It’s pretty certain that foods that make you lose weight would be high on the list of most people.
While that’s a dream, learn which foods really do come close.
Fortunately, there are several foods that you can consume every day that come very close to this ideal situation.
These are the foods that react in a positive way with your hormones, and make losing weight much more achievable.
Further, these foods can speed up your weight loss journey too.
On the other side, there are also several foods that will make you lose weight by never eating them again.
Take a look at the foods to chow down on, and the foods that should never pass your lips.
Foods To Never Eat Again
For many years now we have been surrounded by the same old dietary advice.
Sadly, this is even without a shred of evidence that the old advice is right.
We’re all far too familiar with the low fat, high carbohydrate, lean meat, low salt diet that has been said to be good for us for years.
Simply put: This is plain wrong.
When Did This High Carb Advice Start?
It was way back in 1977 that the food pyramid was first published.
At that time it was suggested that we should all base our diets on carbs. An astonishing 6 -11 servings each day was suggested as being “healthy”
Unsurprisingly, following this dietary advice, type two diabetes rates went through the roof.
Shamefully this seems set to climb further unless people begin to understand the dangerous carb = insulin resistance link.
For more details about this read:
The rates of obesity began climbing at the same time and the food pyramid arrived literally on our plates.
Worryingly, the rate of obesity shows no sign of slowing down. The reality is, the rates at which we’re getting fat is continuing to rise.
All of this despite the fact that now there is overwhelming evidence that a carb heavy diet is not healthy.
A diet high in carbs causes not just weight gain but a very long list of health issues arising from inflammation.
So, Should We Walk Away From Carbs?
Yes and no.
Firstly, let’s get one thing out of the way:
There is no such thing as an essential carb: If you ate zero carbs, your body would produce glucose from amino acids. This process would keep your brain functioning well.
Having said that, not all carbs are equal.
For example, carbs found in vegetables and some fruits are complex carbs which contain starch and fiber.
They also contain many nutrients that can contribute towards good health.
Complex carbs in vegetables are not bad for you in moderation. If you enjoy them, you can include them in your diet.
If you’re on a low carb diet, you should concentrate on above ground vegetables. These are not so carb heavy as below ground, root vegetables.
Simple Carbohydrates
These are the sort of carbs that are not good for your health.
Simple carbs are the class of carbs that are best avoided altogether. They offer little or nothing in the form of nutrients.
They react with our hormones in a way that is going to leave us feeling hungry, prone to weight gain and more susceptible to developing health problems.
For a detailed explanation read:
How many carbs can you have on a keto diet (making sure you’re eating the right ones)
Even within the world of simple carbs, there are three which stand out for their badness. These should never pass your lips.
They are:
- Sugar 100% carbohydrate
- Refined Grains
- Vegetable oils
Sugar
Sugar is 100% simple carbohydrate. No vitamins, no minerals, no health giving properties whatsoever.
It is so devoid of any nutritional value that I’m struggling to refer to it as a food at all.
It’s in everything. Sweets, cakes, cookies and chocolate, where we’d expect to find it.
Unfortunately, its also in plenty of items that we wouldn’t expect to find the sweetener:
- Sauces
- Bread
- Processed meats
- Ready Meals
- Yoghurt
- Cereal
- Protein Bars
- Marinades
- All baked goods such as cakes and cookies.
Worryingly, sugar can legally be referred to under almost 60 different names including:
- fructose
- Corn syrup
- Dextrose
- Glucose
- Lactose
- Maltose
- Sucrose
This is despite the known fact that sugar is the main cause of inflammation, which leads to numerous serious health conditions.
Learn more about inflammation here.
Giving up sugar is one of the most simple and no-cost things that you can do for your health and longevity.
Never eat sugar again.
Grains
These are the refined grains. These should almost never be seen on your plate.
There are a lot of health benefits from reducing or giving up :
- Bread
- Cakes
- Buscuits
- Pasta
- Cereals
- Pies
- Rice
These foods are refined to the point that they contain almost no nutritional value at all.
They are often so lacking in minerals and vitamins that they have to be “fortified” with added vitamins, to have any claim to be food at all.
Most grain based foods have been manufactured to increase shelf life, leaving them devoid of nutrients such as protein, bran and germ.
Dr. Mark Hyman, author of The Blood Sugar Solution had a few things to say about wheat:
“This new modern wheat may look like wheat, but it is different in three important ways that all drive obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, dementia and more. It contains a super starch, amylopectin A, that is super fattening, a form of super gluten that is super inflammatory, and [acts like] a super drug that is super addictive and makes you crave and eat more”.
A diet heavy in grains is going to make you fat and possibly ill.
Diane Roberts Stoler Ed.D wrote in The Resiliant Brain:
- Autoimmune conditions are the #3 killer in the U.S. after heart disease and cancer – grains have proteins that look like mammal proteins and trigger autoimmune diseases of any kind.
- 2 grams of grain flour has enough phytates to almost completely block zinc absorption.
- 35-45% older adults have zinc deficiency.
- In 3 ½ ounces of flour there are enough phytates to decrease iron absorption by 80-90
- Grains inhibit omega 3 fatty acid absorption – omega 3 fatty acids help control inflammation.
- Grain consumption increases blood acidity – then bones release calcium to neutralize the blood; the loss of calcium from bone contributes to osteoporosis and osteopenia.
For the sake of your health you want to aim to cut out grains and replace them in your diet with vegetables which contain complex carbs.
Reduce your total daily amount of carbs, we need nothing like the amount eaten today. Seriously consider swapping to a low carb diet, or the Keto Diet.
Vegetable Oils High in Omega 6 Fatty Acid
Some plant oils such as olive oil and coconut oil are healthy.
However, some oils such as seed oils are crazily bad for your health.
Without a doubt, seed oils should be on your never-eat-again list.
Further, some oils are high in Omega 6 fatty acid.
A high consumption of Omega 6 has been linked to an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
When the ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 becomes unbalanced it has been shown to increase the risk of many chronic inflammatory diseases.
These include cardiovascular disease, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (1)
These oils are also high in polyunsaturated fats which become oxidated either during storage or inside your body.
They are hydrogenated and trans fats. Margarine is an example of a trans fat that you should never eat.
For your health it’s best to avoid these oils altogether.
Foods Which Help You Lose Weight
These are foods that are not simple carbs, grains or polyunsaturated, trans fats.
They are whole foods, nutritionally dense and naturally low carb. These sorts of foods do not cause a spike in blood sugar.
What Happens If you Eat Simple Carbs
This is important because when something is eaten that sends blood/sugar levels high, the response is a correspondingly large dose of the hormone Insulin.
The presence of insulin is the signal to begin the process of storing fat.
The body will use the plentiful supply of glucose for all its current energy needs, and everything else will end up as extra weight.
Insulin levels drop will drop after a few hours of a carb heavy meal.
You’ll know when this is a problem for you; you’ll feel tired, thirsty and hungry.
Furthermore, your mood will be low. All of this will set the scene for you to head off on a downward spiral of unnecessary eating.
Eat Only Complex Carbs, And Limit Starchy Below Ground Vegetables
There is a lot of science to back the view that you should only eat complex carbs.
That is if you want to eat carbs at all. Remember,No carb is essential.
However, its true to say that many of us do manage to follow a healthy eating plan by staying low carb, rather than no carbs at all.
Not only would this be difficult, it isn’t really necessary.
However, make sure that whatever complex carb you choose, its able to earn its place on your plate.
A carb must be able to deliver all the micro nutrients you need, as well as giving you a great dose of fiber.
These good carb foods include all meats and fish which are naturally carb free.
However, if you’d like to include vegetables, these are all low carb:
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Kale
- Tomatoes
- Cucumber
- Bell Peppers
- Spinach
- Zucchini
These foods are super healthy and low carb.
Food To Help You Feel Full For Longer And Will Help Weight Loss
These are the super stars of the dieting world.
The nutritionally dense, low carb foods that are also satiating and will see you through to your next meal without the need for a snack.
These foods include:
- Avocado
- Eggs
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Almonds
- Hard cheeses
- Mushrooms
- Olives
- Cream
When you add meats (not processed meats) and fish to this list, you are well on your way to eating the most filling and diet enhancing foods that are available.
Include plenty of healthy olive oil, and you should not feel hungry between your meals.
When you eat in this way, you stabilize your blood/glucose, minimize your chances of inflammation and speed up the process of losing weight 
There are many foods to choose from that will help you to lose weight.
Whether you choose to go low carb or keto, consider the type of carbs you want to eat.
Consider making low complex carb foods in the weight loss list the basis of your diet.
If you do that, you’ll soon be on your way to success.
To make sure that you reach all your weight loss goals ensure that you include meats, fatty fish and above ground vegetables.
These foods have been proven to greatly increase your weight loss, and will prevent you from regaining your weight at a later date.
Eat reasonably and certainly don’t over eat, but don’t get too worried about calories.
You may want to read more about calories and why they are not the most important measure of a successful diet:
Stop counting calories lose weight and gain control
By mainly eating only complex carbs you’ll be meeting all your nutritional needs.
Plus you’llbe eating in a way that will keep you feeling full for longer, and reducing the times you feel hungry.
This is a great way of eating and it has a lot of health benefits too.
A diet based on these foods will reduce your chances of developing type 2 diabetes and will prevent or reduce the amount of inflammation in your body.
This way of eating is super healthy and enjoyable.
Chances are that you’ll want to stay with these foods even after you’re at your target weight.
English
Español