The Leaf | Healthy Weight Loss Blog

You won’t find the herb ashwagandha in the produce aisle—you don’t cook with it—but you might find extracts of it in your drugstore supplement section. If you’re struggling with stress—and stress eating—it might be a good idea to look for it. Studies of this herb, used in the traditional Indian medical system called Ayurveda, have found that it reduces the physical and mental symptoms of stress, including food cravings and emotional eating. In a survey by the American Psychological Association, 38 percent of Americans say they’ve overeaten or eating unhealthy foods because of stress, most because they say—no surprise—eating distracts them from their stress. What is Ashwagandha and What is it Good For? Ashwagandha (pronounced aash-wuh-gaan-duh) comes from a small shrub, Withania somnifera , grown in Africa, Asia and southern Europe. Scientists have discovered more than 80 typical phytochemicals in the plant that well, basically seem to do everything . In fact, it’s an herb kno...

It’s fall: Time for crisp air, cozy sweaters and pumpkin spice everything —lattes, cookies, breakfast cereals, teas, English muffins, beers and even lip balms. All that pumpkin spice flavor—and pumpkin—comes for good reason: Those big, orange gourds are low in calories, with just 50 calories in a cup of pureed pumpkin . And they’re packed with vitamin A: Each serving has 100-percent of the daily recommended value of this eye-boosting vitamin for women. But don’t skimp on the seeds inside. Pumpkin seeds provide filling fiber and important nutrients like zinc and magnesium. And eating a diet rich in pumpkin seeds has been associated with reduced risks of certain cancers . So embrace the pumpkin season—and its seeds! Try one (or all!) of these healthy pumpkin seed recipes that are packed with pepitas. They’re the best pumpkin seed recipes around! 1. Pumpkin Spice Smoothie Bowl > Calories per Serving:  254 On Nutrisystem, Count As:  2 SmartCarbs, ½ PowerFuel and 1 Extra...

When it comes to menopause and weight, the odds may not be in your favor. Research has found that most women gain anywhere from around five to eight percent of their baseline body weight within about two years after their last menstrual period. What’s worse, the rate of fat gain doubles and the loss of muscle mass declines so it can be even harder to lose that “meno-pot”—belly fat—you gained. Changes in hormones may be partially to blame for this weight gain, but it’s not the only cause. Studies have also found that women aren’t as physically active at this stage of life. Before your 50s, you may have been exercising without knowing it, but the days of running after toddlers and up and down the stairs doing 12 loads of laundry a week are probably behind you. So unless you make time to exercise by walking, running or going to the gym—sometimes tough to fit in a busy schedule—you’re probably not working off as many calories as you once did without even trying. This is actually ...

“I really feel for the trees this time of year,” says Maxine, a popular greeting card character in one of Hallmark’s autumn-themed cards. “At least when I went through ‘the change,’ nothing fell off.” What is Menopause? What is Perimenopause? “The change,” otherwise known as menopause , is a time when a woman’s production of reproductive hormones start to decline. Though it’s frequently described as having “symptoms,” it’s not a disease. Menopause is a normal and natural physical transition. Technically, it’s a point in time: 12 months after your last menstrual period. For most women, that occurs by the time they reach their early 50s, though it can happen earlier or later. But in real life, what we call menopause refers to a longer stretch of time—anywhere from seven to 14 years—when you may experience disruptions in your monthly cycle and other changes. If you haven’t been without a menstrual period for 12 months, your doctor will tell you that your symptoms of menopause mean yo...

October 14th is National Dessert Day! When you’re eating healthy, you deserve to be rewarded with sweet treats. However, a sweet treat doesn’t have to mean an unhealthy treat. You can easily enjoy delicious, diet-friendly desserts while staying on track with your weight loss plan! Using everyone’s favorite countertop appliance, the air fryer, you can make delicious dessert recipes in minutes (with no messy clean-up!). We’re talking about chocolaty donuts, chewy cookies and fresh fruit that tastes like pie. To get you started, we’ve gathered 18 easy recipes that are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. Here are 18 easy dessert recipes that can be made in your air fryer: 1. Air Fryer Stuffed Peaches > Calories per Serving: 97 On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb and 1 Extra Fresh-picked peaches are one of summer’s sweet treats all by themselves. However, they’re even better when they’re flavored with brown sugar, cinnamon and melted butter. “Bake” them in your air fryer until t...