Have you been struggling with counting calories, desperate to find the secret to trimming down your waistline? It turns out the focus should be more on the quality of your food choices rather than the quantity – in other words, it’s time to rethink the types of proteins and carbohydrates you’re eating.
Research from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy at Tufts University followed 20,000 men and women for over 16 years, finding a clear link between weight gain and the consumption of refined grains, sugars, and starches. This means success in weight control depends way more on your food choices than the number of calories you consume.
Don’t starve yourself; simply switch to nutrient-rich foods, like those prescribed in the paleo diet. Consuming such hearty meals can leave you feeling full and satisfied, all while your pounds pack up and leave.
Still not convinced? Let’s dig deeper into the research carried out by the team at Tufts University.
The Findings
The aim of their study was to find ways to prevent weight gain. Their research resulted in the following findings:
- Consuming high amounts of red meat and processed meat led to increased weight gain. However, organic, grass-fed meat was not analyzed in this study.
- Those who ate more seafood, yogurt, nuts, and skinless chicken managed to keep their weight down more effectively. Additionally, more of these foods eaten correlated to lower overall body weight.
- Dairy products, including full-fat milk, full-fat cheese, and low-fat milk did not seem to have any influence on weight gain.
Furthermore, the fat content in dairy products was not found to be an important factor. In fact, when people consumed more low-fat dairy items, they tended to substitute the reduced calories with carbs, which probably promoted weight gain.
Brain science supports this idea. Our brain perceives fat as a signal that we are full and have eaten enough. Pigs, for example, are fed skim milk to keep them eating more and thus gain weight faster. The lack of fat in the milk keeps them from feeling full.
So if you are under the misapprehension that sweetened no-fat yogurt helps you maintain your weight, you might want to reconsider. The refined carbohydrates in the sugary fruit included in the yogurt are the prime contributors to an expanding waistline.
Conclusion
Instead of counting calories to maintain weight and improve health, focus on particular protein-rich foods such as fish, nuts, and yogurt. Equally important is avoiding refined grains, starches, and sugars, as they can have detrimental effects on your overall health.
While vegetables, seafood, and nuts are highly beneficial, processed foods advertised on TV don’t contribute to a healthier lifestyle. What they do is increase the waistline, thereby leaving you with questionable long-term results.
Boost your nutrient intake with real, wholesome foods, rich in healthy fats and proteins. Ditch the sugary treats, and you’ll see positive changes in your weight and overall well-being. The key to losing that pesky belly fat lies in the quality of your food choices rather than calorie-counting. Happy eating!
