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10 Foods That Boost Your Fat Burning Hormones

“If you can’t produce enough insulin (you) get diabetes. If you can’t produce enough thyroid hormones, you gain weight and feel very tired and cold all the time. When you make too much cortisol, you feel stressed and anxious and prevent (weight loss.)” ~ Dr. Robert Silverman

Hormones are complicated little buggers, each with their own roles to play inside of the body. Collectively, hormonal glands – which make up the endocrine system – must “hum along” if we’re to think and feel our best.

Hormones and Weight

We all have five hormones that affect fat storage or burning:

Adiponectin, which lowers blood sugar and burns fat; Grehlin, which stimulates hunger and fat storage; Insulin, which lowers blood sugar and stores fat; Leptin, which stimulates satiety (feeling “full”) and fat burning; and Cortisol, which increases blood sugar and cravings.

Off all these, insulin may be best known as the hormone responsible for fat storage and weight gain. Leptin – a lesser-known hormone and powerful fat-burner – serves as a powerful counterbalance to insulin.

In short, insulin stores fat while leptin burns it. Leptin also provokes the “I’m full” feeling.

Balancing the “male” and “female” hormones, testosterone and estrogen, respectively, is just as crucial for fat loss. Progesterone, a secondary female sex hormone, also plays an important role.

Using Food to Burn Fat

Put simply, hormones tell the body what to do – and food impacts the messages that hormones send.

Perhaps the best way to maintain proper hormone balance is to eat the right foods. We’ve put together a list of 10 foods that are both nutrient-dense and contain hormone-supporting properties. All 10 foods aid proper hormone regulation.

Here are the foods that turn on fat burning hormones:

1. Natural Sugars

Sugar, in it’s refined form, is very bad for your health. ‘Refined’ means any kind of sugar that isn’t natural, while natural sugars – such as those contained in fruits – are fine in moderation.

Galina Denzel, author of the book Eat Well, Move Well, Love Well: 52 Ways to Feel Better in a Week, says, “Keep sugar found within natural foods, like eating a whole apple, or a piece of watermelon.”

2. Flaxseed

Ground flaxseed provides a nice dose of fiber, which helps you feel full. Flaxseed contains other weight-loss benefits, such as a healthy dose of omega-3 fatty acids and lignan, a substance which may help stimulate metabolism.

3. Cinnamon

Women, pay attention: cinnamon provides some potent weight-loss properties just for you. An organic compound called cinnamaldehyde helps balance hormones by lowering testosterone production while increasing progesterone levels.

The only drawback is a “sprinkle or two” won’t cut it: you’ll need a supplement.

care for your body

4. Cruciferous Veggies

Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, and mustard greens are some of the best foods you can eat to burn fat.

That’s because c-veggies are both low-cal and high in fiber. Additionally, they’re mostly made of water, which promotes satiety.

5. Healthy Fats

Dietary fat is utilized by the body for hormone synthesis, critical for maintaining hormone balance. Healthy and essential fats, such as those found in avocados, egg yolks, fatty fish, nuts, oil, salmon, and seeds will do the trick.

An omega-3 supplement is serviceable, but whole foods containing healthy fats are optimal.

6. Apple Cider Vinegar

A shot of apple cider vinegar is perhaps the quickest way to help correct hormonal imbalances between estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone – essential to fat loss.

For optimal results, use a raw, organic and unfiltered ACV.

7. Healthy snacks

Yes, we understand this recommendation isn’t one specific “food,” but hear us out. The unfortunate truth is that we live in a culture that is continuously stressed-out. This stress saturates our body in cortisol, which – as we’ve mentioned – promotes fat storage.

The best way to counteract our body’s stress response is to eat snacks rich in whole grains, lean proteins, and heart-healthy fats throughout the day. In turn, this regulates cortisol production.

8. Red Wine

Drinking moderate amounts of red wine is a healthy dietary choice. Red wine contains a polyphenol called resveratrol, which is a potent anti-inflammatory and hormone-balancing substance.

As with any liquid or beverage recommended here, try not to go cheap. There are plenty of high-quality red wines that won’t bust your budget.

bedtime drinks to burn stomach fat

9. Nuts or Cottage Cheese

Before hitting the hay, make sure to have a small, protein-rich snack, such as some cottage cheese or some nuts. Both contain a good dose of amino acids and magnesium, which will encourage a deeper sleep throughout the night.

A good night’s sleep is critical to balancing hormones, particularly cortisol, estrogen, and progesterone.

10. Vitamin-D

Vitamin D deficiency is very common in developed countries, including the United States and Canada. Healthy Vit-D levels aid healthy hormone production and maintenance.

There are plenty of foods rich in vitamin D, including fatty fish, dairy, orange juice, soy milk, cheese, and egg yolks.

5 Signs You’ve Found True Love, Not Just Attraction

Attraction and love are two very different things. And, believe it or not, it isn’t always apparent to someone when they love another. Is it love – or something else? Are they a crush? A fling? What are the signs?

The typical answer to all of the above questions: “You know when you know.” The problem is that this answer, though quaint, is– categorically untrue – at least for some of us. The main reason for this is – and this is a crucial point – that “people vary in the extent to which they know and can distinguish between their own emotions.”

The question then becomes: “How do I know if what I’m feeling is love – or something else?” Enter our old, and (mostly) reliable friend, science.

Loads of research on love and relationships helps provide a “science-y” glimpse into what distinguishes love and “other emotions” – like attraction – for some of us.

So, what does the science say about what separates love from “other stuff”?

Here are five signs that you’ve found that special someone – and not just “eye candy”:

“Where there is love, there is life.” ~ Gandhi

1. You’re Always Looking At Their Face or In Their Eyes

Eye gaze is a powerful indication of romantic feelings and principal differentiator between lust and love. When in love, experimental studies demonstrate that one’s visual attention focuses more on the other person’s facial features – including the eyes.

Meanwhile, someone in the clutches of lust focuses their gaze toward the body – which is unsurprising given that “body-gazing” dominates visual attention both before and during sexual intercourse.

love

2. You Willingly Make Sacrifices for the One You Love

When in love with someone, we’re all too willing to help at “the drop of a hat.” Personal sacrifice and love are often integral components of a couple happily in love.

Psychologists call these sacrifices “costly commitment signals,” defined as “behaviors that require substantial sacrifice, perhaps in time, emotions, or financial resources – e.g., driving a partner to an appointment or giving a gift.”

In contrast, the lack or absence of “commitment signals” in a relationship is an indication or either (a) lust, or (b) apathy. Either way, love is almost certainly not present.

3. You Replace “I” or “Me” With “We” or “Our”

The words one uses when describing a mutually-affective situation is typically an accurate gauge of how they feel towards that person. So, if you’re unsure about how someone feels about you, pay attention to their words – particularly words and phrases they tend to repeat.

Getting a bit more language-specific, plural words such as “we,” “us,” or “our” tend to be used more with someone we love. Singular words like “I” or “me” are generally used less. Context matters in such situations, however. You’ll notice that these words are often used scenarios involving resources (e.g., “our stuff,” “we bought,” etc.)

For example, a man in falling in love might catch himself using the words “our apartment” as opposed to “my apartment” as the relationship with his girlfriend progressed.

4. Love Means You’re Okay With Some Dependency

Before we delve into the fourth sign – here’s a caveat: personality matters, a lot.

We’re all familiar with two general personality types: introversion and extroversion; the former requires much more alone time than the latter, even in romantic relationships. (However, both typically need less alone time before experiencing love.)

Such “qualifiers” aside, evidence shows that people who are “highly motivated to increase closeness – like those who are in love – no longer hold negative views of dependence when it comes to their love interest.”

love

5. You Find Yourself Missing This Person

Helen Fisher, a renowned relationship expert, states that love – at its core – is a biochemical experience; that is, the brain’s reward system activates as it does when doing something highly pleasurable (e.g., consuming alcohol, working out, playing an enjoyable game.)

Physical attraction also promotes something that psychologists call pair bonding, or, as biologists define it: “the strong affinity that develops between a pair consisting of a male and female, or in some cases as a same-sex pairing, potentially leading to producing offspring and/or a lifelong bond.”

8 Signs Someone Is Trying to Compete With You

Mounting an argument against the effectiveness of healthy competition is challenging. A competitive mindset fuels personal and collective advancement and achievement. It is especially healthy to compete when we seek to improve ourselves.

The problem is that so many of us compare ourselves to someone else. Naturally, if we don’t measure up to someone, we may (sometimes, subconsciously), initiate an unhealthy duel – otherwise known as a “competition.” Or, more accurately, unhealthy competition.

Corporate America is notorious for establishing a cut-throat, war-like environment of competition. Some primary and secondary schools also do this, albeit to a (hopefully) lesser extent.

The big question: does this sort of competition help people thrive?

Amy C. Edmondson, a writer for Harvard Business Review, says that organizations often ignorantly send the wrong message, hence nullifying any supposed “gains”:

“The explicit (and intended) message (of highly competitive environments) is that hard work is needed to be successful here. The implicit (and perhaps unintended) message is that your success occurs when others fail. In a competition, others must lose if you are to win…Self-preservation is a powerful force.”

In a team-based yet individualistically-competitive environment writes Edmondson. “…it’s natural to withhold information that might help others, or fail to help when help may be needed. Clearly, the message (discourages) teamwork. It’s hard to collaborate if you view (consciously or not) your colleague as the competition…”

In essence, what’s the use of individual competition if it thwarts teamwork – and team productivity?

When Competition Gets Personal

If you achieve a modicum of success in anything, you become a target for competition.

People express (or not) these oppositional attitudes in different ways. You may not know someone is competing with you. On the other hand, others (out of immaturity) go out of their way to let you know they’re coming for you. Should the former occur, no big deal and zero harm done. The latter scenario, however, can create a hostile environment – and things can quickly turn bad.

In such cases, knowing when a person is “gunning” for you is beneficial. With the knowledge, you can avoid, disengage, and/or report them (e.g., in a work environment.)

With that said, here are 8 signs someone is trying to compete with you:

“I’m not in competition with anybody but myself. My goal is to beat my last performance.” ~ Celine Dion

1. They’re boastful

A rival will often exaggerate their capabilities, achievements, and talents. Unsurprisingly, they are more likely to boast when you are earning recognition for your hard-won successes. These exaggerations occur for one reason: their own insecurities.

2. They modulate your success

There are few things worse in this world than a sore loser. People who disregard or downplay the successes of others are as toxic as they are annoying. People who envy you the most are the ones who most desire what you possess. With this in mind, it is in your best interest to just avoid such people.

3. They gossip

“Tom’s really not that great a salesman,” “Anne really isn’t that smart,” or similar sentiments (names and job titles interchangeable!) are expressed by those who are engaged in unhealthy competition with someone else. Engaging in gossip is an act of immaturity – and should be dealt with.

compete with you

4. They always want to know how you’re doing

No, they don’t care about your success in this case. While they may approach you with a smile – perhaps even engage in a bit of playful banter – it’s a front to achieve one thing: to find out how they’re measuring up. Watch their expression quickly turn to sour grapes upon hearing anything they perceive as self-defeating (a.k.a., your successes.)

5. They celebrate your failures

A person jealously competing with you gets pleasure from your “failures.” The only thing worse than deviously celebrating your setbacks?

When that same someone talks about them behind your back – which they probably will, and then denies having done so – which they probably will.

6. They imitate you

Someone who competes with you on an unhealthy level strongly desires to be “equal to” or “better” than you. You may notice them walking, talking, and even (creepily) dressing like you. ‘

There’s one caveat, and it involves role models. We will naturally imitate those who we respect – and there’s nothing wrong with this. The difference? Well, we don’t gossip about or attempt to sabotage a role model.

7. They heap false praise

There are few things better than a well-timed compliment. There are few things worse than continuous, false praise. When someone is competing with you out of hostility, they will instead annoy you with disingenuous compliments instead of owning their displeasure. Classy, right?

8. They engage in sabotage

In a worst-case scenario, a person can become so jealous of your apparent successes that they scheme ways of discrediting your hard work and smearing your good name. Such behavior is inexcusable; the sooner you confront the situation for correction, the better.

Therapist Explains What Children Worry About, According to Their Age

We, adults, aren’t the only ones who struggle with fear and worry – children do, too. Therapists say that child concerns tend to differ according to age groups or stages of development.

Why Do Kids Worry?

As any parent can attest, children vary in temperament. Some babies are more relaxed, while others are more anxious; some are criers, some are not, and so on.

Anxiety is only an issue if it interferes with a child’s cognitive, emotional, or social development. (It can be hard to detect this behavior, so if you notice subtle clues, seek the expertise of a psychologist or doctor.)

Come to think of it, why do children worry, anyway? It’s the most straightforward time of life. It’s all brain-related, folks.
(And think about it, did things seem all that simple when you were a kid?)

Short and sweet, children are anxious because of the pace at which their brain develops. During this time, the child is absorbing – and trying to interpret – a vast amount of external stimuli, i.e., the environment of people, places, and things.

To complicate matters, the ability to cope with anxiety and worry doesn’t develop until after adolescence. This is why a child – even a teenager – may throw a tantrum because they feel the frustration of not being understood.

In short, fear of the unknown is a natural part of growing up. It is hardwired into a primitive part of the brain called the amygdala. The brain also grows faster from age 0 to 6 than at any time in life, which is a double-whammy for anxiety.

golden child

What Do Kids Worry About?

A child doesn’t begin expressing thoughts and feelings until age three. Usually, it isn’t until around the age of eight that they can do so with some coherence. So, it’s natural to be curious about what’s worrying your kid!
(Just try not to over-worry, hard as that may be.)

Important note: If you suspect that your child’s anxiety may be interfering with their cognitive, emotional, or social development – a potential psychological disorder – please seek the advice of a child psychologist or therapist.

List of Worries (and the Why Behind Them!)

Infants and toddlers (0-2 years)

  • Being separated from their parents.

Here’s why: Until around eight to ten months, babies believe that what is temporarily gone vanishes. For example, when you leave the room, your golden child thinks you’re gone forever! Then, they wise up to the fact that you’re somewhere – and begin to feel the fear of separation. They love you, after all!

  • Loud noises

Here’s why: The baby brain is super sensitive to information (and sensory) overload. A loud noise (or ‘startling’ sensation) will send their delicate brain into high alert.

  • External ‘Locus of Control’

Here’s why: When your little one begins taking their first steps (a beautiful thing!), they start to feel independence! They feel an ever-increasing need for control over their environment. Anything that seems outside of their control (say, a honking car or burst of thunder) can seem frightening.

things kids worry about

Preschool/Kindergarten (3-5 years)

  • Fear of the dark/being alone at night

Here’s why: Preschool-aged kids have difficulty separating fantasy from reality (do you see all these Batman and Superman costumes?) Anyways, if a child associates darkness with something scary, they’ll likely come crawling into your room at night.

  • People in costume (Santa, the Easter Bunny, etc.)

Here’s why: If there’s a common theme developing, it’s this: kids aren’t comfortable with the unfamiliar. A large man in a red costume, bushy white beard, and a weird-looking red hat isn’t going to impress them much. They’ll probably not like it … at all.

Fast Forwarding to 6-11 Years Old

Fear of strangers, the dark, being alone, and other things outside of their control pretty much dominate your child’s worries until age 6 or 7. Then, kids start fearing these things until around age 11 or 12:

  • Being home alone

Here’s why: While much older by comparison, young kids still question their ability to cope in an uncertain world without their Mom or Pop. The wonderfully vivid imagination may creep around the corner (*pun intended*).

  • Being rejected

Here’s why: Kids are coming to grips with the fact that it’s a big world out there – and they’re worried. Deeply entrenched in our subconscious is the knowledge that we’re, by nature, social animals. Rejection by one’s kind is rarely a welcome (or healthy) development.

  • Something bad happening to those they care about

Here’s why: Kids start to understand – at some level – that death is inevitable. As such, they may begin to ponder something serious happening to someone or something (a pet, for example) that they love.

children worry

Adolescents (Ages 12 and up)

  • Their image

Here’s why: Adolescence is when we ask, “Who am I, and what am I doing here?” At this age, kids begin to fully grasp the importance of social interactions as they transition from a family-based support system to a peer-based one.

  • Their grades or performance

Here’s why: Adolescents begin to comprehend the consequences of failure, which may breed fear. Achievement-oriented kids will especially be hard on themselves following a bad exam score or poor outing on the playing field.

  • Opening up to you

Here’s why: As mentioned, adolescents understand – at least to some degree – the importance of establishing independence. Combine this knowledge with the fact that adolescence can be downright unforgiving (thanks, hormones!), and you may have a child in conflict with themselves.

Of course, the best thing we can do as parents is to reassure them that we are always there for them calmly. No matter what.

Researchers Reveal Why Loneliness Is Dangerous To Your Health

From victims of the Syrian conflict to the issue of depression facing her constituents, Jo Cox was a warrior. Mrs. Cox worked on a project to combat loneliness – one of the most significant sources of depression – until her death in June of 2016.

“Young or old, loneliness doesn’t discriminate.” ~ Jo Cox

Those who believe in Cox’s message – and there are many – have worked tirelessly to ensure that her death was not in vain.

As it so often happens after a senseless tragedy, people began to pay more attention to the message: Loneliness – and the mental illnesses that it so often produces – is unacceptable; and something that is easily solvable.

A non-profit organization was set up in Mrs. Cox’s name – and immediately garnered support from institutions such as the Red Cross and Alzheimer’s Society. Foundations focusing on the protection of children and care for the elderly also joined the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness.

New Research on The Hazards of Loneliness

The conclusions reached by various research studies on the effects of loneliness and social isolation are both astounding and deeply troubling.

Studies from Brigham Young University (BYU) show that being lonely for long periods can up your risk of dying before your time up to 50%…

While the terms loneliness and social isolation are often associated with one another, there are differences between the two that are worth mentioning.

Social isolation is “defined as a lack of contact with other individuals; whereas loneliness is the perception that one is isolated from other people.

In short, a person can be in the presence of others and feel isolated.

According to a survey by the AARP, about 35 percent of U.S. adults older than 45 can be classified as lonely – or about 30 million people.

alone

Research shows a direct relationship between loneliness and social isolation and poor health. Per multiple studies, including by the medical school at Harvard University, loneliness increases the risk of Alzheimer’s by as much as eight-fold.

Nancy J. Donovan, the study’s co-author and professor at Harvard Medical School, reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association: Psychiatry, that loneliness carries “an increased risk of depression, heart disease, and stroke.

Here are some other eye-opening findings on the devastating effects of loneliness and social isolation:

– The effects of loneliness and social isolation may kill more people than obesity.
– The effects of loneliness and social isolation is more damaging to health than smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

From Politics to Prison

While personality has much to do with one’s degree of need for social contact, nearly every authority on the human condition agrees on one thing: the vast majority of humans require some degree of human interaction.

Perhaps no research proves the above point more so than studies regarding solitary confinement – a method of punishment that isolates prisoners in separate cells. Regardless of how one feels about the practice – which is becoming increasingly common for non-violent offenders –studies are clear about the psychological harm that the punishment inflicts. Here’s how Scientific American describes it:

“(Research) has documented several cases of individuals with no prior history of mental illness who nonetheless developed paranoid psychosis requiring medical treatment after prolonged solitary confinement.”

No One Should Be Alone

As of December 2017 there are an estimated 7.6 billion people living on Planet Earth. Since the dawn of humankind, we’ve depended on each other for friendship, love, and support.

We are social animals. Social isolation and loneliness’s damage remains thoroughly researched, documented, and validated.

Each of us has a part to play in combating loneliness – starting with our children and senior citizens.

Here are some questions we can all ask ourselves:

  • Should I call or visit a lonely person? (Parents, grandparents?)
  • Do I try to help those “cut off” from society? (The homeless, the drug-addicted, orphaned?)

We leave you with this quote from novelist Herman Melville: “We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes and come back to us as effects.”

Relationship Experts Explain 6 Words To Never Forget During An Argument

Brene Brown’s TED talk presentation on “The power of vulnerability” is one of the top five most popular with just over 33 million views. Why has Brown’s TED Talk become so widespread? As it turns out, human beings – as deeply social creatures, are always searching for a way to improve their relationships. (Who knew, right? **Sarcasm**)

“So very quickly – really about six weeks into this research – I ran into this unnamed thing that absolutely unraveled (human) connection in a way that I didn’t understand or had never seen.”

At the very beginning of the presentation, Brown flashes a slide with the quote “If you can’t measure it, it doesn’t exist.”

Brown, being a social worker – a profession that, according to her, lives by the mantra “Lean into the discomfort of the work,” saw this research-based approach to analyzing and measuring the complexity of human interaction a fascinating draw. She wanted to know why a human connection is– at times – an arduous path.

Connection is why we’re all here. It’s what gives meaning and purpose to our lives. This is what it’s all about.” ~ Brene Brown

The One Variable

Brown spent six years “trying to deconstruct shame” and vulnerability. She explains the process – and her eventual discovery:

“My one year turned into six years: Thousands of stories, hundreds of long interviews, focus groups … people were sending me journal pages and sending me their stories – thousands of pieces of data in six years … I wrote a book, I published a theory, but something was not okay.”

This setback of her life’s work – of “something not okay” – led the way to her most important discovery.

“There was only one variable that separated the people who have a strong sense of love and belonging and the people who really struggle for it. And that was, the people who have a strong sense of love and belonging believe they’re worthy of love and belonging.”

This absence of “love and belonging” manifests into loneliness, social ineptitude, and conflict, with plenty of arguments along the way.

“The Courage to Be Imperfect”

Midway through her TED Talk, Brown made an additional discovery: people who have a strong sense of compassion, love, and empathy have “the courage to be imperfect.” Deep connections with other people will always prove much more challenging without the ability to make yourself somewhat comfortable with vulnerability.

This courage to be imperfect also applies to how we treat ourselves – and, of course, our most intimate relationships.

authenticity

The Six Words

The ability to be vulnerable inevitably leads to conflict – both internally and with others. To avoid this “icky” feeling of vulnerability, we tell ourselves stories. We rationalize, we make excuses, and we catastrophize.

Here’s an all-too-common example:

We’re not feeling particularly good about how we look one morning. We take one look in the mirror and say to ourselves “Ew,” and ruminate about how “everyone” is going to think we’re ugly.

The story you just told yourself in this hypothetical scenario is B.S. The story that you just self-narrated is complete crap. And this crap not only affects you, but your relationships as well.

These negative affirmations will, whether we realize it or not, negatively impact nearly every interaction we have that day. As self-esteem suffers, our relationships suffer right along with it.

The problem: instead of saying “oh, what I’m thinking is B.S.” and just moving on, many of us continue to feel these feelings and think these thoughts.

The solution? Challenge the narrative. All it takes are six words:

“The story I’m making up is”….

Followed up by the reason for your anger in the first place. According to Dr. Brown, these six words can resolve almost any internal or external conflict. How? By accepting something that many of us shy away from: vulnerability.

Conflict-wise, it demonstrates your willingness to take responsibility for the part you played in the conflict. This action lowers the guard of the other person (and yourself) – a crucial component for easing the friction that accompanies disagreement.

Not only will these six words help resolve pretty much any conflict, but your self-esteem and outlook will also take a 180-degree turn.

According to Brown, it isn’t always easy to figure out what to say in the midst of a disagreement with yourself or others. This is where asking three fundamental questions may be able to help:

– What am I really feeling? What part did I play?

– What do I need to know about the others involved?

– What are the facts, and what are my assumptions?

Brown makes a poignant final point about an internal or external conflict in her book Rising Strong:

“…the good news is that we can rewrite these stories. We just have to be brave enough to reckon with our deepest emotions.”

May we all find the elusive, infinitely-powerful trait: courage. More specifically, the courage to be ourselves.

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