rink This Before Going to Bed to Help Burn Belly Fat

Sometimes it feels like reducing stubborn belly fat is a full-time job. And who has time for it? In our busy lives full of multi-tasking and brain-busting, simply carving out the time for exercise can be a real challenge. That’s not to mention the effort it takes to research proper nutrition, source and learn new recipes, and cook most meals from scratch.

Of course, all of this work represents time well spent as excess belly fat has been linked to diseases as scary as cancer, heart disease, and dementia. In other words, if you don’t take the time to manage your health, it could abandon you when you least expect it.

We’re not here to shame you, though, but to make your life easier. We have a recipe to share that can help burn belly fat while you sleep! Your overall diet and activity level also matters when you’re trying to achieve a slender waist and strong heart. 

First, we’ll be breaking down the reasons why each element is so effective, and you can use the information to personalize the recipe to your own goals. Wait until you see ingredient #6 – we bet you’ll be surprised by how it helps!

Water

More water is the starting place for virtually all health concerns, weight loss included. For one thing, drinking more water keeps you feeling full with less food. But even better, chugging water has been found to increase the number of calories burned for an entire hour after you drink it.

Cold water especially seems to spur a 25% increase in resting body expenditure, or calories burned while doing nothing. Boosting your daily water consumption over 1 liter could net you an extra 4.4 pounds of weight loss over a year.

Cucumber

According to recent research, eating a diet high in foods that contain a lot of water but very few calories can be an effective strategy for jump-starting weight loss. Cucumbers fit the bill perfectly. One cup of it contains just 16 calories but lots of water and fiber.

Cucumber can also boost metabolism and contains a good amount of vitamin C, which helps burn fat at the cellular level. Finally, cucumber is a natural diuretic, so you won’t hold on to excess water weight from all the fluid you’re getting.

Lemon

Lemon water is a pretty big trend in weight loss, but studies show that it only really works when it is used to replace other beverages that may be packing on the pounds, like soda, juice, or heavily sweetened coffee.

Still, lemon adds a flavorful zing to beverages and makes them more palatable. And it contains vitamin C to aid fat burning and, like cucumber, is a mild diuretic that reduces bloating.

Ginger

Ginger is not only delicious but can help to control appetite through the regulation of blood sugar and serum cholesterol. It is when our blood sugar dips that we are hit with the cravings that lead to snacking and overeating. 

Including it in our bedtime smoothie recipe sets you up for a good day’s diet when you wake.

Ginger is also great for suppressing the stress hormone cortisol, which is linked with fat storage. It interrupts the vicious cycle that has you reaching for the candy when you feel stressed, then storing all of that extra fat around your middle because of the cortisol that made you feel stressed in the first place!

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Parsley or Cilantro

Parsley and cilantro are related herbs from the Apiaceae family and are both high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They help with complaints like bloating, nausea, stress, indigestion, gas, and cramps. Adding one or the other of these herbs to your bedtime drink keeps your system calm as all that fat burning takes place.

Cilantro is additionally known for improving nutrient absorption and stimulating circulation. However, it has a much more powerful flavor than parsley, and some people simply cannot stand it. Feel free to use whichever herb you prefer in this recipe.

 Aloe Vera Juice

Aloe vera juice is included in this recipe because it is a mild natural laxative. We do not recommend relying on a laxative of any kind for weight loss, but the recipe we are going to share contains a fair amount of fiber. 

Whenever you increase your fiber intake, you may experience constipation and bloating as your body adjusts.

Since bloating and constipation just make you feel heavier, we want to counteract the side effects of extra fiber. Just make sure to buy the aloe vera juice that is made from the whole leaf, rather than the gel inside, or you won’t get the laxative effect you need.

The Recipe

It’s time to make this darn-near magical bedtime smoothie.

Ingredients:

• ½ glass of water
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 cucumber
• 1 tablespoon of grated ginger
• A handful of cilantro or parsley
• 1 tablespoon of aloe vera juice

Preparation: It’s a breeze – simply add all the ingredients to your blender and blend until smooth.

The recipe as we’ve provided it is very basic. Feel free to adjust the portions as desired. If you don’t care for the flavor of the beverage, go ahead and add a teaspoon of honey to sweeten it up.

If you can’t drink it all in one sitting, it is okay to cover and store this smoothie in the refrigerator overnight. You can drink it in the morning if you like, or the next evening. 

After 24 hours, it is better to make a fresh batch.

Boosting the Benefits

Our recipe is an excellent bedtime drink to spur fat burning while you sleep. But it also primes your body to burn fat throughout the next day. If you can fit it in, 30 minutes of cardio exercise upon waking can extend the benefits of the beverage. 

Not only will you burn even more fat, but you’ll rev up your metabolism to tackle the day’s meals.

Weight loss, especially when it comes to stubborn belly fat, is never totally easy. This drink will help you burn away belly fat as you sleep, but it’s still important to take in fewer calories than you use if you want to shed pounds. The drink also can’t overcome the negative effects of a diet full of saturated fat and sugar. Think of it as an easy bonus trick that extends the benefits of the healthy choices you make each day. Good luck to you!