Tips For Choosing Weight Loss and Diet Foods

To lose fat, ninety percent of your diet must consist of whole unprocessed foods. Food that is processed in some way has it’s “bulk” removed making it a source of more concentrated calories than a food which is as it naturally occurs. An example of a fantastic food to eat for fat loss is green fibrous vegetables. They contain a lot of “bulk” (thus making you feel full) but very little calories. Some foods are commonly considered to be low in calories and fat, and a good choice for a fat reducing diet, but in actual fact actually are not that great. Here are a few of them that you should avoid if you want to lose fat (be prepared for a few surprises!).

1. Breakfast Cereals. Cereals are commonly believed to be healthy and nutritious, and there is even a popular diet that recommends replacing two meals per day with cereal! However, the labels often reveal that the cereal is high in sugar and salt. Cereals are also a processed food – not ideal for losing fat.

2. Granola Bars.  Although Granola bars consist of healthy nuts and oats, they are mostly glued together with blood sugar raising ingredients like corn syrup. Many bars contain chocolate chips, making them as bad as chocolate bars. Such bars should be viewed as treats, not diet food.

3. Yoghurt with Fruit. Just because the label says fat free, this doesn’t always mean healthy. These foods often contain added sugars and artificial sweeteners which can hamper your efforts to lose body fat. A better alternative would be to eat plain, unflavoured yoghurt mixed with fruit cut into pieces.

4. Bread. Though a popular staple food, like Pasta it is processed and calorie dense. Eating too much bread will make you fat. If you are trying to lose fat and tone up, you should minimize your consumption of bread.

5. Pre-made Sandwiches may seem like a convenient and “healthy” lunch, but they often contain salad dressings filled with sugar, absolutely no vegetables and of course – too much bread! If you are trying to lose fat, make your own so that you know what goes into them. Better yet, eat a salad made from green vegetables and a lean protein.

6. Fruit Juice. Most fruit juices contain added sugars. Sugar causes a rise in insulin levels causing the body to store fat more quickly. Furthermore, drinking fruit juice is not a logical choice for losing weight – it would be better to eat the whole fruit to gain all the nutrients and fibre without too many calories. Calories can be consumed more quickly when they are in liquid form. A better choice would be to drink Water.

7. Sports Drinks. They are supposed to replace carbohydrates and electrolytes after exercising, but the reality is that these drinks contain massive amounts of sugar. This is the last thing that you need if you want to reduce body fat. Water is the best choice!

8. Fast Food Salads. If you absolutely have no choice but to eat in a fast food restaurant, then you are better off selecting one of the salads (such as a grilled chicken salad) than a burger and fries. However, this should only be used as an “emergency”, particularly if you are trying to lose weight as research into the nutrient values will reveal that they contain far more calories than a healthy, home made salad. The dressings will contain lots of sugar to intensify the taste; such salads often contain croutons made from refined white flour.

9. Frozen Meals.  Nothing is wrong with frozen vegetables or fruits. In actual fact it is a myth that frozen vegetables are lacking in nutrients – they are frozen in a way that retains the nutrients. The method of cooking is the determining factor in retaining the nutrients – the best way being t steam vegetables. Frozen “ready meals” however are processed, high in added sugars, and come with sauces and sodium. Again, not an ideal choice for anyone wanting to reduce body fat.

10. Diet Soda Drinks. They contain artificial sweeteners, additives, and phosphoric acid which can affect your bone density. Whilst it can be argued that they are a better choice than regular Soda’s, better still would be to avoid all together. Particularly for reducing body fat.