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Mamas Latinas

Bilingual, bicultural and by Latinas.

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21 Secrets from Latin American women to stay healthy and fit

02/28/2022 06:00AM | 5750 views

 Most women are constantly looking for ways to stay healthy and fit. For tips and secrets on how to achieve that, we can always look to Latin American women. From drinking fresh coconut water to stay hydrated to drinking eggplant or oatmeal water to stat fit, Latinas rely on so many health tricks to stay beautiful.  

The different Latin American cuisines are full of flavors and healthy dishes, made with products that some people even grow in their backyard. You can't get more organic than that!

 There are some foods native to Latin America that are full of nutrients and are excellent for staying healthy. Nopal cactus, yerba mate tea and sweet potatoes are just a couple of these nutrient-rich foods that woman in some Latin American countries eat all the time. And, of course, we cannot forget the fact that Latinas love to dance, and, as we all know, that is a great way of burning calories. Here are some remedies, tips and tricks from all over Latin America and the Caribbean to achieve a healthy body.  

Mexicans love nopal cactus and, after learning all its health benefits, you will too! 

It's a natural antibiotic that prevents the growth of certain bacteria, it helps balance sugar levels in the blood. It also helps reduce water retention and can help fight cellulite. It is rich in vitamins A and C and trace amounts of folate and vitamin K, as well as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, chlorophyll and vegetable proteins.  

Nopal has been a staple of the Mexican and Central American diet for thousands of years.

Nopales contain dietary fiber, which makes you feel satisfied longer. And it is great for weight loss because it is a low-calorie food. You can have it in salads, boiled, sauteed or grilled. You will thank me! 

Women from Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Southern Brazil sip on yerba mate tea and so should you. 

Yerba mate are the leaves of the rainforest mate tree. This tea is full of antioxidants and contains 24 vitamins and minerals and 15 amino acids. It helps increase your energy and mental alertness, and studies have shown that it helps fight cancer and other inflammatory diseases. And yes, it also promotes healthy weight loss. 

Saponins in yerba mate tea may help reduce body weight.

The national drink of Argentina is very filling, will help you stay regular and will boost your ability to burn more calories. A study found that people who drank supplements spiked with yerba mate lost 10 times more weight than those who were given a sugar pill. Another study conducted in 2014 and published by Nutrition & Metabolism looked at the effects of yerba mate on healthy males and females and found that its ingestion can increase the effectiveness of exercise for weight loss and sports performance. Impressive, huh? 

Women in the Dominican Republic drink jagua water to keep the extra pounds off. 

The Jagua tree is native to the rain forests in Central and South America, where it has been used by the indigenous tribes for thousands of years. However, this fruit is widely consumed in the Caribbean. It is rich in calcium and phosphorous, and it also contains iron, fiber and vitamins B and B2. 

This fruit has diuretic properties. 

To lose weight, Dominican women drink jagua water instead of regular drinking water during the day. They take a couple of them, wash them, cut them into pieces and put them into a gallon of water and let it sit for one or two days. Then, they drink that water as if it were regular drinking water. This is refreshing and the fruit gives the water a great taste, which makes drinking water more attractive. 

Bitter oranges are widely used in Latin America and the Caribbean. 

The naranja agria, also known as Seville, bigarade or sour orange is widely used in the Caribbean cuisine to marinade meats and fish. But the peel and flower are also used in alternative medicine to treat headaches, indigestion, abdominal pain (epigastric), constipation, dysenteric diarrhea, high blood pressure and aid with weight loss. 

Sour orange helps boost the metabolism and burn fat. 

Women in the Caribbean drink bitter orange tea to lose weight, as this fruit helps fight water retention in the body, helps burn fat, and aids in burning calories. Make the tea by pouring a liter of water in a pot and adding four sour oranges (cut into four pieces each). Bring to a boil. Then, let it sit and enjoy this tea either hot or cold throughout the day. 

Dancing is a fun way to burn lots of calories. 

Yes, Latinas love to dance! And, as you may know, dancing is a great exercise. According to a study by the UK's University of Brighton, you can burn more than 300 calories with every half-hour of dancing, that's more than what you burn with an easy run or swim. So, now you have even more reasons to get on the dance floor! 

Brazilian women drink lots of coconut water. 

Coconut is one of the best Latin American fruits! And the water in it is both delicious and full of nutrients. And the best part is that its benefits for weight loss are amazing. Women in Brazil drink lots of coconut water and even use it to wash their face! 

Here are some of the benefits of drinking coconut water. 

Coconut water is packed with potassium and electrolytes that transform food into energy and increases muscle growth. It is also full of fiber, vitamin C, protein and enzymes that promote the proper functioning of the digestive and metabolic systems. This natural drink is also very low in calories and sugar, and helps break down fats and it's an excellent diuretic. So make sure to include coconut water in your diet. However, since it is pretty improbable that you have a coconut tree in your backyard, there are many brands of organic and natural coconut water to chose from. Just make sure it has no added sugar. 

Latin American women use aloe vera for everything! 

From treating a burn to applying it on their hair and using it as a beauty cream, Latin American women use aloe vera for everything. But besides working wonders of your hair and skin, this plant also has amazing health benefits. It aids in treating constipation, helps with digestion, boosts the immune system, helps regulate blood sugar levels. So, make sure you pick up some aloe vera leaves from the local market or, better yet, grow it yourself at home

Try a delicious sweet potato smoothie!

Since they are a top source of healthy carb, sweet potatoes are a good source of energy for people who work out and who want to build muscles. I love them and eat them regularly, and just started adding them to my smoothies.  

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