13 Ways How To Stay Slim Without Diet Or Exercise

If you want to shed some pounds and stay in shape, you need to put yourself on a healthy diet and start exercising as well. This is what every expert will tell you about weight loss. It’s a difficult and time-consuming process that can be easily interrupted, but you should know that there are some natural tips and ingredients which will help you lose weight naturally without starving and overworking yourself to death.

Green tea

Green tea is one of the simplest and best weight loss remedies. The tea contains numerous essential vitamins and minerals that will help you reduce your weight and improve your overall health as well. Drink 2-3 cups of green tea a day in order to benefit from it.

Whole grains

Whole grains contain a lot of fiber, a powerful nutrient that can boost your digestion and accelerate your metabolism as well.

Homecooked meals

If you want to lose weight, you need to stop eating out and prepare your own homecooked meals. They can be just as delicious as a hamburger or fries and you get to experiment with foods and flavors as well. Nice, right?

Smaller plates

Instead of your usual plate, take your kid’s plate and eat smaller meals. This will keep you from overeating and help you shed pounds.

Smaller portions

Instead of 3 big meals, why don’t you try eating 5 smaller? Fill the smaller portions with less food and more vegetables and eat more often just enough to stay hungry until the next meal, which should be in 3-4 hours.

Write down your weight changes

Keeping a weight loss journal will help you control your weight more efficiently.

Listen to your stomach

If you want to lose weight, you need to know when it’s time to stop. Overeating is the number one enemy to weight loss, so you should try and avoid it.

Do your household chores

In order to stay in shape, you need to move more, and a perfect way to do this is to do your household chores. Do the laundry, clean your home and try doing everything all the time instead of watching the TV.

The 12-minute jinx

According to studies, the hunger center in the brain is suppressed after 12-14 minutes. This is why you need to eat slowly and in smaller bites in order to start losing weight.

Maintain the time gap between meals

According to experts, the ideal time gap between meals is 3-5 hours – make sure to maintain it and eat light snacks or a salad in between in order to stay full.

Love your body

Look at yourself in the mirror – do you love the way you look? If you do, you’re probably fine. But, if you don’t, you need to take action and make some lifestyle and diet changes.

Deep breathing

Deep breathing techniques can relieve stress and help you relax, which is important for losing weight as stress has been related to obesity and weight gain. Learn how to unwind after a hard day at work and you will achieve your weight loss goals easier.

10 Foods That Make You Look Younger

You can head off a lot of your most common beauty concerns simply by downing the right foods. That's right—eating well not only does wonders for your waistline and bolsters your immune system but can also provide some very real get-gorg benefits, such as smoothing wrinkles, giving hair a glossy shine and strengthening flimsy nails.

"Your diet directly affects your day-to-day appearance and plays a significant role in how well you age," said Dr. Joshua Zeichner.

The smart approach, Zeichner said, is to create a plan that includes what he calls "the building blocks of healthy skin and hair"—nutrients, minerals and fatty acids—as well as antioxidants to protect your body from damaging environmental stresses.

Get ready to nab some beauty-boosting perks by tossing these essential face-saving edibles into your grocery cart.

Coffee

Grabbing some java every morning doesn't just jump-start your day—that cup of joe has bioactive compounds that may help protect your skin from melanoma (the fifth most common cancer in the U.S.), according to a recent report in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Researchers found that the more coffee people downed, the less likely they were to get the disease: Those drinking four cups daily had a 20 percent lower risk of developing malignant melanoma over a 10-year period than non-coffee drinkers.

Watermelon

The summertime fave is loaded with lycopene.

"This antioxidant compound gives watermelon and tomatoes their red color—and helps skin stave off UV damage," said nutrition pro Keri Glassman, RD, founder of NutritiousLife.com.

Researchers believe that the melon contains as much as 40 percent more of the phytochemical than raw tomatoes; that's the equivalent of an SPF 3, so use it to bolster (not replace) your daily dose of sunscreen.

Pomegranates

The seeds of this wonder fruit are bursting with antioxidants, like vitamin C, that prevent fine lines, wrinkles and dryness by neutralizing the free radicals that weather skin. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that higher vitamin C intake lessened the likelihood of dryness and wrinkles in middle-aged women. Also in the fruit's arsenal: anthocyanins (which help increase collagen production, giving skin a firmer look) and ellagic acid (a natural chemical that reduces inflammation caused by UV damage).

Blueberries

Boost radiance by popping some of these plump little beauties. Blueberries supply vitamins C and E (two antioxidants that work in tandem to brighten skin, even out tone and fight off free-radical damage), as well as arubtin, "a natural derivative of the skin lightener hydroquinone," Zeichner said.

Lobster

High in zinc, shellfish has anti-inflammatory properties that can help treat a range of skin annoyances, acne included.

"Zinc accelerates the renewal of skin cells," said Dr. Whitney Bowe, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "That's why you find the nutrient in many acne medications."

In fact, research shows that people with acne have lower levels of zinc than people with clear skin.

Kale

On the long list of this leafy green's nutrients are vitamin K (it promotes healthy blood clotting, so the blood vessels around the eyes don't leak and cause Walking Dead-like shadows) and loads of iron.

"Insufficient levels of iron in your diet can cause your skin to look pale, making it easier to spot blood vessels under the skin," explained Dr. Howard Murad, associate clinical professor of medicine at UCLA. To max out the benefits, eat the veggie cooked, not raw.

Eggs

Your fingernails (toenails, too) are made of protein, so a deficiency can turn those talons soft. Keep yours thick and mani-pedi-ready by cracking smart: "Eggs are a good source of biotin, a B complex vitamin that metabolizes amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein," said Dr. Frank Lipman, director of Eleven-Eleven Wellness Center in New York City.

Walnuts

Omega-3 fatty acids (found in the natural oils that keep your hair hydrated) and vitamin E (which helps repair damaged follicles) are two secrets behind strong, lustrous strands—and these nuts are full of both, Lipman said. All you need is 1/4 cup a day. What's more, walnuts are packed with copper, which will help keep your natural color rich: Studies show that being deficient in the mineral may be a factor in going prematurely gray.

Avocado

Like you need another reason to love them: These rich fruits are high in oleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid that helps skin retain moisture in the outer layer to keep it soft, plump and supple, Bowe said.

Cantaloupe

The sweet melon contains beta carotene, or vitamin A, which is believed to regulate the growth of skin cells on your scalp and sebum in the skin's outer layer, Zeichner said. This keeps pores from getting clogged and causing flakes.

8 Whole Grains You’re Probably Not Eating But Should Be

You’ve probably had oatmeal for breakfast, and if you haven’t yet tried quinoa I bet you’ve heard of it, or have seen it on a menu or social media recipe (it’s all over Pinterest!). But there are many other whole grains you may not be familiar with, and incorporating them into your food repertoire is well worth the learning curve.

Whole grains are white hot among chefs and nutritionists. They’re versatile, satisfying and in addition to providing slow-burning starch (think sustained energy!), vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, whole grains are health protective. Their consumption is tied to a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes and obesity (yes, a lower risk of obesity).

Here are eight to try, plus easy, delicious ways to incorporate them into meals and snacks. (And for those with Celiac disease or a gluten intolerance, the first six are gluten-free.)

Black Rice

Black rice is popping up on menus all over the place, in items from sushi to meatloaf. The natural pigment that gives black rice its hue is due to a unique antioxidant tied to protection against heart disease, cancer, and obesity. This is why compared to brown rice, black rice packs more potent anti-inflammatory properties, as well as higher levels of protein, iron and fiber. While I’ve made black rice at home, my local Thai restaurant offers it as a side, and I’ll use the leftovers in a variety of ways, including as the base for a hot cereal (made with unsweetened coconut milk, fruit, nuts, and ginger), chilled and sprinkled onto in a garden salad, or folded into veggie chili.

Kaniwa

This quinoa cousin is similar nutritionally speaking — high in protein, minerals and antioxidants — but it’s about half the size, so it cooks quickly (about 15 minutes). Like quinoa it’s incredibly versatile. You can whip cooked, chilled kaniwa into a smoothie, fold it into yogurt with fruit, nuts and cinnamon, add it to a garden salad or use it in place of bulgur in tabbouleh. Hot kaniwa can be stuffed into peppers, added to a stew or used any way you’d enjoy quinoa — in burgers, lettuce wraps, frittatas, you name it!

Sorghum

Sorghum, also called milo, originated in Egypt thousands of years ago, and is a staple in Africa. In addition to being nutrient rich, this gluten-free grain is digested and absorbed slowly, so it has a “stick to your ribs” quality that keeps you fuller longer, delays the return of hunger and helps regulate blood sugar and insulin levels. Sorghum can be used in countless recipes, from smoothies to savory hot or cold veggie salads, but my favorite way to prepare it is to pop it, just like popcorn!

Teff

This African whole grain is probably best known as the key ingredient in spongy Ethiopian flatbread. Known for its sweet, molasses-like flavor and versatility, teff can be cooked as an oatmeal alternative, added to baked goods or made into polenta in place of corn. Teff packs about three times the calcium as other whole grains — over 120 milligrams per cup cooked — and it provides resistant starch, a unique kind of carbohydrate that’s been shown to naturally up your body’s fat-burning furnace. Teff can be incorporated into homemade energy bars, pie crust, cookies or used in savory meals, such as a teff lentil loaf, or as a coating for lean proteins like fish.

Buckwheat

While wheat is in the name, buckwheat isn’t related to wheat at all. In fact, it’s thought of as a whole grain due to its nutritional properties, but it’s technically a cousin of rhubarb and is naturally gluten free. You may have tried buckwheat pancakes, but one of my favorite forms of buckwheat is soba noodles. I coat them with a quick sauce I make from almond butter thinned with warm water and brown rice vinegar, fresh grated ginger, minced garlic and crushed red pepper, tossed with lots of veggies, topped with a lean protein. You can also enjoy buckwheat as a breakfast porridge, or use buckwheat flour for making anything from crepes to cookies.

Millet

A staple in India, this tiny oval whole grain contains antioxidants in addition to key minerals including copper, magnesium, manganese and phosphorus. Like many of the grains listed here, millet can be served chilled or hot, or used in baking. I also love puffed millet as a cold cereal base, and I fold it into nut butter, along with chopped dark chocolate, minced dried fruit and spices, to make crunchy millet balls as an alternative to crispy rice treats.

Rye

Aside from rye bread, which is often a mixture of refined wheat and rye, there are many ways to enjoy 100 percent whole rye grain (which is not gluten-free). Rye flour can be used for baking, rye flakes can be swapped for rolled oats and rye berries can be used in place of rice. Recent research has shown that rye is more satiating compared to wheat, and in one animal study mice fed whole-grain rye versus wheat shed more weight, and experienced slightly better improvements in cholesterol levels and insulin regulation. When shopping for packaged rye products, be sure to read the ingredients. In most mainstream supermarkets you can find 100 percent whole rye crackers, made simply from whole-grain rye flour, water and salt. They’re an easy way to fit in a whole grain serving and delicious spread with a little ripe avocado, hummus, olive tapenade or pesto.

Barley

You may have had barley (also not gluten-free) in soup, but there are many other ways to enjoy this hearty whole grain. One of the oldest cultivated grains, barley has been found in Egyptian pyramids and was consumed by ancient Greeks for medicinal purposes. Natural substances in barley have been shown to help reduce cholesterol even more than oats, and feed the “good” bacteria in your gut, which improve digestive health, immunity and weight control. Barley is also the highest fiber whole grain, another boon for weight control, since fiber helps boost satiety and curbs calorie absorption. Try it as a hot breakfast cereal, in a chilled vegetable and bean dish, or as a rice alternative in pilaf.

The 25 Healthiest Things You Should Be Eating Right Now

A healthy, varied diet that includes nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables, antioxidant-rich foods and beverages, high-fiber foods, lean proteins and healthy fats improves your energy and overall health. Some of these foods may also reduce your risk for certain diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease through their combination of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other disease-fighting compounds. Aim to incorporate these nutrient-packed foods into your regular diet.

Nutrient-Dense Fruits and Veggies

Although fruits and veggies are always a healthier choice than chips and cookies, some have more nutrients per serving than others. Dark leafy greens such as kale and spinach are high in vitamins A, C and K and contain the eye health-promoting carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts are rich in vitamins C, E and K, and their sulforaphane levels may also reduce the incidence of breast cancer, according to a 2012 review study published in “Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry." Tomatoes and red bell peppers are both high in vitamin C and lycopene, the latter of which may combat stomach and prostate cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. As for fruits, blueberries, strawberries and cherries all have high antioxidant contents per serving, are low in calories and high in fiber.

Antioxidant-Rich Foods and Beverages

Your body constantly generates free radicals from everyday occurrences such as turning food into energy, breathing and sunbathing. Excessive free radical production damages cells and genetic material, potentially contributing to future heart disease and cancer development. Your body makes some antioxidants to fight these free radicals, but it also extracts them from food. Coffee and tea are both antioxidant-rich and have been associated with several beneficial health outcomes, including reduced cancer risk and improved heart health. Modest amounts of dark chocolate may also lower LDL cholesterol and blood sugar and increase healthy HDL cholesterol, according to a 2012 presentation at the “Experimental Biology 2012” meeting.

High-Fiber Foods

Most plant-based foods are high in fiber, which helps maintain bowel health, reduce LDL cholesterol and control blood sugar. Apples are fiber-rich and also contain ursolic acid, which increased energy expenditure and muscle mass in a 2012 “Public Library of Science ONE” study. Oatmeal’s fiber is well-known for its LDL cholesterol-lowering benefits; it is also high in B vitamins, folate and potassium. Sweet potatoes are high in vitamin A, B6, C and beta carotene, the last of which may slow age-related decline in lung function, according to a 2006 study published in “Thorax.”

Lean Proteins

The essential amino acids in high-protein foods are the building blocks for cells, enzymes, neurotransmitters and certain hormones. Greek yogurt contains calcium as well as probiotics, which are strains of bacteria that may improve gut health. Protein-rich lean beef is also high in iron and zinc. Eggs have memory-enhancing choline and eye health promoters lutein and zeaxanthin. Along with being a rich source of protein, lentils, beans and edamame are high in fiber, folate, potassium and magnesium. They may also protect the body against diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer, according to registered dietitian Samantha Heller.

Healthy Fats

Although fat has had a reputation of being an artery-clogger and obesity-promoter, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat and omega-3 fatty acids may actually promote heart health and help with weight management. Avocados and olive oil are rich in monounsaturated fat, which may lower total and LDL cholesterol and normalize blood clotting, according to Donald Hensrud, M.D., MayoClinic.com preventive medicine specialist. Almonds may provide similar benefits, according to a 2011 review article published in “Nutrition Reviews” that showed the nut's polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids to lower LDL cholesterol. Oily fish such as sardines and salmon are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which may improve brain and heart health and protect against certain types of cancer.

10 Clean-Eating Tips You Should Be Following

Clean eating — filling your diet with nutritious and unprocessed foods instead of calorie-, sugar- and fat-laden processed ones — has a powerful effect on your health. Diet is so important to your wellbeing that some doctors are even prescribing vegetables to their patients, no joke!

Go online, though, and you're likely to find tons of conflicting advice on what's healthy and what's not. The truth is that clean eating doesn't have to be complicated, and it definitely doesn't mean deprivation. Just follow these 10 simple rules and you're covered!

1. Eat the Rainbow

Veggies form the foundation of a clean diet, and you’ll want to include them at virtually every meal. Make veggie selection a snap by choosing produce of all different hues: green, red, yellow, white and purple/blue. This ensures you’re not only eating several types of veggies every day, which is essential for avoiding diet boredom, but you’re also getting a range of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients to nourish your body.

Use a variety of cooking methods to keep your veggies interesting. Try this grilled asparagus, go for perfect boiled corn or cook up delicious butternut squash.

2. Pick Plant-Based Proteins

Eating clean doesn’t have to mean going vegan, but you should consider swapping out meat for plant-based protein at least a few times a week. Protein-rich beans, lentils, soy and nuts all supply fiber and other essential nutrients like folate, which supports healthy blood flow. And eating soy protein in place of meat can lower your cholesterol, too, a study found.

Use chickpeas — an excellent source of protein — to add texture to salads, or to make your own hummus. Include quinoa in your diet as a cleaner alternative to pasta in in soups, or as the basis for healthy vegan dishes, like this delicious daal.

3. Allow Some Convenience

Obviously, eating clean means nixing processed foods, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take some shortcuts to make your diet easier. Pick up pre-cut veggies and fruits at the grocery store — or even pre-made zucchini noodles or riced cauliflower — which offer convenience without sacrificing nutritional value. Doing so will ensure you always have cut veggies on hand (perfect for no-effort snacking!) and will shave a few minutes off your meal preparation, so you can stick to your diet.

4. Choose Low-Energy Density Foods

Clean eating focuses on foods with a low-energy density — those are foods that have relatively large portion sizes with few calories (like leafy greens, which have less than 10 calories per cup). Low energy density foods fill up your plate — and your tummy — so you feel satisfied and full without having to take in tons of calories. That makes it easier to stick to your diet and lose weight and, because low energy density foods tend to pack in lots of nutrients, you’ll also feel energized.

At 0 calories, water is the ultimate low energy density drink. Make sure you’re sipping all day to stay hydrated. Drink a half-ounce for each pound of body weight, plus 12 oz. for every 30 minutes you work out. And pair smaller portions of your favorite foods with delicious salads to lower the energy density of your meals.

5. Fill Up on Fiber

Whole grains, veggies, fruits and legumes are all staples in a clean diet, and all packed with fiber. Fiber promotes healthy digestion. Fiber keeps your food from breaking too quickly and instead slows things down, so you can avoid nasty post-meal blood sugar spikes that would otherwise make you feel hungry and drained. At the same time, fiber adds bulk to your food, lowering its energy density so you can eat bigger portions without taking in too many calories.

Bulk up your meals with a handful of extra veggies, snack on fiber-packed raspberries and eat whole grains, like quinoa.

6. Go Nuts

The ultimate superfood, nuts pack in healthy fiber and plant-based protein, along with fat and minerals. The fat in nuts is the unsaturated kind that actually boosts heart health, and also helps you absorb other nutrients, including vitamins, from your food. And nuts also supply magnesium — a mineral needed for muscle function — plus iron for healthy circulation.

Snack on a handful of nuts or a spoonful of nut butter to stay full between meals. Or use almonds to make your own almond milk — it’s a cleaner alternative to dairy milk.

7. Dark Chocolate and Wine? Totally Fine.

Clean eating doesn’t mean foregoing your favorite foods, it just means choosing treats that offer nutritional benefits, too. Dark chocolate and wine — especially red or rose — offer tons of antioxidants that offer heart-healthy and neuroprotective benefits. Dark chocolate also contains copper — a mineral that promotes glowing skin — plus manganese for healthy joints.

Keep your diet clean by picking the right portion. For chocolate, that means enjoying one ounce; for wine, it’s 5 ounces a day, max. Looking for inspiration? Try these healthy chocolate-banana bites!

8. Avoid Artificial Sweeteners

We probably don’t have to tell you to skip sugar drinks, like cola. But the artificial sweeteners found in diet drinks aren’t great for you, either. Even though diet drinks don’t have sugar or calories, they’re still incredibly sweet, which keeps your taste buds “trained” to crave processed-tasting fare. If you’re downing diet drinks, you won’t develop the same appreciation for subtle flavors of veggies, lean proteins and whole grains, which may mean you’re more likely to feel deprived when you’re eating clean.

Crave a sweet drink? Blend up a homemade smoothie, instead.

9. Search out Sneaky Sugars, Too

We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but even “healthy” sugars aren’t so great for you. While ingredients like brown rice syrup and agave sound healthier than plain ol’ sugar, they’re still a concentrated source of calories -- and they’ll keep you craving sweets.

Try to minimize your intake of these sweeteners to retrain your taste buds. If you really need to use sweetener, try stevia: It’s very concentrated, so you won’t need to use much, and it’s naturally free of calories.

10. Remember “Clean” Doesn’t Mean “Perfect”

Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry. While it’s easy to get caught up in the “rules” of clean eating, living healthy means nourishing your body to live the happiest, healthiest life you can, and sometimes that means letting loose!

Don’t let your clean eating plan get in the way of the occasional night out, family BBQ or holiday get-together — just enjoy your meal then get back to your typical diet the next day. A meal or two every now and then won't hurt you; no harm done!

You can also indulge healthfully by making healthier versions of traditional treats, like these healthy brownies.

Coconut Water for Weight Loss

Compared to other types of drinks, coconut water is low in calories, but it's not calorie-free. If you're looking for a natural drink to add to your weight-loss diet, coconut water makes a good choice, as long as you stick with the waters without any added juice or sugar. Always consult your doctor before going on any weight-loss diet.

Coconut water is the liquid you find when you open up a fresh coconut. In essence, coconut water is the actual juice of the coconut, not to be confused with coconut milk, which is a mixture of coconut water and coconut milk and is much higher in both calories and fat.

Coconut water without any other added ingredients is a low-calorie drink. One cup contains 45 calories, 0 grams of fat, 10 grams of carbs and 1 gram of protein. If you're lucky enough to get fresh coconut water, you'll also get some fiber, which is helpful when trying to control hunger on a weight-loss diet. One cup of fresh coconut water contains 2.6 grams of fiber.

The drink is also a rich source of a number of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, calcium, potassium, magnesium and manganese. However, the amounts vary greatly between the fresh juice and ready-to-drink coconut water, with fresh juice a better source of the minerals and ready-to-drink water a better source of vitamin C.

If drinking coconut water helps you create or maintain a negative calorie balance, then it may help you on your weight-loss diet. For example, if you drink 1 cup of coconut water instead of 1 cup of orange juice daily, you save almost 90 calories. If 1 pound of fat contains 3,500 calories, swapping your OJ for coconut water can help you lose 1 pound in about six weeks.

When drinking coconut water as part of a weight-loss plan, count and track the calories in the drink to stay on target. Coconut water is also a source of sodium, and the amount may vary from brand to brand. Sodium not only causes you to retain water, but getting too much in your diet may increase your risk of hypertension. Read food labels and go for the brands with less sodium.