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Fat Burning Foods
Each one of the following foods is clinically proven to promote weight loss. These foods go a step
beyond simply adding no fat to your system – they possess special properties that add zip to your
system and help your body melt away unhealthy pounds. These incredible foods can suppress your
appetite for junk food and keep your body running smoothly with clean fuel and efficient energy.
You can include these foods in any sensible weight-loss plan. They give your body the extra
metabolic kick that it needs to shave off weight quickly.
A sensible weight loss plan calls for no fewer that 1,200 calories per day. But Dr. Charles Klein
recommends consuming more that that, if you can believe it – 1,500 to 1,800 calories per day. He
says you will still lose weight quite effectively at that intake level without endangering your health.
Hunger is satisfied more completely by filling the stomach. Ounce for ounce, the foods listed below
accomplish that better than any others. At the same time, they’re rich in nutrients and possess
special fat-melting talents.
Apples
These marvels of nature deserve their reputation for keeping the doctor away when you eat one a
day. And now, it seems, they can help you melt the fat away, too.
First of all, they elevate your blood glucose (sugar) levels in a safe, gentle manner and keep them
up longer than most foods. The practical effect of this is to leave you feeling satisfied longer, say
researchers.
Secondly, they’re one of the richest sources of soluble fiber in the supermarket. This type of fiber
prevents hunger pangs by guarding against dangerous swings or drops in your blood sugar level,
says Dr. James Anderson of the University of Kentucky’s School of Medicine.
An average size apple provides only 81 calories and has no sodium, saturated fat or cholesterol.
You’ll also get the added health benefits of lowering the level of cholesterol already in your blood
as well as lowering your blood pressure.
Whole Grain Bread
You needn’t dread bread. It’s the butter, margarine or cream cheese you put on it that’s fattening,
not the bread itself. We’ll say this as often as needed – fat is fattening. If you don’t believe that,
ponder this – a gram of carbohydrate has four calories, a gram of protein four, and a gram of fat
nine. So which of these is really fattening?
Bread, a natural source of fiber and complex carbohydrates, is okay for dieting. Norwegian scientist
Dr. Bjarne Jacobsen found that people who eat less than two slices of bread daily weigh about 11
pounds more that those who eat a lot of bread.
Studies at Michigan State University show some breads actually reduce the appetite. Researchers
compared white bread to dark, high-fiber bread and found that students who ate 12 slices a day of
the dark, high-fiber bread felt less hunger on a daily basis and lost five pounds in two months.
Others who ate white bread were hungrier, ate more fattening foods and lost no weight during this
time.
So the key is eating dark, rich, high-fiber breads such as pumpernickel, whole wheat, mixed grain,
oatmeal and others. The average slice of whole grain bread contains only 60 to 70 calories, is rich in
complex carbohydrates – the best, steadiest fuel you can give your body – and delivers surprising
amount of protein.
Coffee
Easy does it is the password here. We’ve all heard about potential dangers of caffeine – including
anxiety and insomnia – so moderation is the key.
The caffeine in coffee can speed up the metabolism. In nutritional circles, it’s known as a metabolic
enhancer, according to Dr. Judith Stern of the University of California at Davis.
This makes sense, since caffeine is a stimulant. Studies show it can help you burn more calories
than normal, perhaps up to 10 percent more. For safety’s sake, it’s best to limit your intake to a
single cup in the morning and one in the afternoon. Add only skim milk to tit and try doing without
sugar – many people learn to love it that way.
Grapefruit
There’s good reason for this traditional diet food to be a regular part of your diet. It helps dissolve
fat and cholesterol, according to Dr. James Cerd of the University of Florida. An average sized
grapefruit has 74 calories, delivers a whopping 15 grams of pectin (the special fiber linked to
lowering cholesterol and fat), is high in vitamin C and potassium and is free of fat and sodium.
It’s rich in natural galacturonic acid, which adds to its potency as a fat and cholesterol fighter. The
additional benefit here is assistance in the battle against atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
and the development of heart disease. Try sprinkling it with cinnamon rather than sugar to take
away some of the tart taste.