By Cal Orey
HEAT WAVE! No-Cook Skinny
Superfoods to Pare Pandemic Pounds
There's a HUGE heat wave happening! Instead of turning on the stove why not grab cool superfoods and get a move on in the shade. So, can eating skinny superfoods
help you to get and stay leaner at any age? Yep... But hey, some summertime
favorites may help you to lose unwanted body fat and pounds a bit faster. They
include fat-burning foods such as fruits and vegetables. Some of these foods
fill you up not out and work why you’re at a resting state by revving up your metabolism. I can personally attest
that at least half of these foods help get rid of water retention, some more
than others. Read on – and you can dump those unwanted pandemic pounds just in
time for the season of wearing less and doing more.
Apples: Apples are full of
deliciousness. This fruit is a rich source of fiber that plumps up food as it’s
digested, report researchers in past research. The plumping up increases
satiety so you feel satisfied. Also, emotional and stress eating habits often
can lead to eating unhealthy comfort foods, whereas a crunchy apple is a
wholesome, natural stress-fighting superfood. It is low in calories, fat, and
cholesterol. What’s more, thanks to the fiber in apples, these superfruits can
help you stay regular and more energized, and that can help in weight loss, too.
Berries: Another fat-burning
superfruit is the berry—all types. Throughout my years writing about diet and
nutrition, nutritionists and medical doctors have touted the benefits of
fiber-rich berries, which (like apples) help to reduce absorption of fat and
calories. All of these sweet and
tart babies are nutrient dense, which is a godsend when you’re shedding
unwanted weight. Berries are diet friendly since they are low in fat and
calories and are cholesterol free and sweet, so if you have a sweet tooth,
berries can nip your urge to grab a donut or candy bar by replacing it with a
bowl of berries or a berry smoothie.
Crucifers: Broccoli, cauliflower, and kale—three super
vegetables in the high-fiber cabbage family that are known as fat fighters,
like apples and berries. This trio is one that may take a while to like its
taste, but once you do, because they’re low in fat and fill you up, you may
learn to love the flavor. Toss ‘em raw into cooked whole grain pasta, add
sliced tomatoes, and drizzle with olive oil and red wine vinegar. And add your
favorite herbs and spices to spice it up.
Greek Yogurt: Nope, yogurt is not a superfruit or
vegetable, but it does have super benefits that can help you stay on the
dieting track. Since it is high in calories and high in fat, less is more.
Mixing it up with apples or berries can give you plenty of filling fiber but
also calcium, which studies show can calm you and help curb cravings and fight
stress eating, which will make losing unwanted weight easier. Cheese (especially Parm, Swiss and cottage varieties are best). Pair with grapes and iced water or tea.
Lemons: Like apples, superfruit lemons (also
grapefruit and oranges) are a super source of filling fiber. But versatile
lemons also can help burn fat as well as be detoxifying, and research studies
as well as medical doctors’ experience prove it. Back when I was a nutrition-diet
columnist for a variety of health magazines, I recall the popular lemony
“master cleanse” shared with me by Northern California–based Elson M. Haas,
M.D. He explained to me the wonders of nature’s simple detoxifying beverage
concoction, which included 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of
maple syrup, 1/10 tablespoon of cayenne pepper, and eight ounces of water.
Drink eight to ten glasses a day.
Water: Instead of indulging
in food when you’re stressed out (you may not even be hungry), try reaching for
a glass of water (including herbal tea); sip it and have it with you wherever
you are. Not only does water keep your body running properly from head to toe
and keep your vital organs healthy while you’re dealing with life’s ups and downs,
but it also doesn’t have calories or fat, and it can help curb cravings and
fill you up when you do eat so you’ll eat less rather than more.
The
deal is, you can eat all of these food foods and enjoy an almost no-cook diet.
The reward is you won’t be hungry and you’ll drop unwanted pounds. Go ahead –
enjoy nature’s superfoods found at your local supermarket. No time consuming foraging
needed. It’s all there.
-- Cal Orey, M.A. Is an author and journalist. Her books
include the Healing Powers Series (Vinegar, Olive Oil, Chocolate, Honey,
Coffee, Tea, Superfoods, Essential Oils, Herbs and Spices) published by
Kensington. (The collection has been featured by the Good Cook Book Club.) Her
website is http://www.calorey.com
