Superfoods Part 2
Balance. Always strive for balance. There are so many fad diets claiming that if you eat grapefruit all day for every meal that you'll lose weight, if you eat hot sauce on everything that you'll lose weight, eating only bananas for a couple days and you'll lose weight. Diets that claim these things are gimmicky and are trying to give you an easy way out that won't last in the long run.
These foods that I've been telling you about the last few days help rev up your metabolism because of what they're made of. Knowledge is power when it comes to food. Eating certain foods put on fat and screw with your body, certain foods boost your body's ability to burn fuel and function how it should, and in turn, look and feel how you want.
That said, let's go over a few more foods that help flip your body into a fuel burning machine. And remember...balance. Add these into your existing healthy diet to boost your metabolism :)
EGGS.....
High source of protein and a good source of healthy fat. Don't shy away and be scared of healthy fats!! These fats are what give you energy (along with carbs) when you're exercising. Think of how many more minutes on your elliptical you could do or how many more lunges you could do if you had that extra bit of energy. Eggs leave you feeling fuller throughout the day and which will make you feel less likely to snack on crap. Like I said yesterday, if you want to throw a little bit of chilli pepper into your eggs, it's a power meal right there!
SALMON....
It's another one of those "love it or hate it" kinds of foods. Let me tell you why you should learn to like it if you don't already. There's a lot of talk about omega-3 fatty acids. What's the deal with them anyway? Well, salmon is a rich source, meaning it's packed full of omega-3s. These omega-3s are so powerful that they can actually turn on genes that increase fat burning, and turn off the genes that regulate fat storage. Omega-3s also help keep your cardiovascular system healthy, which is very important when exercising.
DAIRY....
Yes, dairy has fat. But the ingredients in dairy and milk actually burn fat as well. High in calcium and high in protein. High in calcium diets slow fat storage and increases thermogenesis (fat-burning) and metabolism. Good enough reason to drink that glass of milk in the morning?? And with the chocolate milk option, how can you say No?? The protein content also makes you feel full longer, so it cuts down on mindless snacking because you feel full already.
AVOCADO.....
This is one I don't eat enough. Full of monounsaturated fats and mannoheptulose. Let me explain... Being high in monounsaturated fats means that your body is less likely to store the avocado as body fat and has shown to reduce weight when eaten in place of carbohydrates for energy. And that other long word...mannoheptulose. This is a sugar in avocado. You'll see that not all sugars are bad. This sugar is associated with blunting insulin release. Insulin is directly involved with fat storage. Maintaining normal insulin levels can go a long way in keeping your fat levels in check. Good enough reason to go buy one at the store and see what you can do with it???
One more...
GREEN TEA....
Everyone has heard at one point or another that green tea is good for you. Caffeine is a fat-burner just because it gets your metabolism going, but it's not the most powerful ingredient in green tea. A big 'ol word called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a phytochemical (which means it's a chemical that is naturally found in plants). This phytochemical works with your metabolism too.
It's funny thinking about food. Knowledge is definitely power. Have a great day!
Naomi.