What makes dieting interesting and even kind of fun is all the theories about weight loss that come and go. Some of the best ones, the ones that really work, have been around forever. For instance, there’s no denying that if you burn more calories than you take in, you will lose weight. Every diet that works has that at the core; the variations on that principle keep it interesting. Luckily, we now have science that proves which theories really work and why.
The Active Calorie Diet has an interesting new angle. It proposes—and research backs this up–-that certain types of food can rev your metabolism, curb your appetite, and help you lose more weight. Just the act of chewing foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can increase your calorie burn by up to 30%! In this diet plan, foods are broken down into four types of “active calories”–chewy foods, hearty foods, energizing foods, and warming foods. Here’s how it works:
Chewy Foods (Nuts, whole fruits and vegetables, and lean meats) These foods use up calories in extra chewing. To maximize the chew factor, choose food in its most “whole” state—apples instead of applesauce, for instance. High-protein foods really are your best ally in the Active Calorie Diet because they take more work to chew and longer to leave your stomach so you take more time eating—and have more time to register that you’re full.
Hearty Foods (Fruits, vegetables, brown rice, whole grains and cereals) In addition to being chewy, these Active Calories are packed with fiber, so they take up more room in your belly (compared to other foods with the same number of calories), and leave less room for second helpings. Foods that take more work to chew literally make your mouth work harder (ramping calorie burn by 10 %!).
Energizing Foods (Coffee, black and green tea, dark chocolate) You can get metabolism-boosting caffeine in coffee and black tea; just be careful not to load them up with milk, cream, or sugar. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, so your daily coffee or black tea can boost your metabolism by 5 to 8%—about 80 to 128 calories a day. Green tea doesn’t have much caffeine but it does contain catechins, an antioxidant that raises resting metabolism by 4% (about 80 calories a day). Dark chocolate contains both catechins and caffeine, but stick to 1 ounce per day to limit fat and calories.
Warming Foods (Peppers, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, cloves, mustard, vinegar) To fully activate the calories from every meal, add some heat. Dieters taking capsaicin, the chemical that gives peppers their burn, doubled their energy expenditure for several hours after eating, according to a new study from UCLA. Even mild peppers contain compounds that help erase up to 100 calories a day by binding to nerve receptors and sending fat-burning signals to your brain. Cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves, and garlic help with this, too.
Many other studies give us good reasons to eat these foods for weight loss and good health. But this added knowledge about chewy foods, hearty foods, energizing foods, and warming foods makes it all a little more interesting and a little more fun.
One of the best things you can do to maintain good health and to lose weight is to go on a Vegan Flush. When you cleanse your body of all its toxins, it can function much better so not only do you feel better, but much of the fat trapped in your body will leave. This gentle two-week detox will boost your immune system and restore your natural hormone levels. Click the link to learn a lot more about Vegan Flush. If you try it, you’ll feel better than you have in years!
Source: Prevention.com
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No matter how dedicated you are to getting healthier or losing weight, you can start to feel deprived and bored as the days go on. But there are some “easy” things you can do that will bring big results without big deprivation. Some of these might surprise you.
1. Skip through the commercials
Get up and move during the commercials while you’re watching TV. Skip, dance, go up and down some stairs, run in place, or do some housework—anything that gets your heart rate up. For each 2-minute break during a typical 2-hour TV night you’ll burn an extra 270 calories a day. That means a 28-pound weight loss in a year!
2. Brown-bag it once a week
You’ll save thousands of calories (not to mention hundreds of dollars) over the course of a year if you take your lunch to work once a week instead of going out for lunch. For instance, a chicken Caesar wrap from a chain restaurant has 610 calories, more than 40% of which come from fat. If you make your own with chicken breast on whole wheat bread, light mayo and romaine lettuce, it will amount to about 230 calories. That’s almost 400 fewer calories. In addition, you control the quality and portion sizes and reduce the amount of sugar, salt, and fat.
3. Eat fruit — don’t drink it
Skip juice and eat the whole fruit instead. You’ll not only get more heart-healthy fiber in your diet (3.5g for a small apple versus .5g in a glass of juice), you’ll also stay satisfied longer. Research shows that, fiber aside, liquid carbohydrates just aren’t as filling as solids. On top of that, drinking juice results in 48% more calories than eating the whole fruit.
4. Drink your coffee the pre-Starbucks way
A regular cup of coffee with a dash of milk and even a little sugar has hundreds fewer calories than blended coffees, which are practically dessert in a cup. One recent study of about 3,000 purchases from 115 coffee shops in New York City found that while servings of brewed coffee or tea averaged about 63 calories (including milk and sugar), the fancier drinks averaged nearly four times more, with 239 calories. A daily habit can translate to an 18-pound gain over a year.
5. Eat a treat and enjoy it
Give yourself permission to have a treat you really like once or twice a week. This will give you something to look forward to the rest of the time, and you won’t feel so deprived. It will cut down on your cravings, too. And while you’re eating, enjoy it to the hilt. Take a minute to smell it, look at it, and think about it. Take one small bite. Chew slowly, moving it around your mouth and focusing on the texture and taste, then swallow. When you take the time to slow down and be more mindful of what something really tastes like, you’ll feel more satisfied.
When you’re having that treat, why not try some of Claire Gosse’s delicious desserts from Are You Sure That’s Vegan? (Desserts). This book has 55 recipes, all as good as the Nanaimo Bars pictured above. How about Key Lime Cheesecake or Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcakes or Nutty Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies or Blueberry Pie? These are all worth waiting the rest of the week to enjoy. All the recipes have been tried by vegans and non-vegans…and everyone loved them!
Click the link for Are You Sure That’s Vegan? (Desserts) to see the beautiful photos and read the testimonials.
Source: Prevention.com
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“Welcome to Atlanta where the players play!”- Jermaine Dupri
And play I did! Oh yes, and gorge my greedy little face I did too ; ) The hustle and bustle of the Atlanta metropolitan area is intoxicating. Already a big city, it’s getting even bigger. Cool sky rises, modern shopping areas, the world of coca cola museum and aquarium as well as the nooks and areas tucked away for the hipster crowd, I had no problems getting into a groove here. So as one would imagine, there would be no problems finding some good eats in the capital of the south!
Fighting the city traffic, i made my way into the World Peace Cafe just in time for a quick dessert. We knew we had limited time in the city along with lots of obligations so I wanted to make sure I made it in. Run by the Rameshori Kadampa Buddhist Center in Sandy Springs, the cafe is mainly volunteer operated. But you’d never know it as the place runs like a dream and the food is even better. I was able to grab a minty chocolate cupcake before they all headed home but the menu looked great! Brekfast to dinner, fresh juice to dessert, they’ve got a veritable cornucopia of awesome veggie food. Feed your karma and your soul at World Peace Cafe!
We stayed in the heart of downtown at the Marriot Marquis. In it I had my lovely Starbucks waiting for me every morning as well as 2 restaurants and a bar. Having rolled in late, we were pretty hungry and weary so we popped into High Velocity. Located in the main lobby of the hotel, it’s a chic sports bar with a fun menu. I was stoked to find a bunch of vegan and health friendly options at a sports bar so I had a taste of a few things ; ) I shared the lemon hummus with veggie sticks (almost no calories!!) and a black bean soy burger piled high with mushrooms and onions with my babe. It hit the spot just before we hit the sack.
The next day I had a hankering for soul food. What better place for such a meal than Atlanta and what better place in Atlanta than Soul Vegetarian. They’ve got locations all over the world and have a neat concept. A fully African-American run business that originated in Israel, this cafeteria style diner also boasts a fresh juice and home made ice cream bar as well as a holistic center that offers all kinds of services including colon hydrotherapy! I happen to like the 1 sto shop idea ; ) I chowed on a ginormous portion of soy mac and cheese, collard greens,salad, corn bread and I had to split the vegan gyro with Dan as my stomach wouldn’t fit it all. Don’t leave Atlanta without going to 1 of the 2 locations of Soul Vegetarian.
Another place with a few locations is The Vortex Bar and Grill. It’s a hoot!! I was laughing my ass off just reading the menu and so will you (the website is just as kooky). It was cold out so I went with a steaming bowl of veggie chili and a side of sweet potato fries. There isn’t a soul who couldn’t find something on this menu as well as find this place quite the place for a fun night out!
Ok, so, I’m sure you can guess there is alot more to cover here in Atlanta so stay tuned next week for more!!
