However, did you know that thermogenesis can also be induced by your dietary components and, as a significant component of the metabolic rate, this process can be stimulated to increase energy expenditure and therefore fat oxidation? That’s right: eating certain food groups can help to keep you slim because your resting metabolic rate is raised during digestion, absorption and distribution of nutrients. Simply put, your body works harder to process certain foods, and the thermic effect of this can take inches off your waistline.

The foods listed below are all thermogenic agents, meaning they increase your body temperature thus helping to burn fat more effectively. So if, like me, you don’t do much exercise, you may want to include the following in your diet to help keep you slim.

Ginger Tea

Ginger Tea

Ginger is well known as a natural digestive aid, but it also helps to reduce your belly fat by suppressing cortisol production. Cortisol is a steroid hormone essential for energy regulation and mobilisation. So, have ginger tea daily to aid your efforts of losing belly fat.

Whole Foods

Whole Foods

Oatmeal and brown rice are highly recommended for those seeking to lose weight on a thermogenic diet, because your body burns twice as many calories breaking down whole foods than it does processed foods.

Lean Meats

The low fat protein in lean meat and poultry has a high thermogenic effect on the body. Protein takes much longer for the body to digest than fats or carbohydrates.

Green Tea

Green Tea

In a report by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, drinking four cups of green tea a day helped people shed more than six pounds in eight weeks. Now that’s just by drinking tea alone, so for those who dislike exercise, this may be a fantastic option. Try drinking it hot!

Lentils

Lentils

One cup of lentils packs 35% of your daily iron needs and it’s low in GI as well. According to Tammy Lakatos Shames, co-author of The Secret to Skinny, our metabolism slows when our body is not getting what it needs to work efficiently. As 20% of us are also deficient in iron, adding this into our daily diet may be doubly beneficial.

Hot Peppers a.k.a. Chillies

Chillies

Chillies are my favourite food and it’s music to my ears to discover that capsaicin, the compound that gives chilli peppers their kick, also heats up your body, which makes you melt additional calories.

Virgin Coconut Oil

Virgin Coconut Oil

Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) found in virgin coconut oil retard the accumulation of fat in the body. A British study found that adding chilli and MCT to meals increases dietary induced thermogenesis and over time may cumulate to help induce weight loss, equally preventing weight gain.

Karen Loke – Founder and Practitioner, Restoring Mums

Photo Sources: Internet所有溫血動物，包括人類，都會自然地產生熱量。這個名為生熱作用的過程可以通過幾個方法做到，包括運動和顫抖（其中肌肉被加熱到與身體活動不同的程度）。

不過，您可知道飲食其實也可以引發生熱作用，而且，作為代謝率中一個顯著的組成部分，這個過程可以被刺激而增加能量消耗，並促成脂肪氧化？對，進食某類食物可以幫您保持身材苗條，因為您的靜止代謝率在消化、吸收和分配營養時提高了。簡單地說，您的身體更加努力地工作去處理食物，而這樣的熱效應可以減去您的腰圍。

以下列出的食物全都是產熱劑，意味著它們提高您的體溫，從而有助更有效地燃燒脂肪。因此，如果您像我一樣，就可以不需要做太多的運動，試試將以下的食物加到您的餐單內，就可以減肥了。

薑茶

薑茶

生薑出名於是幫助消化的天然好幫手，但它還可以通過抑制皮質醇，幫您減走腹部脂肪。皮質醇是一種類固醇激素，在能量調節和流通中是必不可少的。因此，每天飲一杯薑茶有助減少腹部脂肪。

全食

全食

強烈推介燕麥和糙米給那些想要用產熱飲食去減肥的人士，因為比起加工過的食品，您的身體會燃燒的兩倍多的卡路里去分解全食。

瘦肉

瘦肉

瘦肉和家禽中的低脂肪蛋白質對身體具有高的產熱效應。比起脂肪或碳水化合物，人體需要花更長的時間去消化蛋白質。

綠茶

綠茶

《美國臨床營養學報》(American Journal of Clinical Nutrition)的一份報告指出，每日飲用四杯綠茶有助於八週內減掉多於６磅。現在只要飲茶就可以減肥！對於那些不喜歡做運動的人來說，這可能是一大喜訊！熱飲效果更好！

扁豆

扁豆

一杯扁豆包含了35%的每日所需的鐵，而且它是低升糖指數(GI)的食物。根據＂The Secret to Skinny＂(《瘦身的秘密》)的合著者Tammy Lakatos Shames，當我們的身體得不到它所需要的元素去高效地工作時，新陳代謝就會減慢。由於20％的人都缺乏鐵，所以將鐵加到我們的日常飲食中可能會令減肥事半功倍。

辣椒

辣椒

辣椒是我最喜歡的食物。我很高興我發現到辣椒素，一種使辣椒更為出色的化合物。它令您的身體發熱，讓你燃燒掉額外的熱量。

初榨椰子油

初榨椰子油

在初榨椰子油中發現的鏈甘油三酯（MCT）可以阻礙脂肪在體內積聚。英國一項研究發現，將辣椒和MCT添加到飲食中，可以增加飲食誘導生熱作用。隨著時間累積，它們可能幫助促進減肥，也即防止增重。

Restoring Mums創辦人和治療師Karen Loke

圖片來自互聯網絡

The post The Thermogenic Effect: Keep Warm And Lose Weight appeared first on Restoring Mums.

It is common knowledge that blueberries are rich in antioxidants, but a 2009 study entitled Blueberries Boost Heart Health suggests that this popular fruit may be an important component to losing abdominal fat. Researchers at University of Michigan’s Cardioprotection Research Laboratory discovered that anthocyanin, the naturally occurring chemical present in blueberries, might alter the way the body stores and processes sugar. Over a 90-day test period, researchers fed rats that had been bred to be obese either a high or low-fat diet, the latter diet being enriched with whole blueberry powder. Results showed that the rats that were fed blueberries ended up with less abdominal fat, lower cholesterol and improved glucose control. These rats also lost body weight and fat mass.

Here are two suggestions on ways you can incorporate these tasty berries into your diet:

Flat Belly Salad

Blueberries Cucumber Salad

Salad ingredients:

• Salad leaves of your choice
• ¼ cup cucumber, diced
• ¼ cup pineapple chunks
• ¼ cup fresh blueberries
• ¼ avocado, diced
• 1 tablespoon chopped onions

Salad dressing ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Juice of half a fresh lemon
• ½ tablespoon maple syrup

Directions:

1. Mix salad ingredients in a bowl
2. Mix together salad dressing, drizzle over salad and enjoy!

Flat Belly Drink

Blueberries Juice

– 1 box of fresh blueberries

– 1 fresh coconut

1. Chop off the top of the coconut to open up the shell
2. Pour out the coconut water and spoon out the coconut flesh
3. In a blender, blend blueberries, coconut water and coconut flesh
4. Enjoy!

Karen Loke – Founder and Practitioner, Restoring Mums

Photo Sources: Internet其實，要減走腹部脂肪不一定要節食或者做運動，有時候只要食物吃得對，也可以幫您減走腹部脂肪的！您知道藍莓可以幫您做到這一點嗎？

眾所周知，藍莓含有豐富的抗氧化劑，但是，2009年一份題為《藍莓促進心臟健康》(Blueberries Boost Heart Health)的研究報告指出，這種深受各位歡迎的水果更可能能夠大大地幫助減去腹部脂肪。美國密西根大學心臟保護研究實驗室的研究人員發現，花青素，一種存在於藍莓中的天然化學物質，可能會改變身體儲存和處理糖的方式。在90天的測試期間，研究人員用高或低脂肪飲食餵食已培育成過胖的老鼠，其中低脂肪飲食中加入了全藍莓粉。結果表明，被餵食了藍莓的老鼠的腹部脂肪減少了。另外，牠們的膽固醇降低了，血糖控制得以改善，體重和脂肪量也下降了。

以下提供兩個建議讓您可以將這種美味的莓果加入您的飲食餐單：

減肚腩沙律

減肚腩沙律

沙律配料：

• 隨您喜愛的沙律葉
• 1/4杯黃瓜，切丁
• 1/4杯菠蘿塊
• 1/4杯新鮮的藍莓
• 1/4牛油果，切塊
• 1湯匙切碎的洋蔥

沙律醬配料：

• 1湯匙橄欖油
• 半個新鮮檸檬果汁
• 1/2湯匙楓糖漿

製作方法：

1. 在碗裡將沙律配料混合
2. 將沙律醬配料混合，淋在沙律配料上，然後盡情享用吧！

減肚腩飲料

減肚腩飲料

• 1盒新鮮藍莓
• 1個新鮮椰子

1. 砍掉椰子頂部，打開外殼
2. 倒出椰子水，用匙挖出椰子肉
3. 將藍莓椰子水和椰子肉放入攪拌機攪爛
4. 盡情享用吧！

Restoring Mums創辦人和治療師Karen Loke

圖片來自互聯網絡

The post Did You Know Blueberries Help Lose Belly Fat? appeared first on Restoring Mums.

A corset is a tightly-fitting woman’s undergarment extending from below the chest to the hips, and is worn to shape the figure. It acts as frame or mould for your body and encourages weight loss following childbirth through a combination of compression and induced perspiration.

Before getting a postpartum corset, these are few considerations you must take into account:-

• Postpartum corsets should feel really firm, with very little elasticity. If the corset is too loose, it will not have the required shaping effect and your effort from wearing it day and night will be wasted.
• Look for a corset with a special flap for easy bathroom use; otherwise you will have to take off the entire corset for each bathroom visit, which is very cumbersome and time-consuming – you might just give up after a few attempts!
• Try to avoid latex materials if your skin is prone to allergy.
• Avoid wire supports that sit vertically below your bust, as they either poke uncomfortably into your breasts when you sit down, or onto your thigh. Wire support on the sides is far better for you and more comfortable.
• Choose a corset that is panty-like and supports your lower abdomen up to just below your breast. That way, you have your entire abdomen covered and compressed.
• Some corsets are very short, covering just above the navel. Such corsets aren’t recommended in this instance, as the lower abdominal fats are pushed up and out of the corset, creating an unsightly muffin-top look. 

Muffin-top Source: Glamour.com

Choosing a postpartum corset that works for your body shape can be a breeze once you have a good grasp of the differences between their fundamental designs and purposes:-

Belly Wrap

1. Belly Wrap

• Appropriate for woman who has shorter torso, so the wrap can cover the entire abdomen
• Not so for woman with longer torso as it creates a muffin top effect, and causes too much downward abdominal pressure that may harm the womb and pelvic floor muscle.

Waist Cincer

2. Waist Cincher

• Appropriate for woman who has shorter torso, so the wrap can cover the entire abdomen
• Not so for woman with longer torso as it creates a muffin top effect, and causes too much downward abdominal pressure that may harm the womb and pelvic floor muscle.
• Some waist cincher are made of very elastic materials with wire support at the front which may poke into your breast or thighs when sitting.

C-Section Support Belt

3. C-Section Support Belt / Wrap

• C-section support belt made of cotton is a great tool to support C-section healing and the womb.
• This should NOT be worn as abdominal binders as the width is too small to cover the entire abdomen.
• May give a muffin top look if you have a thicker layer of fats in your abdomen.

C-Section Panty

4. C-section Panty

• Like the C-section Support Belt, a C-section Panty is great for C-section healing and provides comfortable compression for scar healing.
• Compression cannot be adjusted so when your tummy size shrinks further, you may need a smaller size panty
• The panty normally covers below your navel and therefore not a good choice if you’d like to compress your entire abdomen.

Postpartum Panty Like Corset

5. Postpartum Panty-Like Corset

• Recommended type of corset among all others as this corset provides good abdominal support entirely.
• May create a muffin top for woman who has thicker fat deposits on your abdomen
• Woman with longer torso may find the corset not able to cover the entire abdomen
• Choose one with wire support on the sides
• The top of the corset may roll down if there is no wire support for this type of corset.

High Waist Panty Like Corset With Strap Support

6. High-waist Panty-Like Corset with Strap Support

• This is by far the most comfortable and supportive postpartum corset
• Strap support prevents the top corset to roll down during use and wire support are not necessary for these type of corsets
• High waist model covers the entire abdomen well, even for woman with longer torso
• This could double up as C-section healing support.

Don’t forget to check in again for another article where I will share with you the tips on why it is so important to use the postpartum corset correctly!

Karen Loke, Founder and Practitioner, Restoring Mums廿一世紀美麗優雅, 衣著時尚的産後媽媽最關注又最貼身的課題(除了育嬰以外)相信就是産後修身吧? 而挑戰這課題的成敗關鍵就非選擇最適合自己的[産後束腹帶]莫屬. 選對了, 有事半功倍之效, 但選錯了非旦白費心機, 而且有可能對妳的健康有影響!

KAREN   小貼士

這裡為大家分享一些在你未購買任何[産後束腹帶]之前必須考慮到或注意的事項:-

1. 當穿上[産後束腹帶]時感覺應該是很牢固，很少彈性的。如果[産後束腹帶]太鬆的話，那它就失去應該具有所需的整形效果，穿了也白費你的心機與努力。
2. 盡可能選擇“複合式”設計而非“笠式”設計的[産後束腹帶]. “複合式”設計的[産後束腹帶]方便妳在上洗手間時能快速又自如的鬆開而上完洗手間後可再輕鬆自如的綁好. 否則，這日常上洗手間的小事會因妳穿上了[産後束腹帶]變得非常繁瑣和費時的 – 你嘗試幾次後可能會乾脆放棄不再穿上那[産後束腹帶]從而失去修身機會, 那豈不是太可惜了！
3. 若妳有皮膚過敏症就盡量不要選擇以”膠乳”為原料的[産後束腹帶].
4. 盡量避免選擇在胸圍下方有金屬絲支撐的[産後束腹帶]. 當妳坐下來時它有可能捅入妳的乳房或大腿. 若金屬絲支撐是在左右兩側那會比較舒適.
5. 盡量選擇”高桶內褲“ 型的[産後束腹帶]. 這從下腹向上延伸到胸圍的設計可以給予妳整個腹部完整無缺的, 均勻的壓縮讓妳的身體自然的重塑.
6. 市面上有些[産後束腹帶]或(褲)的設計非常短, 它們只覆蓋到媽媽肚臍的部位.  我不建議選擇這些[産後束腹帶]因為它把沉積在下腹的脂肪往上推, 但又因為設計短的原因造成腹部贅肉橫向地在[産後束腹帶]頭凸出, 非常不雅. 英文有個非常有趣而又很貼切的形容詞為[muffin-top] – 我故且就翻譯成[鬆餅頂部]的效果吧, 嘻!

Muffin-Top 源自Glamour.com

下面我會圖文並茂為妳剖析市面上六類最常見的[産後束腹帶]設計. 一旦妳掌握了這些[産後束腹帶]的基本設計和目的及它們之間的差異後, 選擇一個適合你身形的[産後束腹帶]就可以是一件輕而易舉的小事一樁了：-

腹部包裹型

腹部包裹型 (Belly Wrap)

1. 適用於擁有較短的軀幹身型的媽媽，這類設計可以覆蓋較短軀幹身型媽媽的整個腹部.
2. 擁有較長的軀幹身型的媽媽必須避免選擇這類設計，因為它會形成一個[鬆餅頂部]的效果，並導致過多向腹部位置往下推的壓擠力，很可能會傷害子宮和盆底肌肉。 

腰夾式塑身型

腰夾式塑身型 (Waist Cincher)

2. 適用於擁有較短的軀幹身型的媽媽，這類設計可以覆蓋較短軀幹身型媽媽的整個腹部.
3. 擁有較長的軀幹身型的媽媽必須避免選擇這類設計，因為它會形成一個[鬆餅頂部]的效果，並導致過多向腹部位置往下推的壓擠力，很可能會傷害子宮和盆底肌肉。
4. 市面上流行的腰夾式塑身型[産後束腹帶], 是由非常有彈性的材料縫製，並且在胸圍下方有金屬絲支撐. 坐著時可能會捅着媽媽的乳房或大腿。

剖腹產型 – 腰帶或包裹

剖腹產型 – 腰帶或包裹 (C-Section Support Belt / Wrap)

3. 通常是棉製, 它是每位剖腹產媽媽的最佳拍擋, 其特點是幫助剖腹產媽媽C-部分和子宮的自然癒合。
4. 這類設計不應該被用作[産後束腹帶]因為它的寬度太小，不能以均勻舒適有力的壓縮力覆蓋媽媽的整個腹部所以未能達到重塑身型的目的.
5. 若媽媽有脂肪沉積在腹部就可能會形成[鬆餅頂部]的效果。

剖腹產型 – 內褲

剖腹產型 – 內褲 (C-Section Panty)

1. 像剖腹產型腰帶或包裹，這設計是每位剖腹產媽媽的佳音, 其特點除了是幫助剖腹產媽媽C-部分和子宮的自然癒合外，並提供舒適的壓縮力促使手術後留下的疤痕的癒合。
2. 這褲的壓縮力無法被調整，所以當肚子尺寸進一步的縮小時， 可能需要買一個更小尺寸的褲, 穿不足一兩個月就棄用, 不環保也有點不划算!
3. 這褲的設計一般只覆蓋到媽媽的肚臍部位，因為不能覆蓋媽媽的整個腹部所以未能達到重塑身型的目的.

産後束衣 – 內褲型

産後束衣 – 內褲型(Postpartum Panty-Like Corset)

1. 我會推薦此設計，因為它給產後媽媽提供了全方位腹部的覆蓋。
2. 若媽媽的腹部沉積了較厚的脂肪, 使用此設計的束衣有可能會形成一個[鬆餅頂部]的效果.
3. 擁有較長的軀幹身型的媽媽必須避免選擇這類設計因為此設計無法覆蓋驅幹較長的媽的整個腹部.
4. 緊記要選擇有左右兩側金屬絲支撐的款式.
5. 如果沒有左右兩側金屬絲支撐的支撐, 産後束衣的頂部可能滾下來, 不適也不雅觀。

高腰線産後束衣 – 內褲型(緞帶)

高腰線産後束衣 – 內褲型(緞帶) (High-Waist Panty-Like Corset with Strap Support)

1. 這是迄今為止市面上流行, 最舒適和最有支撐力的[產後束腹帶].
2. 緞帶的支撐防止[產後束腹帶]頂部滾下來; 此設計也不須要金屬絲支撐, 非常舒適.
3. 高腰線設計給予產後媽媽的腹部一個完整的覆蓋，即使擁有較長軀幹身型的媽媽也適用.
4. 這款式也可以用來兼任C-部分的癒合.

下星期我將與你分享為什麼要正確使用[產後束腹帶], 它與妳的健康又有什麼關係！記得回來噢.

Restoring Mums創辦人和治療師 Karen Loke

The post Which Postpartum Corset Is Right For Me? appeared first on Restoring Mums.

slimum Treatments

Karen’s tried-and-tested ‘recipes’ and techniques address both cosmetic issues (bloated tummies, wider waistlines, hips and scarring), and overall women’s wellness (poor circulation, hormone regulation, swelling relief, involution and womb integrity, stress relief, expelling trapped lochia and separation of abdominal muscles [diastasis recti]) to achieve optimum recovery post-delivery – a truly holistic approach to your postpartum health and wellbeing.

As the delivery of every child brings a unique maternal experience, we will start by understanding your personal condition and then customise each treatment accordingly – from specific massage strokes to the oils and herbs best suited to you. Restoring Mums offers the following postpartum wellness treatments (many passionately but loosely label it as Jamu Massage, belly binding, tummy wrap), each can be tailored made to meet each individual’s unique needs:-

1. slimum TUMMY – Signature Treatment (45 Minutes)

2. slimum BODY – Total Relaxation & Rejuvenating Treatment (75 Minutes)

3. slimum by KAREN – All You Need To Regain Your Figure and Wellness (75 Minutes)

Treatments take place in the comfort of your own home, so there’s no need to travel during your confinement period.

TheMamaPost Editorial所有Restorming Mums(www.restoringmums.com)的slimum專業產後修身護理療程和它們的成分都經過特別的設計，並由Karen Loke根據她產後修復的廣泛研究和培訓去嚴選的。

Karen嘗試不同的技術和設計不同的療程去解決外觀問題（腹部腫脹、寬大的腰圍和和臀圍）、撫平疤痕和改善女性的整體健康（血液循環不暢、荷爾蒙調節、平服腫脹、器官衰退和子宮完整性、舒緩壓力、排出惡露和腹部肌肉的分離[腹直肌分離]），以達致最佳的產後修復效果──一個給妳真正全面的, 自然的產後護理和促進健康的方法。

由於每位媽媽分娩的體驗都是獨特的，我們會先花時間去了解妳的個人狀況，再設計針對性的療程，以找出特定的按摩動作和最適合妳的精油和草藥。
Restoring Mums提供以下的產後健康護理療程（流行統稱為Jamu按摩、束腹、束肚或腹部包紮），每種都可以度身訂做，以滿足每個人獨特的需求：

1. slimum TUMMY 腹部療程 – 高效益療程，主要針對腰部和腹部位置（45分鐘）

2. slimum BODY 身體療程 – 徹底放鬆與活膚更新護理（75分鐘）

3. slimum by KAREN 療程 – 皇牌治療，由Karen設計和主理, 全力塑造身形和重拾健康（75分鐘）。

我們受過專業訓練的治療師會親來到妳的府上為妳提供細心呵護的服務，免卻坐月子時的周車勞頓。

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