Ancient Weight Loss Myths and Current Realities

Looking to lose weight fast? Flooded with diet plans and exercise routine? Do not know which is best for you? Do not worry, you're not alone.As the trend of fast food and convenient food continues, the proportion of the population that wants to shed a few pounds is increasing.

A large majority of people like to use slimming diets - although they may work over time and with a little dedication, they can also be extremely expensive - especially if you continue to use for a while. Some people spend hundreds of dollars to get the effects they want.

Most of these programs focus on calories. They provide about 300 calories per meal and provide you the most vitamins and nutrients you need to run. The problem comes when you decide to stop using the products - the minute you stop, you start putting the weight back on immediately.

A growing number of diet pills and other supplements are also on the market. These usually bombard you with messages about how they are the best way to lose weight, the next big thing, etc.. etc. .. The biggest disadvantage of these types of get-thin-quick plans  is that basically they do not work.

In fact, most diet pills dehydrate you, which can be seriously detrimental to your health. They work in two ways: they suppress your appetite chemically, and they extract water from your body. You feel as if you are losing weight quickly, but what  you are actually losing is water - the minute you drink a glass of water, your body says "Thank you" and stores the water back to where it came from.

In addition, suppressing  your appetite can be really bad for your overall health. You need to eat. Food is where we have our energy - no food, no energy. You would not expect your car to run without gasoline, and you can not expect your body to work without food.

The body needs a certain amount of calories to function every day - so another fad recently, starvation diet, does not work. By starving yourself you are depriving your body of essential vitamins and nutrients that work.

When you do not eat, the body gets its calories in two places: fat (which is why people try it) and muscle. If by starving yourself all you reduce is your  muscle,  you feel even more weak and tired.

The best way to lose weight is really simple: eat healthy foods, nutrients and regular exercise. Take the time to look for the diet plan and exercise plan that will work best for your individual goals.

High Fiber Foods

Remember, if something is said to be too good to be true, it usually is!

                           The effect on weight loss of eating high fiber food

Fiber is a simple weight loss solution , natural and inexpensive  and offers much more than any wonder pill, fat reduction surgical procedure gadget or exercise ever could.

In addition to supporting the levels of healthy blood sugar and eliminate calories from the foods we eat, fiber interacts with a hormone called cholecystokinin (CCK) and sets into action an amazing process that causes the body to be in  weight loss fashion.

CCK is produced in the small intestine. When you eat fiber, it in turn stimulates and prolongs the elevation of CCK in the blood, the effect is that you feel full and not feel any desire or need to eat for longer periods than usual .

This same hormone also stimulates the digestion of fats and proteins. It is secreted by the duodenum, a segment of the small intestine, it causes the release of bile from the gall bladder and pancreatic enzymes necessary for digestion. CCK mediates in other physiological processes. In a study conducted by the University of California,  it was found that those who ate a high-fiber meal released more CCK in their blood than those who ate  low fibers. The effect is the same with those who ate a high-fat meal against those who had a meal low in fat.

High Fiber Foods

What is interesting is that those who ate meals high in fat and high fiber had an even greater feeling of satiety. The reason is because the same hormone is released when fat is consumed. An example of this is the fullness you experience after eating a big juicy steak with a lot of fat. In the study, researchers have attributed this to increased amounts of CCK in the body of participants.

Another study of men  gave the same results. A meal rich in fiber and a meal low in fiber are given in random order. The test meal and control meal included eggs, bread, jelly, margarine, orange juice and milk. Meal high in fiber include beans and low-fiber has rice and milk powder. Participants CCK levels were measured before and after meals. The results showed that the level of CCK was twice as high after a meal rich in fiber than after a meal low in fiber.

So what is the practical application of these findings on fiber? If you want to lose weight, eat more foods rich in fiber, because fiber is a natural appetite suppressant. Food sources of fiber include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes. And as a bonus, you will discover other benefits that fiber offers including better digestive health.