Sunday, October 18, 2009
You know that to lose weight you have to burn more calories than you take in. You may not know that paired with exercise and watching what you eat, there are two important body
processes that help you with weight control.
For healthy weight loss, digestion and metabolism need to be working like clockwork. Fiber, essential fats and probiotics are a few of the crucial substances that keep them ticking.
Fiber
Many nutritionists rank fiber as the #1 focus for weight loss. It helps balance blood sugar, control hunger and keep the intestines healthy. Fiber comes only from plant foods, especially vegetables,
beans, whole grains, fruits and seeds. If you don’t get the recommended intake (about 25g/day) from food, consider an all-natural fiber supplement.
Essential Fats
Believe it or not, deficiencies in good fats are linked to overweight. Omega-3 and monounsaturated essential fats support healthy digestion, metabolism, blood sugar levels and
feelings of fullness. While found in some foods such as certain fish and walnuts, supplementing with flaxseed oil and/or fish oil is the easiest way to get guaranteed amounts.
Probiotics
These beneficial live bacteria (microflora) are essential to intestinal health, thus digestion. They may also assist weight loss as part of an initial cleansing period when activity in the colon is heightened. Studies have shown that obesity affects the diversity of gut flora, and researchers speculated that supplementation may help to balance metabolism.
