How To Get A Flatter Stomach Starting Today

If you want to get a flat tummy you need to have a weight loss program that is designed for your specific requirements. The only way that you can figure out precisely what you require to get a flat tummy is to look at all aspects of your lifestyle. This includes everything from what you eat, to the physical exercise that you do on a regular basis.

Your ability to get a flat tummy can also be effected by your working environment. Is your job actually having an effect on the fact that you have excess stomach fat?

Tips To Get Flat Tummy.

To determine how many calories you should be consuming during each day you need to take into account your height, weight and gender. Your nutrition can be adjusted appropriately to help you lose weight, get a flat tummy and remain healthy. The recommended calorie intake to reduce weight differs from person to person, but there are guidelines you can use as a starting point. The UK Department of Health Estimated Average Requirements (EAR) states a daily calorie intake of 1940 calories per day for women and 2550 for men.

Avoid Processed Foods.

Processed foods are those that come in a box, can, bag or carton. These foods have been altered from their natural states in order to extend their shelf life and are often poor quality with little nutritional value. Even the ‘fat free’ versions of processed foods should be used sparingly if you want to get a flat tummy. Manufacturers remove the fat but often add extra sugar to improve the taste which generally results in additional calories.

Fresh Foods Are Best.

The ideal foods to eat are real foods that are whole, natural and unprocessed. This means fresh vegetables and fruit, whole grain products and lean meats or other pure protein options. Cruciferous vegetables, like brussel sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower, are some of the best foods best foods to help you get a flat tummy because they contain nutrients that help balance out elements that result in the body depositing fat in the stomach area. They also contain essential macro-nutrients such as fibre, protein, and omega-3s.

Find An Exercise That You Enjoy.

Exercise is another great way to get a flat tummy. But you have to find an activity you enjoy or else you find it difficult to stick with it. There are lots of fat burning workouts such as running or jogging, using the stair climber, the elliptical, cycling, swimming and resistance training. While you can’t choose where the fat will be burned from, you can be sure that it will be taken from your tummy eventually. Just doing sit-ups or crunches will not help you to get a flat tummy fast because you can’t tone fat. To get those toned abs showing, you have to lose the fat that is on top of them first. Don’t worry if you can’t face going to the gym, as there are also lots of effective ways to exercise at home.

Also remember that when you reach your goal and get a flat tummy you have to be able to maintain it. The way to see if this will be possible is to review your weight loss program after the first week or so and, if you need to, modify it accordingly so that you will be able to keep it going for the long term.

The Remarkable Health Benefits of Coconuts

Nutritional Profile of Coconuts
Coconuts are densely packed with essential vitamins and minerals that are crucial for the body’s optimal functioning. They are particularly noted for their high levels of manganese, which is vital for bone health and metabolic functions, and copper, an important element for forming red blood cells. Additionally, coconuts provide iron, which helps in combating fatigue by aiding in the production of hemoglobin.

Interestingly, coconuts contain no cholesterol, making them a heart-friendly option. This is particularly beneficial for individuals managing cardiovascular conditions or those looking to maintain a healthy lipid profile.

Key Components and Their Benefits
Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCTs): Unlike long-chain triglycerides found in most other fats, MCTs are metabolized quicker by the body and are less likely to be stored as fat. This makes them an excellent energy source and helps in weight management.
Lauric Acid: Over 50% of the fat in coconut oil is lauric acid, which the body converts into monolaurin. This substance is known for its antimicrobial properties, helping to protect against bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
Coconut Oil: A Superfood?

Despite being 90% saturated fat, coconut oil is considered a superfood due to its composition of MCTs. These fats are not only easily digested but are also converted into ketones, which provide a quick source of energy and have been shown to have neuroprotective benefits. Studies suggest that coconut oil can increase levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, potentially reducing the risk of heart disease (Harvard Health Publishing).

Coconut Oil in Diet and Weight Management
Health experts often recommend incorporating about three to four tablespoons of coconut oil into your daily diet. This can be easily achieved by using it in cooking, as a salad dressing, or even in baking. It’s important to note that while coconut oil can aid in weight loss by boosting metabolism, it should be complemented with a balanced diet and regular physical activity for effective results.

Coconut Oil for Beauty
Coconut oil is a staple in natural beauty treatments due to its hydrating and reparative properties. It is considered one of the best natural nutrients for hair, suitable for all types, and is effective in preventing hair breakage and combating dandruff. For skin, coconut oil acts as a moisturizer and helps in reducing signs of aging by maintaining the skin’s elasticity.

How to Use Coconut Oil for Skin and Hair Care
Hair Care: Apply warm coconut oil to your hair and scalp, leave for a few hours or overnight, then wash off with a mild shampoo.
Skin Care: Use coconut oil as a body moisturizer after showering or as a makeup remover.
Conclusion
The health benefits of coconuts and their derivatives are extensive and valuable. Whether added to your diet or beauty regimen, products like coconut oil can significantly enhance your well-being. For more detailed information on coconut nutrition and its health impacts, you can visit authoritative sources like WebMD’s Coconut Oil page.

Incorporating coconut products into your daily routine can be a delightful and healthful practice, offering benefits that extend beyond basic nutrition to encompass holistic health and wellness.

What is Dukan Diet and its side-effects?

This article gives pertinent information about Dukan Diet and its side-effects

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Pierre Dukan, a French doctor and nutritionist, challenged with the case of obesity started to look for alternative ways in curing the illness. After 20 years of thorough research he published in the year 2000, a book called, “Je ne sais pas maigrir” or translated as, “I don’t know how to get slimmer.” It gained the best-seller in France after a year it has been published.
It was made a hit in UK when Kate Middleton, now the duchess of Cambridge, tried the Dukan Diet before her marriage to the beloved Prince William, she reportedly claimed a loss of two dress sizes. It also allegedly claimed to help five million French. The book is also gaining fame in the US in the year 2011 when actress/singer, Jennifer Lopez, lost pounds after her pregnancy by following this diet.
Dukan Diet: What is it? How does this work?
Dukan Diet is similar to the famous Atkins diet. Atkins and Dukan are much alike in terms of non-intake of carbs initially and do not require portion control or counting calorie consumptions. In Atkins, it requires net carbohydrate intakes and unlike Dukan, it suggests a daily intake of oats, increase water consumption and 20 minutes of everyday brisk walking. Dukan Diet adopts four phases namely: Attack, Cruise, Consolidation and Stabilization.
Four Phases of the Dukan Diet
Attack: In this starter phase, the dieter is only allowed take protein rich foods that are exquisitely low in fat. Dr. Dukan provided 72-item list of foods to be eaten, it excludes pork, lamb, poultry products and cheeses. Food should always be cooked but without adding any fat to it, it best to cook in grilling or roasting. It also requires you to eat 1 ½ tbsp. oat bran & 1.5 liters of water per day. This phase should be followed around 2-7 days or more. Results from this initial phase within 5 days may result in 4-7 lbs. loss. This phase promotes quick loss of weight since it is strictly based on a protein-only diet.
Cruise: Cruise, the second to the fourth phase of the Dukan diet scheme. During this phase dieters who were only allowed to eat protein-only foods can now alternate a 28-items of non-starchy vegetables. They may take attack phase diet for today and take non-starchy veggie diet for tomorrow, and so this phase must go on by alternating these two types of diet each day. This phase may last long enough as much as you want by reaching your desired weight and assuring 2 pounds per week loss.
Consolidation: As one achieves the desired weight, one has to go the next phase called Consolidation, this is the maintenance phase of this diet scheme where you have to prevent putting back excess pounds. The plan in this phase is less strict compared to the first two phases. During this phase you are permitted to eat protein-only and veggie diet along with a piece of low-sugar fruit, 2 slices of whole grain bread and a portion of hard cheese. In this phase you are allowed to have 1-2 serving of starchy foods and one celebration meal per week. The phase of consolidation does not expect to loss off pounds but rather it is steadily the maintenance process.
Stabilization: Stabilization is the final phase and a life-long phase of the diet scheme. In here maintenance of the life-changing diet may be a challenging and tempting. During this portion of the scheme, one is already permitted to allow any food intake that a person wants and by also sticking to the diet rule in the consolidation phase. As Pierre Dukan suggest, that staying on the phase 1 rule once a week and eat whatever you like for the rest of the week lowers the chances of regaining weight.
Pros and Cons of Dukan Diet
Pros: The fast results of this diet scheme is beneficially rewarding and motivating. It allows you to have protein and veggie meal plan diets and does not require you to count off your calorie intakes.
Cons: It is highly restrictive and can exclude healthy foods. Dieters can experience side-effects such as symptoms of headaches, nausea, lethargy, irritable and loss of concentration. Dieters may acquire halitosis (bad breath), metallic tasting mouth and strong smell in their urines. For those people who have problems with their kidneys and liver are not advised to follow this diet plan. It is not also recommended for pregnant and nursing mothers.

Views and Opinions by Health Experts on the Dukan Diet
There are lots of critics in this diet plan. Due to the restrictive type scheme of this diet, some fruits, grains and nuts which are healthy and have high amounts of vitamins and minerals that are vital to the nutrition of the body are eliminated. Keri Gans of American Dietetic Association, said that the lost amount of multivitamins that should be acquired from those restricted foods are not compensated in the Dukan diet. Experts have also criticized that experiencing such side-effects may not be healthy at all.