If you know how to eat right, food can actually help you lose weight. There are many myths surrounding topics of dieting and weight loss. And there are numerous unhealthy misconceptions about it. Of course, if you are looking for some magical foods and ways that can melt away excess body fat, you will be disappointed. In order to reduce weight, you need to make small, achievable changes to your lifestyle, increase your physical activity and eat smart.
Potatoes don’t make you fat Getting rid of carb-rich foods is not the key to weight loss, say experts. Rather, carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy. So banning potatoes, rice, pasta etc will not make you magically slim. Of course, you can have potatoes but in a healthy way — following basic rules like not frying them, not using butter and full cream for your mash, etc, work.
A healthy mix of foods is necessary People feel that mixing and combining foods does not work. Experts however negate it. Most diets are naturally a healthy mix of carbs and proteins and the enzymes in our digestive system break it all down well. You should have different food groups in your plate to get a healthy mix of it all. When you are having orange juice, the vitamin C in it can help boost the iron absorption from legumes, lentils and beans that are fortified with plant-based iron.
Having only fruits won’t help Just having a fruit plate for breakfast is not ideal at all, say nutritionists. Post your all-night fast, your body needs fuel in the form of complex carbohydrates for breakfast, and just fruits cannot provide that. They are a great source of fibre and vitamins, and you could consume fruits with or before your breakfast of wholegrain cereals, multigrain muffins and breads. They can add to your breakfast but they cannot replace breakfast, say dieticians.
Magic foods can’t help you slim down Gorging on superfoods cannot help
you to lose weight. There are no magical fruits or vegetables that can burn your fat and give you a slim body, if you do not undergo a strict exercise regime and a healthy balanced diet along with it. Nutritionists say that dietary fibre could help you feel full for longer and thereby reduce your hunger pangs, and help you stop overeating.
Your daily diet should consist of foods like whole fruits (avoid juices), vegetables, wholegrain breads and cereals, and legumes that are low in fat but high in fibre.
Source: TOI