FOODS THAT AID IN WEIGHT LOSSWhat you eat can be as important as how much you eat. Our current diet is dominated by rich foods such as red meat, poultry, fish, cheeses, milk, oils, refined flour, processed foods, salt, and sugar. However tasty they may be, we consume far too much of these foods, In addition to contributing to weight problems, research shows that high intake of these foods increases rates of cancer, heart disease and hypertension. Whether or not you are overweight, health experts suggest that reducing the amount of these foods in your diet will improve health. In Chapter 4 I discuss specific foods that you can add to your diet to stimulate thermogenesis, curb appetite, and reduce hunger feelings. They also help the body maintain a normal pH balance by offsetting the acidity that goes with the American diet. They also contribute to efficient digestion. In Chapter 4 you will learn about a clinical study in China, directed by Cornell University, which shows that obesity is related more to what people eat than to how much they consume. The Chinese actually consume approximately 20 percent more calories than we do, but Americans are 25 percent fatter. The Chinese diet consists of a third as much fat as Americans but twice as much starch. Americans also consume a third more protein than the Chinese, with 70 percent coming from animal sources. In China, only 7 percent of protein comes from animal sources. Cornell's China study shows that you can eat all you want and still lose weight - provided you learn which foods to emphasize.
MORE ON FATSOn page 31 I discuss food fats, which are classified as saturated, polyunsaturated, or monounsaturated depending on their chemical structure. Saturated fats come primarily from animal foods like beef, pork, chicken, milk, cheese and butter. Excessive amounts of saturated fats increase cholesterol and are a factor in heart disease and stroke. Moderate intake of saturated fats is quite normal. Chapter 4 will also show you why butter in moderate amounts is better than margarine for achieving permanent weight loss.While poly- and monounsaturated oils may lower cholesterol, Chapter 4 discusses how too many of these oils are subjected to high heat and a chemical process called hydrogenation. This results in oils deficient in essential nutrients and high in altered fatty acids. These altered fatty acids and products made from them contribute to a number of degenerative diseases. In Chapters 4, 6 and 10 I will show you how to protect yourself from these harmful fats that interfere with weight loss.
WHY DIETING DOESN'T WORK
|
