20 superfoods which help burn calories and limit cravings
Steak: In a study, women on a diet that included red meat lost more weight than the control group, because the protein in steak retains muscle mass during weight loss. --- Lentils: Eating Lentils - high in protein and soluble fiber (two nutrients that stabilize blood sugar levels) - prevents insulin spikes that cause body to create excess fat, particularly in the abdominal area. (calgaryherald.com)
Foods that burn more calories than they contain
If you love to snack, here is list of foods that burn more calories in digestion then they contain: Celery, Oranges, Strawberries, Tangerines, Grapefruit, Carrots, Apricots, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Watermelon, Cauliflower, Apples, Hot Chili Peppers, Zucchini. (chicagonow.com)
5 Foods to Help Banish Belly Fat - Tackling that spare tire
Recent research says there are 5 foods that can help drive away belly fat, and all of us would probably benefit from adding them to other foods in moderation. These foods get a reputation for banishing belly fat because they have MUFA`s: monounsaturated fatty acids. Nuts and seeds contain MUFA`s. Almonds, walnuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds are good sources, along with avocados and black/green olives. Two others to include in your diet in moderate amounts (because they are high in total fat) include oils - such as olive, walnut, sesame, sunflower and peanut oil, and dark chocolate. (13wham)
Good Calories, Bad Calories
Gary Taubes' book "Good Calories, Bad Calories: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom on Diet, Weight Control, and Disease" argues that the kind of calories we consume matter more than the quantity. Good calories come from foods without sugars or easily digested carbs: meat, fish, cheese. Bad calories come from foods that overstimulate insulin secretion: bread, potatoes, pasta, sugar. When we digest carbohydrates, they are metabolised and absorbed into the bloodstream as glucose. When blood sugar levels rise, our brain tells our pancreas to produce insulin, which tells our cells to store energy in our fat tissue. "Insulin literally makes you fat." (nzherald)
6 Best Summer Foods for Weight Loss - Lighten up your diet
Here are dietitian Susan Moores's picks for good foods to help with weight loss during the summer. (1) Chilled Soups: Chilled low-calorie soups like gazpacho or cucumber-dill that contain lots of chunky vegetables are a great way to start a meal. "Research shows that a low-calorie, broth-based soup at the beginning of the meal will fill you so you eat less at the meal." (2) Watermelon: Who doesn`t love diving into a juicy slice of watermelon when it's hot outside? "Half of the watermelon comes from water. It`s a wonderful way to satisfy thirst and a yen for something sweet." (webmd)
Try these fruits of summer for good health and weight loss
If you want to lose weight this summer forget about diets. Instead, try these nutritionally rich, low-calories foods to help you slim down this summer. --- (1) Tomatoes and Peppers: Colorful fruits and vegetables of the vine get their wide range of colors from health-protecting substances such as lycopene, vitamin C and A. Use them generously in dishes to enhance nutrients with very few calories. Choose firm tomatoes that are fragrant and intensely colored, store at room temperature and enjoy within a few days. (webmd)
Salads Sabotaging Diet - More calories than cheeseburger and fries
I always get a salad; Yes, it has a little cheese on it, and an egg in between the fried chicken strips, right beneath the bacon. But hey, the dressing comes in its own wheelbarrow on the side. And remember: It's still not a Whopper. The fully loaded salad is an example of the fast food industry's response to the demands for healthier options. "A lot of these salads are a false perception." For example, a Southwest Taco Salad with reduced-fat dressing has 650 calories. Opt for the honey mustard dressing instead, and the calories climb to 820 – more than a quarter-pound Double Stack cheeseburger and a small order of fries. (thedenverchannel)
Cut Your Diet's Energy Density and Lose Weight
Want to lose weight? Focus on reducing the "energy density" of your diet, a study suggests. In simple terms, that means eating foods that contain a lot of water and few calories per portion, such as fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. What's more, that approach can help you lose more weight than if you don't eat those foods. And if you reduce the energy density of your diet, you get to eat more, at least in volume. "The energy density of food refers to calories per gram. Energy density goes from zero to nine." Water has zero density while fat, which has 9 calories per gram, has a density of nine. (healthscout)
Feel full longer: Eating 2 eggs for breakfast help you lose weight
The key to losing weight could be as simple as having 2 eggs for breakfast. Scientists have shown that those who start their day with eggs can lose up to 2/3 more weight. The secret of the egg's success lies in its ability to make us feel full for longer than many other foods. The women were asked to eat either 2 eggs a day for breakfast, or have a bagel. The two meals contained the same number of calories. After 8 weeks of breakfasting, the slimmers who had eaten eggs had lost the most weight. It is not completely clear why eggs are so good at making us feel full but it is thought high protein content could play a large part. (dailymail)
Foods Low in Energy Density Help Continued Weight Control
Emphasizing foods that fill you up while limiting calories seems to help with losing weight, and with keeping it off. "Energy density" refers to how many calories a food contains for a certain weight. For an equal number of calories, foods low in energy density will provide a larger portion and thus satisfy hunger more. One study evaluated the effect of energy density on long-term weight control. The 74 participants lost an average of 9 pounds during the program. Two years later, only 22% had regained more than 5% of their program-ending weight; 78% were still below their starting weight and had either continued losing weight or regained very little. (infozine)
When it comes to chocolate, give in to the dark
Chocolate is one of the "it" foods of the moment, with studies praising the sweet stuff for its heart-loving goodness. Not only do we have more kinds of chocolate bars than ever to choose from, there's chocolate soup and even chocolate pizza. But can it really protect your heart and fit into a weight-loss program? Well, yes, but not all chocolate is the same. If you`re going to indulge go for the purest dark chocolate you can find. That's the kind loaded with flavonoids: antioxidant chemicals that help prevent cell damage, reduce clot formation and improve blood sugar levels. (msnbc)
Many need more fiber in their diets
We all know dietary fiber is good for us, but many of us don¡¯t know what it is. Most Americans don¡¯t get enough fiber in their diets. The recommended intake is 20-38 grams of total fiber per day, with 25 grams being a realistic goal for most people. This is about the same amount of fiber that is found in 5 servings of either fruits or vegetables and one or two servings of either whole grains or beans. Unfortunately, the average American consumes 14 grams. Since fiber helps you digest food, if you don¡¯t get enough in your diet, you can become constipated, develop hemorrhoids, or be prone to illnesses. (msnbc)
8 Foods That Help You Lose Weight
Fiber: Both types of fiber, insoluble and soluble can help your weight loss efforts. -- Juicy Foods: Fruits and veggies with a high water content "built into the food" helps to fill you up, so you'll eat less throughout the day. -- Lean Protein: Protein can rev your metabolism after ingestion (more so than carbs and fat). Be sure to include some type of lean protein with every meal. -- Hot Beverages: Sipping a hot, low-cal beverage is a great way to stave off extra calories when you're looking to eat out of pure boredom. And because they're hot, you'll have to slowly sip over a period of time. (brudirect)