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     Reduce Belly Fat With Dark Leafy Greens ;  Here's How  

                                                                                                   by Judee Algazi

                                  Greens are Powerful Detoxifiers & Health Builders

                                           

Here is Why:

According to Therese Patterson, from Edible Nature Organic Foods, "The body retains fats as a way to protect the vital organs in the body from the toxins that we ingest (and create through stress). Body fat accumulation, especially around the mid section, is a visible sign of toxic build up and a good indication that the liver is not functioning as efficiently as it should.

If toxins build up faster than they can be eliminated, in an attempt to protect your organs, your body will actually make body fat for the specific purpose of storing toxins as far away from vital organs as possible. This fat is particularly stubborn fat that is very difficult to lose unless you decrease the toxic load and you do something to help your body detoxify.

So when we detoxify and cleanse the body of toxins, we give the body a chance to repair and strengthen itself - and when the toxins disappear, guess what happens to the protective layer of fat...yes, that disappears too!"

Want to get rid of belly fat? Include more greens in your diet. Greens are powerful detoxifiers that encourage the body to eliminate fat.  As long as you have toxins, you will probably have excess fat, especially around the belly. Toxins can come from a variety of sources including foods that we eat or drink, environmental exposure, dental treatments or medical treatments, and stress. Eating plentiful helpings of fresh dark green vegetables can help rid your body of unwanted toxins and in turn unwanted fat.

Dark green foods, like arugula, cilantro, kale, collard greens, broccoli, broccoli raab, dandelion greens, mustard greens, spring mix, etc. are all powerful detoxifiers. Include a plentiful helping of dark leafy raw greens in your diet at least twice a day.  Also, Chlorophyll, the green pigment found in green plants, absorbs energy from the sun during the process of photosynthesis. This energy becomes available to us when we eat dark greens.  Recipes

 Dark Leafy Greens Can Help Weight Loss:  Here's Why

  1. High in Fiber: Dark leafy greens are an excellent source of fiber which is needed to maintain proper elimination to maintain weight loss
  2. Energizing Nutrients: Dark leafy greens are loaded with health giving nutrients like iron, magnesium, vitamin A & vitamin C which are needed to help carry oxygen to the brain so you can feel energized.  When we feel energized, we are less likely to be looking to stimulants like chocolate or fattening carbohydrates to give us energy.
  3. Low in Calories and Carbohydrates: Greens are very low in calories and carbohydrates which makes them a perfect food for weight loss while supplying essential health giving nutrients.
  4. Antioxidants and Flavonoids: This is a bonus; Dark Greens also provide antioxidants and flavonoids which help fight free radicals in the body. What do free radicals do?  Free radicals can  cause cellular damage in the body. Cellular damage can open the door to premature aging and a variety of diseases, including cancer. Antioxidants and flavonoids are nature's way to fight free radicals in your body. Generous helpings or dark leafy greens provide you with a generous supply of nature's antioxidants. Choose organic greens to avoid pesticides and chemicals. 
  5. Detoxifies the Blood Stream:   Dark leafy greens contain the pigment chlorophyll, which gives greens their dark green color. This pigment absorbs energy from the sun during photosynthesis and is a wonderful cleanser to help detoxify toxins out of our system. Because the body holds onto excess fat in an effort to defend itself against toxins, it makes sense that the more dark leafy greens you consume to eliminate toxins, the less fat your body will need to accumulate for protection.
  6. Boosts the Immune System: Dark leafy greens provide potent antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals.   
  7. Amino acids: Another component weight loss is building muscle. The amino acids in greens are the very building blocks needed for the body to make protein, which of course is needed to build strong muscle.
  8. Aids Digestion: Greens also stimulate enzyme production which is needed for proper digestion of foods. If you digest your foods properly, this may help eliminate bloat, puffiness and even allergies related to improper digestion of foods. When you are bloated, puffy and have allergies, you tend to hold onto water weight.

Dark leafy green like kale, collard greens, romaine lettuce, parsley, cilantro, arugula, watercress, dandelion greens etc. are wonderful internal cleansers, provide protective antioxidants, nutrient dense vitamins and minerals and can even help you lose weight. Nature's dark leafy greens can help you cleanse your body of the toxins you have been storing and accumulating from heavy foods . When it comes to greens, I always look for organic. Most supermarkets now carry a good selection of organic greens  If you have difficulty finding them at your local supermarket, Whole Foods carries a full selection.

     Choose from the following nutrient rich dark greens:

  • spinach
  • arugula
  • dark green lettuce
  • parsley
  • cilantro
  • dandelion greens
  • kale
  • collard greens
  • broccoli
  • beet greens
  • mustard greens
  • chard
  • broccoli raab\

Fresh and uncooked is the best way to get the full benefit of dark greens. Or cook them lightly and quickly till wilted and serve. Here are some tasty and interesting ways to include more beneficial greens into your diet.

                                       

6 Ways to Eat More Greens:

  1. Green Smoothie: This is one way to take advantage of the full benefits that greens have to offer. Make a green smoothie for breakfast or a snack any time of the day.  Green smoothies are basically fruit smoothies with greens added to them. Since greens are digestible with just about any other food including fruits, this is a perfect energizing, nutrient giving, detoxifying drink.  Put 2 bananas, 4 soaked dates, 4 ice cubes, 6-8 oz water and 2 stalks of uncooked collard greens or kale in blender. Mix and drink.
  2. Green Juice: This requires a professional  juicer like Mr. Juicer . Juice 2 whole carrots, 1 peeled cucumber, quartered, 2large leaves kale, and 2 large leaves of dark green romaine lettuce. Add 1/4 cup of water before drinking. Incredible for you!
  3. Real Salad : Use a mix of all kinds of organic dark green leafy greens and add chopped cilantro, parsley, arugala, dill, watercress etc. Add dressing of lemon juice & Olive Oil or flax seed oil. Great detoxifier and cleanser.
  4. Kale Salad: Mix 1 bunch of organic kale torn into pieces and 1/2  red onion, chopped fine. Add 1/3 cup lemon juice , 3 Tbsp olive oil, and sea salt. Toss and eat. Great way to eat raw greens. Chew well.
  5. Broccoli Raab & Garlic : 2 pounds of broccoli raab, 2 cloves garlic, chopped, olive oil spray and 2 Tbsp olive oil. Spray pan with olive oil and add olive oil. Sautee garlic slightly, add washed and trimmed broccoli raab and toss until well wilted, but still green.   Tastes incredible.
  6. Cilantro: Cilantro helps remove heavy metals from your body. Add it to all your salads and green juice Try it in omelets and add to other vegetables.

 The alkaline minerals in 25-calorie servings of fresh spinach, kale, romaine lettuce


Spinach                                        

Calcium: 109 mg
Magnesium 87.0 mg 
Potassium 614 mg
Sodium 87.0 mg

Kale

Calcium: 68.0 mg
Magnesium 17.0 mg
Potassium 224 mg
Sodium 22.0 mg

Romaine Lettuce

Calcium 48.0 mg
Magnesium 20.0 mg
Potassium 358.0 mg
Sodium 12.0 mg

Recommended reading: Greens for Life by Victoria Boutenko

                Are you feeling tired, run down or out of sorts?                 

                                     Do you think you are full of toxins?

                          You may need more than just adding greens to your diet

                                                            

                         Our professional services can help put you back on track!

     Call today to schedule an appointment for an iridology evaluation to find out if you have toxins, nutritional imbalances, or other concerns.

We can then suggest a  personalized nutritional protocol of  herbs, vitamins, minerals, and dietary and lifestyle changes based on your unique needs identified in the analysis. Our aim is to help you feel better.

Testimonial: I had been experiencing fatigue and just generally felt run down. . I prefer natural alternatives, but felt I needed professional suggestions, so I decided to try  the iridology evaluation.  I have to say it was one of the most insightful evaluations I have ever experienced; It was totally fascinating, helpful and professional. After following the herbs and vitamins suggested after the evaluation, I started to feel better in just a few weeks.  Thank you for this great service  Jocelyn B. / Langhorne,  Pa.

 

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