Feeling a bit too curvy for bikini season?
Don’t fret–get in shape instead! Though summer is almost over, there’s still time to shed enough weight to fit into your dream bikini; and better yet, it’s a simple as biting into a juicy fruit.
For starters, let’s stock up on apples: here’s why.
Apples: The Ultimate Slim Down?
They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but now it appears it can keep away those pesky pounds as well.
But how?
According to a recent study in the journal Food Chemistry, apples contain non-digestible compounds called insoluble fiber, something which the body has a harder time digesting. As it works to digest it, it continues to make you feel full–and in turn, keeps your appetite low.
For an added bonus, apples also contain polyphenols, chemicals (don’t worry, these chemicals are good) which help friendly bacteria thrive in your gut. This helps control the less desirable bacteria in your gut, which researchers say could prevent weight gain.
“These compounds–fiber and polyphenols–remain undigested until they’re fermented in the colon, where they act as food for friendly bacteria and help your body outweigh the bad bacteria that thrives on junk food,” says food scientist Guiliana Noratto. “So changing our gut bacteria via what we eat, making it similar to that of a lean person, could help prevent weight gain.”
As for how much you should eat, Noratto recommends eating up to 3 apples per day. But be careful: Raw apples are the best, as the cooking process destroys those precious fat-fighting polyphenols.
Now For Grapefruit
If a ripe, juicy apple isn’t enough to fix your waistline, here’s another fruit to fall back on: Grapefruit.
Though the taste can be gag-worthy, it’s worth mustering it down, according to recent research. Scientists from UC Berkeley fed rats a high-fat diet supplemented with either water or grapefruit, and found that grapefruit lowered their insulin levels by up to 17 percent.
So what’s the big deal about that?
Simple: The higher your blood glucose, the more likely you’ll feel those dreaded hunger pangs. You won’t be able to control how much you eat either, so it’s best to keep it low–though not too low, as that can cause health problems as well.
As for why it’s so effective, researchers point to a flavanoid found in grapefruit, called naringin. They’re not sure why it’s so effective at lowering blood sugar, however.
Lastly, Cranberry Juice
Okay, okay–so if you’re not big on apples or a big chunk of grapefruit, you may want to drink this instead.
A glass of cool cranberry juice, as well as upping your antioxidant levels, could also help lower your body mass index, or BMI, according to research reported by LIVESTRONG.
According to their report, people who drank cranberry juice significantly decreased their body mass index and body weight–though no specific numbers were given.
You have to be careful with juice, however, say health experts. Juice can also carry a lot of calories, so if you drink to excess, you’ll negate its fat-burning effects.
Recommendation? Stick with one glass per day; it’ll do your body good.
Readers: What other foods do you eat to lose weight?
Sources:
Eating This Fruit Every Day Can Help You Lose Weight – FoxNews.com
This Fruit Could Help Cancel Out a High-Fat Diet – Prevention.com
Does Cranberry Juice Make You Lose Weight? – Livestrong.com
About The Author: Zero to Hero Fitness!
Our mission at Zero to Hero Fitness is to help you to finally lose the weight and keep it off, strengthen your body and mind, and experience naturally high levels of energy throughout the day. We believe everyone, regardless of your past or current struggles with your health or fitness, can greatly improve on your existing condition and live life in your best body possible.