The Leaf | Healthy Weight Loss Blog

You’ve probably read that drinking coffee can promote weight loss, but did you know that tea may also help you shed pounds? Green tea has garnered most of the headlines. Between its caffeine and the health-promoting antioxidants it contains, it might give your weight loss efforts a boost. Though most tea contains less caffeine than coffee, even a little bit seems to be able to boost your metabolism to burn calories. In green tea, it gets an able assist from antioxidants known as a catechins, says Healthline. Green tea’s secret catechin weapon is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which prevents the production of an enzyme that breaks down the fat-burning hormone norepinephrine. Letting norepinephrine loose, your cells break down more fat, turning it into energy your body uses rather than stores away. “In fact, caffeine and EGCG — both of which are found naturally in green tea — may have a synergistic effect,” says Healthline. Belly fat, also known as visceral fat, can be extremel...

We love green smoothies. That’s because they make for a super simple (and delicious!) way to load up on all kinds of body-boosting nutrients. Plus, it’s really easy to customize the ingredients so that you create one you actually crave (and don’t have to hold your nose just to toss back). And, for the non-veggie lovers among us, green smoothies are a great vehicle for sneaking in those good-for-you greens without actually having to taste them. Helpful hint: Just click on the name or image to view the full recipe. Here are 11 of our favorite healthy green smoothie recipes: Give them a go, then be sure to share your own go-to green smoothie recipe! 1. Green Goddess Smoothie > This delicious Green Goddess Smoothie features a variety of good-for-you ingredients like spinach, lemon, ginger, honey and chia seeds, sure to leave you feeling clean and lean. 2. Peachy Green Ginger Smoothie > You’ll love the flavor of this Peachy Green Ginger Smoothie , which includes frozen pe...

We celebrate Earth Day annually on April 22. A day that marks the birth of the modern environmental movement. So, this year for Earth Day, let’s talk trash! More specifically, food waste. Now, you may be saying to yourself, “ why on earth are we talking about food waste on a weight loss blog ?” Let’s start with the fact that food waste in American (and around the world really) is a big problem – so much so that USDA research tells us the average American household throws out about $1,500 worth of groceries each year. At a time when food prices are soaring higher and higher every day at the grocery store, this alone may be a good reason to start thinking about how much food you and your family throw out each day. But, when it comes to nutrition, one study reported on average that Americans waste about one pound of food per person EVERY DAY , with most of that food waste in the form of nutritious fruits and vegetables. So, while many of us purchase fruits and vegetables to eat a he...

Sure, you can simply peel and eat ’em: These sweet and creamy fruits are packed with heart-healthy potassium, filling fiber and lots of vitamins and minerals; on Nutrisystem, one medium banana counts as one SmartCarb. In fact, bananas are our top logged SmartCarb in NuMi , our easy-to-use food tracker app, being logged 510,925 times! If you’ve got some super ripe bananas sitting on your counter, and a little time on your hands, you can turn these awesome fruits into an array of banana recipes. Think banana bread, muffins, pancakes, smoothies and more! 12 Strawberry Recipes Sweet Enough to Eat Read More Try one (or all!) of these ten banana recipes and prepare to go “bananas”: 1. Gluten Free Banana Bread  > To kick off our banana recipes, this delicious banana bread is a tasty classic that comes to mind when you’re cooking with bananas, and this healthy treat does not disappoint. Applesauce helps it bake soft and moist, ripe bananas and cinnamon offer the perfect blend...

These days, shopping for food and eating out can hit you with “sticker shock” when you see the receipts. The prices for groceries and restaurant meals increased an average of six percent in 2021 and they aren’t likely to decrease anytime soon. Now here’s the good news: you can eat a healthy diet, lose weight AND save money on food. Here are 10 smart strategies to help trim up your food bills and your waistline. 1. Plan ahead. One of the smartest weight loss strategies is also helpful for saving money at the grocery store. Before you shop, make a plan for the next week’s meals. Then write up a list of all the ingredients that you need for those meals and stick to it when you shop. Items you grab on impulse at the store are likely to be high-priced and unhealthy. 2. Double up. When buying food and cooking meals, you’ll save money (and time) by doubling the recipe and setting aside half for a second serving. You can do this with versatile ingredients, such as chicken breast, that ...