Food and nutrient choices are important components of an effective dietary strategy for losing weight. The primary concern is losing body fat. The foods to eat to lose weight range from spicy foods to high-fiber foods, and from foods with low glycemic indices to foods that boost metabolism. The best way to accelerate body fat loss nutritionally is to eat two types of foods and nutrients: those that curb the appetite and decrease caloric intake, and those that boost metabolism.
Dietary Fibers
Dietary fiber is the foundation of effective weight loss as it adds bulk to food and helps you maintain satiety for long periods. This makes it easier for you to reduce your daily caloric intake. Fiber also slows the rate of nutrient absorption from the intestines. This helps stabilize plasma glucose at normal or near-normal levels. Stable plasma glucose prevents big swings in the plasma level of insulin, which promotes hunger and excessive eating. Controlling the plasma level of glucose and insulin is another mechanism by which dietary fiber helps curb your appetite.
The best sources of dietary fiber are leafy vegetables such as collard greens, kale and bok choy. Leafy vegetables are low-energy foods with important nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They are also low in fats and carbohydrates.
Spices that Boost Metabolism
The addition of metabolism-boosting spices to your foods will accelerate the burning of body fat. Most people use spices mainly to enhance flavor. The health benefits of spices are often concerns of secondary interest. Cinnamon and cayenne pepper are examples of spices that boost metabolism, according to "Agricultural Research Magazine." Metabolism boosting is the same as increasing insulin sensitivity. When insulin sensitivity increases, the uptake and utilization of metabolites such as glucose, is handled efficiently by the muscles and other organs.
Insulin Sensitivity
Increased insulin sensitivity helps you utilize fats and carbohydrates more efficiently. Under this condition, the muscles and liver can use most of the high-energy nutrients. Little or no excess nutrients are stored as fat. Fat storage is facilitated by high levels of plasma insulin and decreases in insulin sensitivity.
Insulin sensitivity is raised by foods that stabilize plasma glucose at normal levels. These include low energy foods such as cinnamon, mushrooms and leafy vegetables, and high energy foods such as quinoa and olive oil.
Good Oils and Chromium
Olive oil is a metabolism booster, as are the omega-3 fatty acids in some nuts and seeds and in cold water fish such as salmon, sardines and tuna, according to "Diabetes Care." Chromium is another important metabolism booster. Chromium is found in low-energy foods such as mushrooms and broccoli.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Dietary Fiber: Essential for Healthy Diet. 2010.
- "Diabetes Care"; Effect of Dietary Fiber and Carbohydrate on Glucose and Lipoprotein Metabolism; Riccardi, G. et al.; December 1991.
- "Agricultural Research Magazine"; Cinnamon Extracts Boost Insulin Sensitivity; Anderson. R. and Polansky, M. July 2000.
- "The MedCom Resources"; Chromium Picolinate May Enhance Insulin Sensitivity.
- "Obesity": Dietary Capsaicin Reduces Obesity-Induced Insulin Resistance and Hepatic Steatosis in Obese Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet; Kang JH. et al.; April 2009.
- "Diabetes Care"; Monounsaturated fat-rich diet prevents central body fat distribution and decreases postprandial adiponectin expression induced by a carbohydrate-rich diet in insulin-resistant subjects; March 200.



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