Palmyra Surgical Gastric Band Surgery Specialists » Nutrition

Negative Calorie Foods and Weight Loss

admin — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:08:19 +0000

I’ve heard that eating negative calorie foods might be a good diet strategy. But what exactly are they? Some dieters suggest that eating “negative calorie foods” can help you to lose weight. But what are negative calorie foods, and are they really the answer to long-term weight loss?

Negative calorie foods are foods that, in theory, take more energy to process and digest than they provide in calories. For example, it’s been suggested that you will burn 80 calories digesting a 25-calorie piece of broccoli, for a net loss of 55 calories. Cauliflower, asparagus, celery , berries, cabbage, and grapefruit are other foods that are commonly thought of as “negative calorie” foods.

The truth is that there are no reputable scientific studies to prove that any specific foods require more energy to digest than they contain, or that eating negative calorie foods can lead to weight loss. It is true, however, that about 10% of your total calories burned during the day comes from digestion and storing the nutrients in the food you eat. Foods that contain very few calories, including many fruits and vegetables, may require more energy to digest than the calories they contain, but there’s no proof that they are actually “negative calorie” or that any difference is significant enough to cause weight loss.

Most foods that are said to be negative calories are fruits and vegetables that should be eaten as part of an overall healthy and balanced diet. While it’s good to incorporate these foods into your diet, consuming only one type of food—even healthy ones—won’t provide your body with the wide range of nutrients needed for good health.

More Energy While Losing Weight

admin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:33:34 +0000

Low-carbohydrate diets have been touted as an easy way to lose weight quickly, but getting rid of carbohydrates may mean sacrificing some of your energy.

While low-carb diets can cause a quick drop in weight, most of the weight you’ll lose is water weight that comes from water in your muscles. It’s better to focus on building lean muscle and losing fat if you want to look and feel better long term.

If you want to lose weight and have energy, the key is to focus on eating a balanced diet that includes the right kind of carbohydrates. Focus on eating carbohydrates that come with valuable fiber. Complex carbohydrates will help regulate your blood sugar levels and give you valuable nutrients with very few calories. Examples of complex carbohydrates include: whole fruits, vegetables, beans, whole-grain breads, cereals made from whole grains, and brown rice.

Eating a diet that is made of up lean proteins, fiber, and good carbohydrates while also being low in calories and fat is the healthiest way to lose weight. You may lose weight more slowly, but it will be easier to keep the weight off in the long run. A balanced diet with moderate exercise will also help you feel better while you’re working to lose weight.

Healthy Cooking Tips

admin — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:12:24 +0000

Cooking healthy meals doesn’t have to mean eating bland food. With the right ingredients and tricks, you can prepare healthy cuisine that tastes great, too!

Expert Tips for Cooking Healthier Cuisine

Start with nutrient-rich foods. Base your recipes on colorful vegetables, fresh fruits, lean meats, and whole grains.
Use nonstick pans. Nonstick cookware will require you to cook with less oil or butter.
Invest in a quality food processor. A blender or food processor is essential for adding vegetables to sauces. They’re also great for making smoothies out of fruit and ground flaxseed.
Brown your food with an oil sprayer. A little bit of olive or canola oil is all you need to crisp up many recipes. Using a sprayer will dramatically reduce the amount of oil (and fat) that ends up in your dish.
Grill, bake, or roast your foods. Basically, avoid frying your foods at all cost. Grilling and roasting your vegetables will not only make them healthier, but it’s also better for bringing out the flavor of the vegetables.
Make healthy substitutions. Using low-fat sour cream in your recipes, for example, is a great way to cut calories without sacrificing taste. You can opt for low-fat varieties of cream cheeses and yogurts as well.
Experiment with spices and herbs. Practice flavoring your foods with something other than salt. Fresh garlic, onion, peppers, basil, and oregano are all versatile flavors that won’t raise your blood pressure.

When you’re learning to cook healthier foods, you can start from scratch, or look online for variations of your old family favorites. A few smart substitutions and quality ingredients can go along way toward cutting your fat and calories without skimping on taste.