Many foods and herbs can help you to achieve natural weight loss. In fact, choosing the right foods will do more for your weight loss efforts than any diet pill. However, some natural herbal substances can be quite effective in elevating metabolic rate, decreasing body fat percentage and suppressing hunger. Add some healthy foods and fat busting herbs to your weight-loss program to accelerate your results.
Healthy Fats
Many healthy fats can help you to lose weight by stabilizing blood sugar, staving off hunger and encouraging fat burning. According to "The Abs Diet," peanut butter, olive oil, nuts and seeds and egg yolks help the body to burn fat. In addition, fats such as MCT or medium-chain triglycerides oil, flaxseed oil and CLA or conjugated linoleic acid may naturally help to lower body fat percentage, according to "Homemade Supplement Secrets."
Low-Glycemic Carbohydrates
Slow-digesting low-glycemic carbohydrates do not create insulin surges like their more refine counterparts, including white rice, white pasta and white bread. Beans, whole-grain breads, pastas and cereals, as well as oatmeal and sweet potatoes, keep blood sugar levels stable to prevent fat storage, according to "The Fat Burning Bible."
Lean Proteins
Protein has a thermic effect on the body, which means it takes a lot of energy to digest it, according to "Combat the Fat." So, although carbohydrates and proteins both have four calories per gram, they have different effects on metabolism. Lean proteins that help with weight loss include turkey, chicken, fish, lean cuts of pork and beef and egg whites.
Fruits and Vegetables
According to "The Abs Diet," fruits and vegetables contain polyphenols and other antioxidants that help the body burn fat. In particular, all-star veggies include spinach, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Berries, apples, grapes and pears offer low-glycemic energy boosters with fat burning properties, as well.
Dairy and Whey Protein
"The Abs Diet" and "The Fat Burning Bible" recommend low-fat dairy for the same reason. Dairy contains calcium, which has a potent effect on fat burning and may inhibit fat storage. Whey protein is similar because it comes from milk. This highly digestible form of protein should be a superstar in your weight loss program because it helps to burn fat and build muscle, according to both authors, Mackie Shilstone and David Zinczenko.
Herbs
Green tea acts as a natural weight loss aid because it contains a polyphenol antioxidant known as EGCG, according to "Homemade Supplement Secrets." Extracts standardized to 300 mg boost metabolism better than diet and exercise alone. Moreover, adding 200 mg of caffeine from natural sources such as coffee, kola nut or guarana extract makes green tea even more effective. An Indian herb known as coleus forskohlii has shown promise for decreasing body fat levels and increasing thyroid output, according to "Natural Anabolics." Since the thyroid controls metabolic rate, this herb could really help you lose weight. Another herb, known as griffonia simplicifolia contains large amounts of the amino acid 5-HTP or 5-hydroxytrytophan. This substance acts as a direct precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in feelings of hunger and satiety. 5-HTP may help you to suppress hunger and avoid over-eating.
References
- Natural Anabolics; Jerry Brainum; Imronan Publishing, 2008
- Homemade Supplement Secrets; Jeff Anderson; 2008
- The Abs Diet; David Zinczenko; 2004
- The Fat Burning Bible; Mackie Shilstone; 2005
- Combat the Fat; Jeff Anderson; 2009
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