Food is intended to sustain and vitalize the body through its nutritional content, carbohydrates, fats, and protein. Overeating may be used to soothe the body or provide emotional relief, but the high-fat and high-sugar foods popular on this route do little to really satiate the body's needs. Learn these essential facts about what foods are the most healthy and start making different choices for no-pain weight loss.
Sugars, Carbohydrates and Healthy Foods for Weight Loss
The body and brain run on glucose, or sugar, which is produced from carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates, including sweeteners such as corn syrup, honey, and refined sugar, cause blood sugar levels to spike rapidly, triggering the release of insulin which encourages the storage of these sugars as fat. The familiar, foggy-brained "crash" ensues, leading to a vicious cycle of dependence on sweets to stave off fatigue.
Complex carbohydrates, on the other hand, promote fat burning and weight loss through slowly releasing sugar into the blood stream over a longer period of time. Complex carbs include whole grains, such as whole wheat pasta, as well as almost all vegetables and many fruits. Foods are ranked by how quickly they release sugar into the bloodstream by what's known as the glycemic index. Simply choose foods with a GI under 50 to feel satisfied sooner and more easily lose weight.
Another way to slow sugar release is to combine protein with carbohydrates; Holford and Dr. Cass suggest salmon with brown rice or tofu with whole wheat pasta, for example.
Glutamine for Ending Sugar Addiction and Reaching Optimum Weight
The amino acid glutamine works as a direct energy-booster for the brain, enhancing mental performance and powerfully combating dependence on fattening sugary foods to encourage weight loss. Holford and Dr. Cass have even recommended patients use glutamine to address alcohol dependence, with impressive results.
Glutamine is found in pill and capsule form; take two to five grams between meals as part of one's weight loss regimen.
Protein, Fat, and Choosing Foods for Weight Loss
While there are varying theories on the best proportion of fats, carbohydrates, and protein in the diet, it's clear that healthy proteins and fats are necessary for optimal functioning. The body requires 23 amino acids, nine of which cannot be made by the body itself. Animal products are excellent sources of these amino acids, though there are serious health concerns regarding meat consumption(see Why Become a Vegetarian or Vegan?).
Nevertheless, animal products may support weight loss. The high-calcium content of milk, for example, has been shown to significantly help adults lose weight. Both salmon and tuna help reduce levels of the hormone leptin, which appears to boost metabolism, and high-protein foods such as lean cuts of steak may increase calorie burn by demanding the body work harder to process the food.
Learning More About the Best Foods to Eat to Lose Weight
While the nutritional basics mentioned above – including appropriately foods based on their carbohydrate, protein, and fat content – are critical for choosing healthy foods to lose weight, there are still important concerns around how processed and non-organic foods may inhibit health and maintaining optimum weight. To learn how whole and raw foods actively promote weight loss and overall vitality, see Top Reasons to Adopt the Raw Food Diet.
Source:
"15 fat-burning foods to help boost your metabolism." NY Daily News 28 Apr. 2009: n. pag. Web. 27 May 2010.
Cass, M.D., Hyla, and Patrick Holford. Natural Highs: Feel Good All the Time. New York: Avery, 2002. Print.
Josefine Cole - Josefine is a BA graduate of Naropa University's Religious Studies program, which emphasizes self-transformation through practice of ...
