4 Drinks That Shrink Your Belly

Cool off with refreshing sips that help keep your abs flat too

Flat Belly Drink: Watermelon Smoothie

As long as they’re made without sugary mixers like sherbet, smoothies are a guilt-free way to hydrate—and watermelon is a terrific, low-cal smoothie base. Not only is it a natural hydrator because of its water content, watermelon is also loaded with nutrients, including cancer-fighting lycopene, as well as an amino acid known as arginine.

A study in the Journal of Nutrition found that arginine can decrease body fat and increase lean muscle mass, so whip up this 56-calorie metabolism booster and sip away!

Flat Belly Drink: Dark Chocolate Shake

Really? Yes, really. Chocolate—especially the dark kind—helps you slim you down because it decreases appetite and lessens food cravings overall.

However, at nearly 400 calories, this shake is more of a meal than a snack. Try it for a quick breakfast to keep your appetite tamed for hours.

  

Flat Belly Drink: Flavored Water

Staying hydrated is important when you’re trying to trim down. Drinking plenty of water helps your body maintain proper fluid balance, stops water retention (a big cause of bloated bellies), and even increases the feeling of fullness so you eat less overall.

But if plain water bores you, spruce it up with fresh herbs, citrus fruits, and other low-cal flavour enhancers (sliced cucumbers work well too).

Flat Belly Drink: Pineapple Frappe

This blended pineapple drink tastes like a beach holiday in a glass—and it packs in two belly-flattening ingredients. A tablespoon of flaxseed oil adds mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), proven belly flatteners, and pineapple itself contains bromelain, an enzyme that helps break down protein, ease digestion, and banish bloat.

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Five Weight Loss Detox Tips

Every day your body absorbs a wide range of substances, depending upon your diet and environment. From coming into contact with pollution in the air to consuming unhealthy foods packed with chemicals and preservatives, there are many ways in which your body can be exposed to toxins - and these rarely pass out of your system quickly. For this reason, many individuals opt to do a detox to cleanse their systems of the substances that are making them feel sluggish, sick and just not right. But what are the best ways to rid your body of these toxins? Below are five different approaches that you might consider - all of which may result in weight loss due to the simple process of flushing your system of the substances that are making it work inefficiently.

1. Juice Cleanse

Juicing is a great way to flush the body of toxins and fill it with vitamins and nutrients that you need to thrive. Try to incorporate greens, vegetables and some fruit to act as a natural sweetener into each juice recipe. Don't peel the ingredients first unless absolutely necessary, as the skins of fruits and vegetables hold the most fiber and other key substances.

2. Lemon Cleanse

Lemons are highly acidic, which is a property that allows them to naturally aid in the detox process. Add some lemon to your water and make sure that you hydrate well each day. Through this, you can help break down fat molecules, leading to a healthier body and weight loss. Make sure not to go overboard with this, though, as the acidic nature of the lemon can wear away at the enamel of your teeth.

3. Salt Cleanse

Salt can help to heal the body by removing bacteria from the lungs. Additionally, it has been shown to improve asthma, allergies and irritations of the skin. The key, though, is consistency. If you have access to a man-made salt room, then that would be the best option, but you can create your own salt therapy regimen at home. Three times a week at the maximum, pour Epsom salts into a warm bath and soak. Choose a salt that has a smell you enjoy and that is either soothing or invigorating, depending upon the time of day you plan to bathe.

4. Sweat Cleanse

Sweating out toxins is a great way to detox and lose weight. If you have access to a sauna or steam room, make use of it to sweat out harmful substances in a peaceful environment. If not, simply up the ante on your exercise routine - sweating is sweating, after all. Just make sure to drink a lot of water when engaging in a sweat cleanse, as it is important to keep your body hydrated.

5. Lymphatic Cleanse

Massaging the lymphatic system can move toxins out of the body, allowing lymph to flow more freely and exit the body in a healthy way.

Starting Your Cleanse

All of these detox methods are proven effective, but it is important to find what works for you. Talk to your doctor before starting your detox to make sure that you are choosing the right method for your body's needs.

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