Have you ever gone out to a restaurant and ordered a ‘skinny’ milkshake? ‘Skinny’ means it’s good for you, right? You would hope that skinny shakes would be slimming shakes, that are both good for your body and that help with your efforts to lose weight.
But in reality, those skinny shakes can contain over 100 grams of sugar. You would get less sugar from drinking three cans of soda! All that extra sugar, when it is done giving you a wild sugar high, will be stored by your body as extra fat, not slimming you at all.
Not all slimming shakes are created equal.
While the majority of store-bought shakes advertised as being healthy have hidden sugar, some are actually quite nourishing. However, to make sure, homemade slimming shakes are usually the best.
This is an excellent recipe for slimming shakes. It is creamy, while at the same time loaded with healthy fat, fiber, protein and vitamins. Taken first thing in the morning, it should help get through the first part of your day without a hitch. An added benefit is that it is low in sugar!
What gives this slimming shake its beautiful, pink color are the added beets. This, as well as the coconut milk and strawberries, work together to enhance the smooth, creamy, milkshake flavor of this great slimming drink. It is also packed with an enormous array of vitamins and minerals, adding to the body’s optimum functionality.
One of the ingredients, beet, is actually medicinal in nature and has long been used by practitioners of natural medicine. On a side note, the Romans of old actually saw this commonly available root as an aphrodisiac, and used it in an effort to up their ‘abilities’. It turns out they were right. Boron, which is plentiful in beets, actually assists with the production of sex hormones in humans. Added to this, blood flow is stimulated due to the presence of nitric oxide and nitrates, both of which are present in this unassuming red root vegetable.
Beets also contain a large variety of vitamins and minerals. This includes fiber, potassium, vitamins A, B, and C, beta-cyanine, phosphorous, iron, and beta-carotene.
The strawberries present in this drink, contain vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber, vitamin K, potassium, and magnesium. The fruit helps to lower the C-reactive protein in the body that is indicative of inflammation, while at the same time helping to burn stored fat and boost short-term memory. The latter is due to the presence of anthocyanin in the red coloring of strawberries.
This green, leafy vegetable has long been called a power food. It is packed with vitamins A, C, E, K, and B6, zinc, fiber, calcium, iron, phosphorous, folate, manganese, copper, protein, and niacin (commonly known as vitamin B3).
Avocado, or more precisely, avocado oil, contains monounsaturated oleic acid, also known as Omega 9 EFA. Omega 9 EFA helps the body recover from injury, aids in preventing recurrences of autoimmune problems, and lowers the risk of developing certain cancers. In addition, this oil plays a role in detoxification and digestion, strengthens hair and improves skin, and helps reduce inflammation. Avocado can also suppress appetite.
The nutrients, vitamins, and minerals packed into this shake are chosen especially for those with weight-loss in mind. They help with fat loss, give your immune system a great boost, help the body rid itself of free radicals, and help with healing colds and flu.
An added bonus is that, for something cool during those warm summer months, any leftovers from your slimming shakes can easily be eaten as a frozen, delicious dessert.
Put all ingredients in the blender. Make sure to add enough water only to make blending easier – the amount depends on the consistency you prefer. Once blended, have a taste, and add more stevia if you wish.
This healthy weight-loss shake can be kept in the refrigerator in an airtight container for one day. This recipe is enough for four glasses and contains only 3g sugar per glass.
Today’s eating habits put a huge strain on the liver and, of course, the adrenal glands. Dysregulated adrenals can lead to imbalanced cortisol and adrenal fatigue, which makes weight loss difficult.
Due to the toxins we are exposed to from our environment and the food we eat, the liver could become congested, thereby causing both our body’s immune system and stress response to become less active.
The adrenals, two small walnut-sized glands situated on top of the liver’s two lobes, play an important role in the body’s response to all kinds of stress, as their main task is the production of cortisol. This particular hormone’s main function is to regulate all of the changes that take place in your body due to stress, such as blood sugar levels, blood pressure, immune responses, how protein, fats, and carbohydrates are metabolized to maintain blood glucose, and even the activation of the central nervous system, to name but a few. This process is controlled by what is known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) hormonal axis. This is the main neuroendocrine highway by which the body communicates its specific needs with regards to hormone production.
When cortisol production is hampered in any way, the body goes into a state of stress, which, if not contained and managed correctly, leads to adrenal fatigue.
When the state of affairs is not rectified and the adrenal fatigue reaches stage three or four, the body’s NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response is put on overdrive, whereby it uses other pathways to see to the matter of helping the body de-stress. However, when the body is no longer able to respond in the appropriate manner, the problem magnifies, leading to complications that include improper hormone production, incorrect metabolic response, and the nervous system no longer functioning correctly. The heart is affected, inflammation can set in, and the body no longer detoxifies itself correctly.
Many symptoms indicate your body is in a state of adrenal fatigue. These include brain fog, always feeling cold, dry skin, joint pains, constant tiredness, weight gain, sluggish metabolism, and an intolerance to sugar.
One of the ingredients in this slimming shake is niacin, or vitamin B3, which actively works towards helping with adrenal fatigue recovery. The shake contains essential oils that are powerful building blocks that aid with recovery, while the myriad vitamins and minerals support the adrenal glands in their function. Additionally, an added benefit is that the ingredients in our slimming shakes such as vitamins A and E support the liver in the elimination of waste products, while the antioxidant vitamin C plays an important role in protecting liver cells.
© Copyright 2017 Michael Lam, M.D. All Rights Reserved.
Low-sugar slimming shakes can be a great addition to your routine if you're dealing with adrenal fatigue. They help maintain energy levels without the blood sugar spikes, providing the nourishment your body needs to heal and thrive. By choosing the right ingredients and balancing nutrients, these shakes can support adrenal health while also aiding in weight management. Ready to take control of your adrenal health and find the right nutritional support?
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