When people hear the term "bariatric foods", they think of
specialized diets for those who have had weight loss surgery. Broken to
its core, though, the term simply encompasses those things you can eat
to help you lose weight. Now, contrary to the principle of so-called
"zero-calorie" vegetables and such, anything you eat is technically not
going to burn calories. That said, there are certainly choices you can
make that will make your diet much less of a struggle. This means
avoiding things that wreak havoc on your metabolism and create cravings
where they didn't exist. Here are three things you can incorporate to
boost your success.
Beef
Believe it or not, beef can help you lose weight and it belongs in any reasonable discussion of bariatric foods. The key is to find lean cuts that aren't dripping with fat. That boosts the calorie content and it could have unfortunate effects on your health. Some nutritional experts advise looking for grass fed beef, which is free of many hormones and steroids found in the average beef-raised cattle. Why is beef a good choice? Because of the protein. Granted, you can find protein in chicken and other fish and fowl-and you should-but don't avoid red meat just because you think it isn't healthy. Eaten in moderation, it can be a big help to your plan.
Green Tea
Much has been written about the multitude of health benefits found in green tea. While the jury is still out on some of these claims, there is certainly evidence that it deserves a mention when it comes to bariatric foods. A rich source of antioxidants, it is also known to raise the body's temperature, which in turn raises the metabolism. Your metabolism is the process by which your body burns calories. The faster it is moving, the more calories you are burning. That is the point of exercise. When you're running, your metabolism is burning through energy, preventing your body from storing it as fat. Green tea can help you do the same thing (to a lesser extent) without the sweat.
Grapefruit
In the 1970s, the grapefruit diet was all the rage. Pairing grapefruit with a diet high in meat was supposed to turn your body into a fat fighting furnace. The fad may have died out, but there is strong scientific evidence to show that incorporating grapefruit into your diet can have positive effects on your weight loss. Researchers aren't sure as of yet exactly what it is about the melon that contributes to weight loss, but the effects have been proven. Try using this and other bariatric foods to make the battle of the bulge a little bit easier.
Beef
Believe it or not, beef can help you lose weight and it belongs in any reasonable discussion of bariatric foods. The key is to find lean cuts that aren't dripping with fat. That boosts the calorie content and it could have unfortunate effects on your health. Some nutritional experts advise looking for grass fed beef, which is free of many hormones and steroids found in the average beef-raised cattle. Why is beef a good choice? Because of the protein. Granted, you can find protein in chicken and other fish and fowl-and you should-but don't avoid red meat just because you think it isn't healthy. Eaten in moderation, it can be a big help to your plan.
Green Tea
Much has been written about the multitude of health benefits found in green tea. While the jury is still out on some of these claims, there is certainly evidence that it deserves a mention when it comes to bariatric foods. A rich source of antioxidants, it is also known to raise the body's temperature, which in turn raises the metabolism. Your metabolism is the process by which your body burns calories. The faster it is moving, the more calories you are burning. That is the point of exercise. When you're running, your metabolism is burning through energy, preventing your body from storing it as fat. Green tea can help you do the same thing (to a lesser extent) without the sweat.
Grapefruit
In the 1970s, the grapefruit diet was all the rage. Pairing grapefruit with a diet high in meat was supposed to turn your body into a fat fighting furnace. The fad may have died out, but there is strong scientific evidence to show that incorporating grapefruit into your diet can have positive effects on your weight loss. Researchers aren't sure as of yet exactly what it is about the melon that contributes to weight loss, but the effects have been proven. Try using this and other bariatric foods to make the battle of the bulge a little bit easier.
