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5 Superfoods that help you shed pounds

Instead of telling you to Stop Eating.. I will tell you to start eating the correct foods instead. Superfoods can be added to your diet to help speed up the slimming process but adopting a nutritious diet and committing to a regular exercise plan is still key for success. A great book to read is theThe Superfoods Rx Diet: Lose Weight with the Power of SuperNutrients which talks about why superfoods are some important in helping you lose weight.

Here are 5 Superfoods that can help you shed pounds. When used correctly as part of a diet plan, you will see great results in no time.

pears

photo credit – pears by reebob

The 5 Superfoods that help you shed pounds are:

Pears

Pears are a low-glycemic fruit, meaning they digest slowly and do not significantly spike insulin levels. The glycemic index refers to how fast carbohydrates break down into simple sugars. Fructose, the fruit sugar, has a relatively low glycemic score, as compared to sucrose or table sugar and glucose. When sugars are released into the bloodstream, the pancreas releases insulin to drive the nutrients into either fat or muscle cells. Eating low-glycemic fruits, like pears, helps you keep your insulin levels balanced to prevent body fat storage. Women who ate three pears a day consumed fewer total daily calories and lost more weight than those who didn’t.

Snack on a pear at night if you feel the urge to eat something. Because a pear takes longer to eat and is loaded with fiber, it is going to give you a fuller feeling, keeping you from eating more calories that in turn may add weight to your physique. Rich in fiber (one pear packs 15% of your daily recommended amount), pears help you feel full and keep you from overeating. Try eating a pear before a meal to help curb hunger. Eat it with the skin as most of the fruit’s beneficial fiber is in the skin.

 

Grapefruit

The Grapefruit Diet has been around a long time — since at least the 1930s. A short-term, quick weight loss plan also known as the Hollywood Diet or the Mayo Diet (not associated with the Mayo Clinic), the Grapefruit Diet surprisingly has survived the test of time, being circulated by word of mouth, online and in book form — yet no one claims ownership of the plan. The premise of the Grapefruit Diet is based on an ingredient in grapefruits, that, when eaten with protein, theoretically triggers fat burning and causes weight loss. The low glycemic index, high fiber, and low calorie nature of the fruit may reduce insulin levels and help dieters feel full and eat fewer calories. Try cutting grapefruit into chunks and add to spinach salad. It’s also a great companion with shrimp or peeled, sliced jicama.

 

Navy beans

The small, white navy bean, also called pea bean or haricot, is particularly popular in the United Kingdom and the US, featured in such dishes as baked beans and even pies, as well as in various soups. Consumption of these beans has been shown to lower total cholesterol levels and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. This might be at least partly explained by high saponin content of navy bean. Saponins also exhibit antibacterial and anti-fungal activity, and have been found to inhibit cancer cell growth. Furthermore, navy bean is the richest source of ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid among the common bean varieties.

They’re loaded with resistant starch, a powerful fat burner (one half-cup serves up nearly 10 grams of resistant starch). If you eat navy beans and other foods rich in resistant starch at just one meal a day, you’ll burn 25% more fat than you would otherwise, according to researchers at the University of Colorado. You should saute diced onion and garlic in olive oil, add two cans of drained navy beans; puree and serve.

 

Almonds

Researchers found that people eating a diet rich in almonds lost more weight than those on a high-carb diet with the same number of calories. The finding goes against the traditional belief that a calorie is a calorie is a calorie. The findings also support those from a recent study that showed people on a low-carb diet lost more weight than those on a low-fat diet — even when the low-carb dieters ate 300 more calories a day. In the new study, researchers followed 65 overweight and obese adults — 70% of whom had type 2 diabetes – for 24 weeks. One group ate a 1,000 calorie/day liquid diet supplemented with 3 oz of almonds (384 additional calories). The other group ate the same liquid diet but instead supplemented with a mix of complex carbohydrates (such as wheat crackers, baked potatoes, or air-popped popcorn). The two diets were equal in calories and protein but differed in fat. Besides the liquid diet, they could also have salads with lemon juice or vinegar dressing. The almond diet contained 39% total fat including 25% from heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, while the non-almond diet contained 18% total fat, 5% from monounsaturated fats. The study appears in the new issue of the International Journal of Obesity. Keep almonds in your handbag so you can snack on them if you get hungry, instead of eating french fries or junk food. Another idea is to chop them finely and add them to oatmeal or yogurt.

 

Chocolate

Actually, scientific research has found that dark chocolate (note that milk chocolate is still considered an enemy of slim thighs everywhere!) contains a cocktail of chemicals that have a net positive effect on the body. Chocolate is made from the cacao bean, and its active ingredients can affect mood, health and appetite. Cacao beans are a huge source of antioxidants, which combat the ravaging free radicals that the body naturally accumulates. By neutralizing free radicals, antioxidants help prevent inflammation, heart disease and premature aging.

Research has found that cacao beans contain also powerful neurotransmitters , which help to stabilize mood and boost positive feelings. As for the weight loss claims, dark chocolate rates low on the glycemic index, which means it breaks down slowly in the digestive tract. Low glycemic foods promote feelings of fullness and suppress appetite. Research published in 2012 inThe American Journal of Clinical Nutritionand based on a meta-analysis of 42 studies of chocolate and cocoa, supported the connection between dark chocolate consumption and significant reductions in serum insulin which caused resistance to insulin to decrease. They also found chocolate associated with consistent reductions in blood pressure. Next time you are hungry try melting a half-ounce of dark chocolate in the microwave for 30 seconds and spread it on half a graham cracker; it’s just 98 calories strong!

 

In conclusion, for those of you, who seriously want to lose weight, all the 5 items above are but a small piece of the puzzle. You will still need to accept the fact that there are no shortcuts, and you need to slim down the old fashion way by adopting a nutritious diet and committing to a regular exercise plan. However, adding a succulent pear, or a little dark chocolate to the mix will definitely add a little sweetness to your efforts;)

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2 Responses to 5 Superfoods that help you shed pounds

  1. Emmalynn May 25, 2012 at 3:21 pm #

    There’s another superfood you should know about called the Aroniaberry (chokeberry). It is native to North America and contains one of the highest levels of antioxidants – anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins of any fruit. These powerful berries have been utilized for years because of their overall health and wellness benefits. Learn more at http://www.superberries.com.

    • ciki May 30, 2012 at 3:38 am #

      Fab thanks Emmalynn:)

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