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Food & Recipes

3 Slimming Smoothies That Banish Bloat and Belly Fat

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Want something refreshing that tastes great and helps you lose weight? Yes, it is possible. These sweet hydrating drinks, packed with melon juice, trigger the release of false (and real!) fat. Here’s how.: 

It converts fat into fuel.

An amino acid (called arginine) in melon enhances the body’s ability to convert food into usable energy, report researchers in The Journal of Nutrition. The effect is so powerful that melon sippers in one study lost 13 pounds in as little as eight weeks—without dieting.

It flushes away bloat.

Refreshing melon juice has been shown to be twice as effective as plain water at hydrating the body, report UK researchers. Credit goes to the fruit’s stores of electrolytes (including potassium and magnesium) that help balance fluid levels within cells and prompt the release of excess water for an instant slimming effect.

It clears out toxins.

Melons contain more than 120 enzymes that nourish the liver, maximizing the organ’s ability to flush out fat-packing toxins. In fact, French researchers discovered that women who added 1 cup of melon to their daily diet shed 33% more weight than those who followed a strict low-calorie eating plan.

Cool Cantaloupe-Cinnamon Chiller

catelope

Ingredients

  • 1⁄4 cup orange juice
  • 2 Tbs. honey
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 cups cubed cantaloupe

In pot, simmer orange juice with honey and cinnamon 5 min.; strain and chill. Add to blender with cantaloupe and 1 cup ice cubes; blend until slushy.

Makes 2 servings.

Per serving: Cal. 132 Pro. 2g Carb. 34g Fiber 1g Sug. 31g Chol. 0mg Sod. 27mg Total fat: 0g Sat. 0g Trans. 0g

Watermelon-Basil Blast

basil watermelon

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbs. sugar
  • 4 fresh basil leaves
  • 1 Tbs. lemon juice
  • 1 cup cubed seedless watermelon
  • 1 cup halved strawberries

In small pot, simmer 1⁄4 cup water with sugar and basil 5 min.; strain and chill. Add to blender with remaining ingredients and 1 cup ice cubes; blend until slushy.

Makes 2 servings.

Per serving: Cal. 95 Pro. 1g Carb. 26g Fiber 2g Sug. 23g Chol. 0mg Sod. 3mg Total fat: 0g Sat. 0g Trans. 0g

Honeydew Hint-of-Mint

honeydew

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbs. agave syrup
  • 2 sprigs fresh mint
  • 1 cup cubed honeydew melon
  • 1 cup cubed fresh pineapple

In small pot, simmer 1⁄4 cup water with agave and mint about 5 min; strain and chill. Add to blender with remaining ingredients and 1 cup ice cubes; blend until slushy.

Makes 2 servings.

Per serving: Cal. 132 Pro. 1g Carb. 35g Fiber 2g Sug. 31g Chol. 0mg Sod. 16mg Total fat: 0g Sat. 0g Trans. 0g

This story originally appeared in our print magazine.

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