Lose Weight – Eat Healthy Foods for Natural Weight Loss

Excess pounds do not happen overnight yet we all wish we could wake up in the morning and have a slim trim figure. The truth is that this is not going to happen.

It is not all that complicated to lose weight by eating the right foods and maintaining a healthy weight. Most people know what is best and how to do it but are always looking for the quick-fix!

The best way to lose weight so that it stays off is to do it gradually by changing your eating habits and lifestyle, eat the right foods and move more. Choose foods which are high in complex carbohydrates, high in fiber, moderate in protein and low in fat.

Carbohydrates are your main source of energy and are found in bread, potatoes, pasta, yams, rice and grains. Many people wrongly believe that these foods are fattening. However, starchy foods are the staple diet worldwide. It is the butter, rich sauces and accompaniments that make them fattening. This type of food should supply about half your calorie intake for the day.

Fiber is split into two groups, soluble and insoluble and both are needed for your health.

Soluble fiber provides steadier flow of energy as it slows the rate of digestion in the stomach. Soluble fiber is found in foods such as porridge, lentils, dried apricots. Insoluble fats speed up the passage of waste as they provide bulk and helps move food waste quickly and easily.

Insoluble fiber is found in unrefined whole grains such as cereals, grains bran, wholemeal bread and such foods. Try to eat unrefined grains like unpeeled fruit and vegetables as much as possible. Do not overdo it though as you will soon start to feel bloated.

Protein. Foods in this group are meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts and seeds and should be eaten in moderation. Your daily calorie consumption should not consist of more than 15% of protein.

Fats. Nearly all the fat in foods contains fatty acids which are either saturated or monounsaturated or polyunsaturated. It is necessary to have some fats in your diet but too much leads to weight gain. The more healthy fats are found in oily fish such as mackerel, sardines, kippers and salmon, as well as rapeseed oil. These can be eaten more often.
Eat fewer amounts of sunflower seeds, sesame oil and walnuts. Keep dairy fats and solid fats to an absolute minimum.

A word of warning – although many manufacturers provide products that are ‘low in fat’ always read the label for calorie content and hidden sugars. Sometimes you can get just as many calories from these low-fat versions. The same applies to products that are labelled as fat-free.

If you want to lose weight naturally, you have to keep track of every food you eat and of every activity that you do. When you say natural weight loss this means that you do not have to use some accessories or helpful aids just to lose weight.

When you feel the urge for food coming on, snacking on something healthy such as a slice of whole-grain toasted bread is a better alternative. Never skip a meal and eat snacks instead because that is the worst thing you can do if you are trying to control your eating habits and weight. It is best to respond to hunger with healthy snacks.

Sue Baker
http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/lose-weight-eat-healthy-foods-for-natural-weight-loss-710364.html

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Tagged as: Accompaniments, Best Way To Lose Weight, Calorie Consumption, Calorie Intake, Complex Carbohydrates, Excess Pounds, Fatty Acids, Fish Eggs, Food Waste, Fruit And Vegetables, Insoluble Fiber, Maintaining A Healthy Weight, Meat Poultry, Move Food, Protein Foods, Rich Sauces, Soluble Fiber, Staple Diet, Starchy Foods, Whole Grains