’ll feel full faster if you drink it 30 minutes or so before eating. It has been used for many centuries to make a person’s brain signal the stomach that it’s already full.
- It can improve the quality of sleep, which speeds up your metabolism and your body’s fat burning ability. Being well rested would also increase your energy levels, giving you more stamina to exercise and keep yourself active at all times.
- It helps relieve stress, which is one of the major causes of binge eating and eventually, weight gain. This is due to the fact that rooibos is rich in antioxidants, which help fight free radicals. In fact, a study suggests that it can possibly reverse the effects of stress on the body and mind. Plus, it has a calming effect on the central nervous system, which helps you crave less for unhealthy food.
- It is low in sugar or kilojoules, which is present in many beverages, including sodas, caffeinated drinks and the like. Dr. Oz, a famous American doctor that hosts a television show, said that replacing your daily dose of coffee with rooibos tea can help you lose up to 3.5 kilograms a year. So, if you do away with drinks with added sugar for a year, you can be sure to lose a few pounds.
- It has a positive on your blood sugar levels. Foods that are rich in carbohydrates and sugar can cause your sugar levels to drop as they are absorbed in your blood stream. As a result, you’ll crave for more sugar, making you eat more. This can lead to weight gain, as well as a number of diseases, including type 2 diabetes.
- It has catechins, which help burn more fat. When combined with healthy eating habits and physical activities, you’ll burn more fat, thus making you lose weight over the course of a year.
- It is naturally sweet, which means that you don’t need to add sugar or milk when you drink this beverage. This decreases your overall calorie intake, helping you to slim down without making you crave for something sweet.
Rooibos tea is indeed the perfect alternative to your usual coffee, tea or other sugary drinks. It does not only suppress your appetite but also help you sleep better and improve your metabolism. All of which can aid in your weight loss plans.
However, rooibos tea is not only a great weight loss beverage. It has many other benefits that improve your overall health.
Other benefits of rooibos tea
- It lowers high blood pressure. Scientific evidence has been presented proving that this tea can help in lowering blood pressure and improving cardiovascular health. All of these can help you lead a better, healthier life.
- It is safer for pregnant women because it has no caffeine. It is also safe for babies and infants because of its antioxidants, which help treat many ailments that babies usually suffer from, such as diarrhea, colic, vomiting and other stomach problems. It is also low in tannins, which means that it won’t interfere with your child’s digestive process.
- It helps improve the skin. This is due to the fact that rooibos is rich in alpha hydroxyl acid and zinc, which can help revitalize the skin to bring back its glowing appearance. In fact, it can help speed up the healing process of acne and other skin conditions, thanks to its high antioxidant content and anti-inflammatory properties. What’s more, it can be applied topically to soothe sunburn and eczema.
- It can enhance hair growth by fortifying the fibers. This is because this tea has high mineral content, including calcium, zinc, potassium and copper. It can also prevent dandruff by ensuring that hair follicles are not clogged up with dirt and excess oil.
- It is best for people suffering from headaches, disturbed sleeping patterns, irritability, insomnia, mild depression, tension and depression. This is all thanks to its calming effect.
- It strengthens teeth and bones. Rooibos has minerals, like calcium, manganese and fluoride to keep teeth and bones stronger and healthier.
- It might increase sperm count and improve sperm health. A preliminary research found out that the antioxidants in rooibos tea can help boost male fertility.
- It helps fight cancer. Again, rooibos is a powerful source of antioxidants and is rich in enzymes and various compounds, including flavanols and flavones, helping fight against cancer. It also stimulates detoxification, helping slow down the DNA mutation. Aside from that, it has almost zero toxicity, which makes it an effective form chemoprevention.
- It helps treat allergies or infections. Rooibos is also known as an effective antihistamine. This makes it a perfect drink for those have allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis and infections.
- It slows down the aging process. Most people are exposed to sources of free radicals on a daily basis. Because rooibos has lots of antioxidants and is able to enhance the body’s production of antibodies, it can help slow down your body’s natural aging process.
- It can prevent gout. Rooibos has the ability the lower the activity of xanthine oxidase, which coverts purine to uric acid. When there is an excess build-up of uric acid, this could lead to gout arthritis, which is excruciating for a lot of people.
- It can fight liver disease. Thanks to antioxidants, rooibos tea can protect or stop liver damage. Even when consumed during the early stages of a liver condition, this tea can still reverse the damage.
- It can prevent the formation of kidney stones. Rooibos tea does not contain oxalic acid, which is one of the most common causes of stone formation. A study conducted in India reveals that this tea has inhibitory effects on kidney stones.
- It has a long history of treating menstrual cramps. An organization that encourages women to improve their overall well-being found that rooibos can treat menstrual cramps and premenstrual syndrome.
- It boosts the immune system. Being rich in vitamins C and E, as well as nothofagin, aspalathin and chromium, the red bush tea can strengthen your immune system to keep infections at bay. Also, this tea has very low levels of tannin, which are water-soluble polyphenols that affect protein absorption and digestibility and growth rate.
- It can combat HIV, which is one of the deadliest diseases in the world. Studies show that rooibos has active ingredients that fight HIV infection. It also has alkaline extracts that can counter this immunodeficiency disease.
Now that you are fully aware of the amazing benefits of rooibos tea, you should start drinking it on a regular basis. Replace your daily dose of caffeinated and sugary drinks to ensure that you lose weight and improve your overall well-being.
To prepare a cup of rooibos tea, do it the same you would prep other herbal teas. Begin by boiling water in a tea kettle. Add 1 to 1 ½ teaspoons of the red bush tea leaves to a teapot. Then, add the boiling water. Let it steep for five minutes or more, although longer would be better for herbal teas. If you’re one who prefers iced tea, you can let it chill in the fridge before you drink it.
Elizabeth Swann Miller has been working as a Naturopathic for the past decade. Her specialty is nutrition and weight loss, but she has degrees in Psychology and Naturopathy. Despite her knowledge, she wasn’t able to lose her most recent pregnancy weight until she found the red tea recipe she is sharing here.
It was tough for me too. I had tried several other methods before. I had grown frustrated and hated my body more with each passing day. Nothing was working. The few times I thought I had lost some weight, it came back as soon as I stopped. So when I read about the Four Week Diet by Brian Flatt sometime ago, I was a little Skeptical. But with the much hype and talk about it on social media, plus the real testimonials I saw, I decided to give it a try.
