Healthy Bite 008 - Eat These, Lose Weight

Super Simple Healthy Podcast

Welcome to the Super Simple Healthy Podcast! This is Christina Moyes. I’ve mentioned in previous episodes about the POWER of food. How food can have an effect on your mood, how fast your hair and nails grow, the glow of your skin, the clarity of your thoughts and of course, on your waistline. Today I’ll be sharing a couple of powerhouse foods that can actually help you shed pounds without dieting. Eat These, Lose Weight So what is all this about the POWER of food? After studying Nutrition at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition I realized that food is SO much more than something that alleviates the grumbling our stomachs. We are a part of the ecosystem on this Earth. And every plant on it is here to not just help us survive – but THRIVE! The nutrients in plants work together to nourish the cells in every animal and human so that we can all function to our highest potential. It’s all part of the cycle. When people do not receive those nutrients on a regular basis, the body starts to react and break down creating exhaustion, confusion and mood swings. I always tell my clients we are not calorie banks, but chemistry sets. Every ingredient has a purpose. Some help boost your metabolism, suppress appetite and stabilize blood sugar, all key elements in weight loss. Here are three foods that help you do just that: 1) Coconut Oil. Coconuts have shown up as the latest craze these past couple of years. It has multiple uses and benefits, but as far as weight loss is concerned here’s how Coconut Oil can help. Coconut oil has special fats called Medium Chain Triglycerides, or MCT’s. It has been shown that breaking down these types of healthy fats in the liver leads to more efficient burning of energy. And one study in 2009 found that women who consumed about 2 TBSP of coconut oil daily for 12 weeks had lower amounts of abdominal fat, a type that can be very difficult to lose and can contribute to more heart problems. Coconuts can also help the body resist viruses and bacteria that can cause illness, fight off yeast, fungus and candida. One word of caution though, coconut oil is still considered a saturated fat. Keep your daily intake to no more than 2 TBSP daily. For that reason, I recommend using it for cooking, baking or frying. You can also add a tablespoon to your morning smoothie or as a moisturizer on your body and add a little to your hair for added softness and shine (too much can leave your hair looking and feeling greasy if you don’t wash it out.) 2) Apple Cider Vinegar or ACV. The acetic acid found within ACV suppresses appetite and reduces water retention which, can stop you from gaining excess fat and holding too much water weight. It also increases metabolism, making it easier to burn off calories you’ve eaten throughout the day. • For an easy way to down this super cider, just start with 10 ounces of water, add 2 TBSP ACV, and 2 TBSP honey or maple syrup. Best to drink first thing in the morning! • Or for a Super Simple Salad Dressing, start with 1 part ACV to 3 parts EVOO, add a couple tsps. Honey, Mustard, salt & pepper to taste. 3) And last, but not least, our dearest vegetable villain: Broccoli. Broccoli is high in fiber of course, but also aids in digestion, prevents constipation, keeps blood sugar low and therefore helps to keep you from overeating. And an added bonus: broccoli has as much protein in one cup as rice or corn with half the calories! That’ll do it for today. I hope that was helpful. You can check out my website for more foods that help you lose weight and one of my favorite broccoli recipes at www.supersimplehealthy.com. Until next time: Keep it Simple Be Healthy.