Fat-free products are, for the most part, an advertising myth. Your fat-free or low-fat product is essentially as dead nutrition-wise as it's high-fat cousin. Look at the label on that box of fat-free cookies you just opened. I will guarantee that you cannot pronounce many of the ingredients on the label. And if you cannot pronounce the food you sure as Heaven shouldn't be eating it ! Processed and packaged foods are so full of alternatives and preservatives put there to replace the flavor and natural preservation that fat provides that you may as well be eating pure chemicals.
Once you begin weaning yourself off processed foods and get back to basics your body won't miss all those dangerous preservatives that may block fat-burning and could be hazardous to your health. Many of them, such as BHT, were actually classified as poisons by the FDA before they were approved for use in food preservation. (see the additives link at the bottom of the page )
If you keep your pantry and refrigerator stocked with real food instead of junk, your binges won't do as much damage. In fact your food bills will go down because you are not eating all that junk anymore. You may find, as I did, that many minor ailments such as headaches and stomach problems disappear because you are clearing your body of toxins and other poisons found in unhealthy food.
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Along with the rise in obesity in N.America is an even more frightening fact : Our children are getting heavier and less physical every year ! They are spending more time snacking on junk while sitting in front of their computers and less time playing outdoors.
Foods that are high in fiber and flavor and low in fat help you burn fat more efficiently. These foods have been used for centuries by different civilizations who learned of their power. There are types of foods when combined with other types of food help in burning fat faster. For example, eating fruit in the morning helps you digest your food more efficiently during the day. Some fruits such as pineapple, papaya, grapefruit and watermelon have special digestive enzymes that work double time to help you digest food quickly.
Another rule : You must eat fruit all by itself ! This is especially true of melons, which have a fat-burning composition all of their own. Have your apple or pear at least two hours before or after a meal. The two hour rule also applies to low-fat yogurt.
Certain spices such as curry and chili peppers speed up your metabolism. Studies show that you can burn up to 25 % more calories by literally adding more spice to your life !
It is reported that super-model Cindy Crawford is a big fan of hot peppers and hot pepper sauces to help her keep her figure so admired by many. Here's the way to get thin : start thinking in combinations of food rather than food types.
Why is metabolism a key to weight loss ? It boils down to energy. Food is an energy source, your body's fuel. If it's not digested properly it sits in your stomach and is turned into fat.
When your food is digested properly and efficiently you create more available energy. You actually feel like moving and being more active, thus you get a double wammy : Your food is being used the way nature intended, and
you are burning more calories because you have more energy.
Meat, fish or poultry along with vegetables are perfect. If you want to eat pasta or potatoes eat them alone with vegetables. When you have protein on your plate do not load up on the carbohydrates ! Carbohydrates are the grains, pasta, potatoes, rice and bread. Keep the size of your main dish down to the size of the palm of your hand. A small amount of fat in the diet is required for the body to function properly, for a woman's menstrual cycle to be normal and for the joints to function well, but don't over indulge ! (see the other links on this site on the subject of fats) It is recommended that we drink 8 glasses of water per day to help flush away fat.
Frozen vegetables and fruit are acceptable although the labels still have to be consulted to assure yourself that there are no added sugars or preservatives. To help you understand what you are reading on some of these labels we have included a page here on the subject of Food Additives that describe in detail a multitude of elements and additives used in the commercial production of comestible products.