Weight Loss Drinks and Juices | Secret Slimming Concoctions
This first concoction is perfect for summer time and a perfect beach side drink; the Cucumber Pineapple Banana Slush. For a one serving drink, simply mix 6 ounces of Raw Unpeeled Cucumber, 3 ounces of Pineapple and 3 ounces of Peeled Banana in a blender. Blend them all until they turn to liquid. Add some crushed ice to the mix for a healthy frozen treat. You can experiment with it some more by swapping out the Pineapple and Banana for other sweet, fibrous and nutritious fruits. Be cautious of the amount of Pineapple and Banana or other substitutes that you would use as they still contain sugar. The great thing about sugar from fruits is that they have a low glycemic index but that doesn’t mean you’re allowed to go beyond the suggested daily limit. The cucumber is the star of this concoction, it is very nutritious, low in calories, has high water content, about 98%, and contains a significant amount of dietary fibers. These make cucumbers weight loss friendly. A 300-gram or 10.6-ounce cucumber contains 45 calories, 11 grams of carbs, 2 grams of protein and fiber, 62% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin K, and a little bit of magnesium, potassium and manganese. The Pineapple and Banana is there to add more vitamins, sweetness and fibers into the drink to make it more palatable and nutritious; two qualities that are important for weight loss drinks. Pineapples are rich in vitamins particularly vitamin C and Manganese. A cup or 165 grams of Pineapples contains 131% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C and 76% of Manganese. On top of this, the Pineapples contain Vitamin B6, Copper, Thiamin, Folate, Potassium, Magnesium, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Riboflavin and Iron. The high amounts of vitamin C present in pineapples makes them beneficial for weight loss as studies have shown that individuals with sufficient vitamin C intake burn fat 30% more than those who do not. The dietary fiber present in pineapples extends satiety state which reduces gross food intake. Researchers theorize that dietary fibers are known to create a viscous gel-like environment in the small intestine which would delay gastric emptying and reduces that activity of enzymes responsible for digesting carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Bananas, just 118 grams of it, contain Potassium, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Copper, Manganese, and 3.1 grams of fiber. Bananas have low glycemic index or do not cause a sudden rise in blood sugar. This makes bananas weight loss friendly as foods with medium to high glycemic indexes are associated with obesity and weight gain. The dietary fiber present in bananas also aids in weight loss the same way as the dietary fibers in pineapples do.
For all those Iced Tea fans, this second concoction is for you; this is the Iced Lemon-Ginger-Green Tea. To make this drink you have to prepare the ginger tea in advance. Immerse 4 ginger slices that are about 1 inch in diameter and are 1 inch thick in 4 cups of water for an hour. After an hour, boil it for 5 minutes, add 2 grams of green tea leaves or 2 green tea bags and then set aside to cool. Once the ginger-green tea is cool enough, add 1 cup of freshly squeezed lemon with pulp and 2 tablespoons of honey. Stir until mixed properly then add ice. You’ll find that this drink is spicy, zesty and earthy. The main ingredients to this drink is the ginger and green tea, the lemon and honey are there to add flavor. Ginger has been shown to increase the body heat which is attributed to fat burning and weight loss. On top of this, ginger is a known appetite suppressant. Some studies reported that green tea also aids in weight loss as it can cause a short term increase in the consumer’s metabolic rate. A subset of these studies mentioned that green tea is effective in reducing body fat especially
