Lose the Holiday Weight with Fat Burning Foods
April 5, 2010
•Le Cordon Bleu
•Miami
• 0 Comments
Lose the Holiday Weight with Fat Burning Foods
Forget New Year’s resolutions, forget about starving yourself to lose weight, forget about everything you’ve eaten over the last few months, and change your diet for a healthier you. One method for losing that holiday weight and getting back into that bathing suit is by eating low calorie foods and drinks that have been proven to increase your metabolism.
What is metabolism, you ask? Metabolism is the process of burning calories to produce energy. The more efficient your metabolism, the more calories you burn while exercising and while at rest.
Skim milk – Turns out The Milk Processor Education Program (the “Got Milk?” campaign that promotes drinking milk for a slimmer waist line) is right. Studies prove that two glasses of milk will turn up your metabolism all because of calcium – the true metabolic booster.
Coffee – This is one of the few times coffee will be recommended for a diet! Caffeine will make your heart beat faster, and an increased heart rate means increased metabolism. Add skim milk to your coffee for a greater spike.
High fiber foods – Consumption of both soluble and insoluble fiber has three benefits: 1) Feel fuller faster; 2) Maintain a healthy digestive system; and 3) Lower your cholesterol.
Navy beans, dates, and oatmeal are only three of the many foods that have high doses of fiber. Because high fiber foods take longer to digest, your body has to work harder (therefore burn more calories and ultimately increase your metabolism).
Peppers – Chili peppers contain capsaicin, which gives more than your taste buds a bit of heat. Capsaicin raises your heart rate and your metabolism too. Add chili peppers to stir fry, breads, pastas, and eggs for some delightful heat.
Chicken – Low fat proteins including chicken, fish, and turkey not only fill you up quick, but keep you fuller longer. Like fiber, protein takes more energy to digest promoting a higher metabolism.
Tuna – Leptin can be found in tuna, a hormone our body produces naturally to give us the feeling of fullness. Additionally, tuna is a protein, which means you have a shot at doubling that full feeling.
One final thought: It’s not just food that can help your metabolism. Drinking eight glasses of water every day, sleeping six to eight hours every night, and working to build muscle will turn up your internal engines too. Cardiovascular exercise is important to your metabolism, but remember that the more muscle you have, the more calories you’ll burn.
The ideal metabolism boosting lifestyle is the right combination of diet and exercise. Thanks to the warm Miami weather, you have the kind of climate that allows you to get outside and exercise all year. Not to mention allowing you to eat fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish year round too. Take advantage of your Florida sunshine. Here’s to you health.
This article is presented by Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Miami. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Miami offers culinary arts and pâtisserie and baking training programs in Miramar, Florida. To learn more about the class offerings, please visit http://www.Chefs.edu/Miami for more information.
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