Everyone knows that water is good for them and we all know we should drink more of it but here are 8 more reasons to drink up. Water is essential to our health, daily functions, and weight loss so grab your first glass of the day and read on.

1. Weight Loss
   Drinking water instead of sugar filled sodas and juices can cut your daily caloric intake by extreme numbers. It’s a simple contributing factor to your weight loss efforts but it is also important to know the majority of metabolic processes happen in water. A fast and efficient metabolism = more weight loss. In fact you need three times more water than the amount of fat you would like to break down. Trigliceride is made up with three fatty acid that are connected with a backbone. In order to access free fatty acid (the only form of fat that body can actually burn), you need 3 molecules of H2O to break the three bonds in a triglyceride.
2. Cleansing
   Water is a cleansing agent that flushes toxins and waste out of your body. Free of these negative impurities, your body can run at its peak performance. The body system that carrys out this function is called lymphatics. If the lymphatic system is not well hydrated, it will be blocked or sluggish to carry out this cleansing function.
3. Better Performance
   Even if you’re not a consistent gym-goer, we all have to perform certain simple physical activities throughout the day. Water keeps you hydrated and better able to perform activities that would otherwise be exhausting and almost impossible. A well fueled machine performs better.
4. Headaches
   Headaches can be a symptom of dehydration. If you experience frequent headaches, you might not be drinking enough water. It’s the best and most abundant medicine that your body craves.
5. Digestion
   Water helps your body digest food better. This means less heartburn, indigestion, and stomach issues.
6. Skin
   Drinking enough water can increase the healthy appearance of your skin and give you a natural glow. By flushing toxins out of the system, water actually helps by removing impurities from the largest organ of your body: your skin.
7. Increased Energy
   As mentioned, a better fueled machine performs better. Water is your body’s fuel. If you drink enough water you will be naturally energized throughout the day without feeling tired or groggy.
8. Satiation
   Water helps you feel full. Half the time we think we’re hungry, we could actually be thirsty. Your body needs water even more than food.

This article was adapted from American Health and Beauty. http://www.americanhealthandbeauty.com/articles/?article=2769

At Adonis Aesthetics patients participating in the Adonis Diet learn how to incorporate drinking 4-5 liters of water a day. Patients learn how to appreciate the flavors of natural food, devoid of all artificial flavorings or sweeteners, including water!

During the 10-Week Adonis Diet, patients also learn how to eat properly:

• How to be engaged in your parasympathetic nervous system and how to listen to your GI hormonal signals that tell you when you are hungry and when to stop eating.
• When to eat, and how to fit multiple eating into your schedule.
• How to stop eating when the calorie intake is adequate.
• How to prepare food in as natural a state as possible.
• How to eat in a proper setting and how to give proper respect for eating.

Learn more about the Adonis Diet at Adonis Aesthetics.

719-543-5000

Just because you are trying to live a healthy lifestyle, does not mean that the food you eat should taste like diet food!

Below are some healthy, low calorie, and (most importantly) delicious recipes. By incorporating these recipes, and recipes like these, into your diet, you will be well on your way to improving your overall health and achieving your ideal weight.

During the behavior modification section of the Adonis Diet, you will learn how to eat properly:

* How to be engaged in your parasympathetic nervous system and how to listen to your GI hormonal signals that tell you when you are hungry and when to stop eating.
* When to eat, and how to fit multiple eating into your schedule.
* How to stop eating when the calorie intake is adequate.
* How to prepare food in as natural a state as possible.
* How to eat in a proper setting and how to give proper respect for eating.

Learn more about the Adonis Diet.

Butternut Squash Soup with Toasted Walnuts
Ingredients:
8 cups (1-inch) cubed peeled butternut squash (about 2 1/4 pounds)
Cooking spray
¾ tsp salt, divided
½ tsp freshly ground pepper, divided
4 cups warm skim milk, divided
1 (14 oz) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth, divided
¼ cup chopped walnuts, toasted
Methods:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Spray foil-lined baking sheet with cooking spray, place squash on sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper, spray with cooking spray and toss. Bake for 45 minutes or until tender.
Place half of squash, ½ of milk and ½ of broth in a blender, process until smooth. Pour pureed mixture into a large saucepan. Repeat procedure with remaining squash, milk and broth.
Cook over medium heat 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated (do not bring to a boil).
Ladle 1 cup soup into each of 6 bowls; Sprinkle each serving with 1 ½ tsp nuts. Yield: 8 servings.
Nutrient Info
Calories: 150.9 kcal. Fat: 2.9g Protein: 6.9g Carb: 28g Fiber: 3g Chol: 2.5 Sodium: 305.9mg Ca: 240mg

Tarragon Chicken Salad (serves 4)
Ingredients:
1 cup plain, nonfat yogurt
1 green apple, chopped
1 tsp lemon juice
2 ribs celery, diced
½ cup chopped walnuts, toasted
½ red onion, chopped
¼ cup dried cranberries
2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced
2 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon
Salt and pepper, to your taste
To slow down the browning of the apple, squeeze lemon juice over the chopped apple. Combine apple with chopped celery, walnuts, chopped red onion, currants or raisins or dried cranberries, chicken and yogurt. When salad is well coated in yogurt, mix in tarragon leaves and season the salad with salt and pepper. Stir salad to combine flavors and then taste to adjust seasonings.
You can also place salad on baguettes cut in half and split sideways.
Kcals: 298 fat: 7.8g CHO: 21.3g Sodium: 93.3mg Protein: 23.6g

Light and Fit Yogurt and Peanut Butter Dip
Ingredients:
6oz vanilla light yogurt
1 heaping tbsp peanut butter
Directions:
Mix yogurt and peanut butter in a blender or food processor.
Serve with a sliced apple or other fruit of your choice.

What type of food habits do you have?

Are you an “Inhaler”?

How’s your water intake? Do you drink enough? (4-5 liters a day)

Do you eat infrequently?

Do you eat when you get stressed out?

The Adonis Diet combines the effective and immediate benefits of an HCG diet program, along with a behavior modification program.

Short term procedures to lower the weight drastically like an HCG program will force you to lose weight temporarily, but the body will come back with a vengeance when you go back to eating in an unorganized fashion.

During the 10-Week Adonis Diet, you will learn how to eat properly:
• How to be engaged in your parasympathetic nervous system and how to listen to your GI hormonal signals that tell you when you are hungry and when to stop eating.
• When to eat, and how to fit multiple eating into your schedule.
• How to stop eating when the calorie intake is adequate.
• How to prepare food in as natural a state as possible.
• How to eat in a proper setting and how to give proper respect for eating.

You will also gain an appreciation for the flavors of natural food, devoid of all the artificial flavorings or sweeteners.

Learn more about the Adonis Diet and meet Elva Ann Harsch, The Adonis Diet Counselor and Adonis Diet Graduate!

What to Order On-the-Go
– By Sarah Haan, Registered Dietitian

You can read the article here.

This is from the weekly SparkPeople newsletter.

Learn how to enjoy your food and eat in a healthy way to lose weight with the Adonis Diet. Call 719-543-5000 to learn more.