Get Bikini Fit

Need to tone up before braving the beach? Here are some herbs to get you started

Still struggling to get into that bikini or don’t like what you see in the mirror when you try it on? Don’t despair  - if your holiday is still a few weeks away there are some herbs and spices that may help to tone things up by boosting your metabolism and helping to curb appetite.

A light sprinkling of cayenne on your food can help boost your metabolism. The reason? It contains capsaicin, a natural ingredient that can help the production of saliva in the mouth, as well as stimulating the digestive process.

Guarana may help you to drop a few pounds  by suppressing your appetite, but take care not to over do it. One of this herb's main ingredients is caffeine – a stimulant of the nervous system.  In the same way as drinking too much coffee can make you twitchy so too much guarana can leave you feeling irritable.

Ginseng is an adaptogen herb, which means it helps to keep the body in balance, which can boost energy and wellbeing while at the same time helping to curb appetite. It also helps to regulate blood sugar levels, which in turn reduces the amount of carbohydrate the body stores as fat.

Garlic and artichoke are two of nature’s answers to high levels of unwanted blood fats, especially ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol.  In fact, a study once indicated that a garlic supplement taken immediately after a fat-heavy meal helped to break down and ultimately reduce the amount of fat that the body would have kept in the circulating blood. 

TRY THESE

• Eat only as much as you need Just because your mother encouraged you to clear your plate, doesn’t mean you have to eat everything that’s put in front of you.
• Drink fizzy water As well as helping to fill you up, the bubbles will aid digestion, and the water will help to flush through any toxin build-up.
• Hurry up Set yourself time limits in which to do everyday chores, like vacuuming the carpet, or weeding the garden.  You will get more done, and may be surprised how energised you feel afterwards.
• Get your oats A natural way to satisfy your hunger for longer, oats help to regulate blood sugar levels as well as lowering LDL cholesterol and other fats.