At least 7 scientific studies have provided strong evidence that energy containing beverages (i.e., “liquid calories”) do not properly activate the satiety mechanisms in the body and brain and do not satisfy the appetite as well as food in solid form.
Epidemiological research also supports a positive association between calorie-containing beverage consumption and increased body weight or body mass index. New research now suggests that soda may not be the only culprit…
The primary source of liquid calories in the United States Diet is carbohydrate, namely soda. Now running a close second are specialty and dessert coffees. Did you know that a 16 ounce Frappucino can contain 500 calories or even more! That’s one-third of a typical female’s daily calorie intake while on a fat loss program.
A recent study at Purdue University published in the International Journal of Obesity set out to learn even more about this bodyfat – liquid calories relationship.
Researchers compared solid and beverage forms of foods composed primarily of carbohydrate, fat or protein in order to document the independent effect of food form in foods with different dominant macronutrient sources.
Based on previous research, some experts have recommended targeting specific beverages as being “worse” than others. High fructose corn syrup and soda has been singled out the most and you’ve probably seen that yourself in the news.
There’s no question that soda has been on top of the “hit list” for some time now, by virtue of the amounts and frequency of consumption alone.
However, this recent study says that from a pure energy balance perspective, we should be cautious about ALL liquid calories, not just soda and not just carbohydrates!
Fruit juice for example, appears to be an obvious improvement over soda, so many people have swapped out their soda for fruit juice. However, when fruit juice is compared to an equal amount of calories from whole fruit, the whole fruit satisfies appetite better (largely due to the bulk and fiber content), and so you tend to eat fewer calories for the day.
[On an interesting side note, soup does not seem to apply; soup has higher satiety value than calorie containing beverages, possibly for mere cognitive reasons.]
If you were to meticulously track your calories from beverages and you made sure that your calories remained the same for the day, whether liquid or solid, there would probably be little or no difference in your body composition.
But that’s not what usually happens in free-living humans. Most people do not accurately track or report their caloric intake. Our mistake is that we tend to drink calories IN ADDITION TO our usual food intake, not instead of it.
Men are especially guilty of this when they drink alcohol – Men tend to drink AND eat, while women tend to drink INSTEAD OF eating.
This new research found that with all three macronutrients – protein, carbs or fat – daily calorie intake was significantly greater when the beverage form was consumed as compared to the solid.
Yes, it’s true! Even protein drinks did not satisfy the appetite the way that protein foods did!
While you would think that protein drinks are purely a good thing, because protein foods have been proven to reduce appetite and increase satiety, if you turn a solid protein food into a protein drink, it loses it’s appetite suppressive properties in the same way that happens when you turn fruit into fruit juice.
[NOTE: After weight training workouts, liquid nutrition may have benefits that outweigh any downside, especially on muscle-gaining programs]
Why do liquid calories fail to elicit the same response as whole foods? reasons include:
* high calorie density
* lower satiety value
* more calories ingested in short period of time
* lower demand for oral processing
* shorter gastrointestinal transit times
* energy in beverages has greater bioaccessibility and bioavailability
* mechanisms may include cognitive, orosensory, digestive, metabolic, endocrine and neural influences (human appetite is a complex thing!!!)
* last but not least, nowhere in our history have our ancestors had access to large amounts of liquid calories. Alcohol may have been around as far back as several thousand years BC, but even that is a blip on the evolutionary calendar of humanity.
As a result, our genetic code has never developed the physiological mechanisms to properly register the caloric content in liquids the way it does when you eat, chew and swallow whole foods.
Bottom line: This study suggests that we shouldn’t just target one type of liquid calories such as soda. If you’re trying to beat body fat, it’s wise to limit all types of liquid calories and eat whole foods as much as possible.
Start by ditching the soda. Then ditch the high calorie dessert coffees. Then cut back on the alcohol. From there, be cautious even about milk, juice and protein drinks.
Drink water or tea instead, or limited amounts of black coffee – without all the high calorie extras.
If you do consume any beverages that contain calories, such as protein shakes, be sure to account for those calories meticulously and be sure you don’t drink them in addition to your usual food intake, but in place of an equal amount of food calories.
Remember, those protein shakes you might be drinking are called “meal replacements” not “free calories!”
For many years I have suggested focusing primarily on whole foods rather than liquids, even protein shakes. Unlike so many other fat reduction programs, Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle does not require any kind of liquid meal replacement or protein drinks and our company does not exist to sell supplements; we are here to educate you and millions of others about the realities of body fat loss.
We now have even more scientific data that confirms what Burn The Fat has been teaching all along.
I hope you found this helpful. You can learn more about “Burn The Fat” at www.BurnTheFat.com
Reference: Effects of food form on appetite and energy intake in lean and obese young adults. International Journal of Obesity. 2007 Nov (11):1688-95. Mourao DM, Bressan J, Campbell WW, Mattes RD. Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2059, USA.
About the Author:
Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS
Tom Venuto is a natural bodybuilder, certified personal trainer and freelance fitness writer. Tom is the author of “Burn the Fat, Feed The Muscle,” which teaches you how to get lean without drugs or supplements using secrets of the world’s best bodybuilders and fitness models. Learn how to get rid of stubborn fat and increase your metabolism by visiting: www.burnthefat.com
How to lose belly fat is the most asked about area of the body when it comes to fat loss. Next is the hips and butt. Unfortunately, you cannot spot lose fat. Losing fat in your belly will occur proportionately with the rest of your body – unless overriding genetics skew the even fat loss.
There are things you can do to make your belly look better and skinnier. By tightening the muscles of the stomach – abdominals or abs and obliques, you will regain a healthier, better looking shape. A healthy posture of stand / sit straight, shoulders back, gut sucked in (gently tightening stomach muscles) will also slenderize your mid-section.
To lose fat you must cut back your caloric intake. Cut back no more than 500 calories a day or your body will go into “starvation mode” and slow your metabolism to store fat for a potential famine (the body anticipates this). This is a survival mechanism that saves lives during famines, fortunately famine in “advanced” societies are rare. If you are at 2500 calories a day, cut back to 2000 calories. After a couple weeks you may cut calories gradually till you find your ultimate fat loss calorie zone.
The other angle of attack to lose weight / lose fat is to increase your metabolic rate. Your metabolic rate determines how many calories you burn even when at rest, even during sleep. Exercise is good for this. To achieve an all day long metabolic rate increase, you need to push your muscles past their comfort zones. Weight lifting, body weight exercises and sprinting all increase your body’s metabolic rate. Sprinting or wind sprints also improve lung and heart efficiency. The body was not designed for running long periods of time. You will have greater health and weight loss benefits doing sprints.
The third angle of attack is eating right. Not what the willy nilly “doctors” and “experts” tell you to eat. Do you know the average life expectancy of a doctor? It is about 20 years shorter than average – going to take their advice? Remember eggs are bad – wait, eggs are good, fats and butter are bad vegetable oils and margarine are better, wait vegetable oils and margarine are hydrogenated oils – cause weight gain, inflammation, heart disease… Notice how the food pyramid keeps changing? It depends who is funding the study. What your body needs to thrive and heal is protein, fat and fruit and vegetable based carbohydrates – not grains and breads. Think cave man diet – yep, back to basics not today’s processed “foods” that are completely void of any nutrition. If it comes in a box, a bag or a can – chances are there is little nutrition left.
Stay away from junk foods like cakes, donuts, candy, soda pop, chips… Besides the nutritionless high calorie content, chemicals and HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) disrupts your body’s natural hormonal balance and causes weight gain. Preservatives and flavor enhancers (MSG) fake sugars(Aspartame), fake fats(hydrogenated oils)and soy products all cause hormonal imbalances and increase your appetite even when your stomach is full. Avoid these and weight loss will be much easier.
In summary:
Reduce caloric intake
Increase your metabolism through exercise
Eat good, nutritious foods
Avoid poisons like preservatives, colors, flavor enhancers…
Ever noticed how with all the government sponsored “science” on diet and heart disease, that America is getting fatter and heart disease is growing? Politicians are pushing their own opinions and agendas on the public and punishing scientists that do not agree with their ideas. The McGovern report and Ansel Keyes low fat, low cholesterol diet are the basis of this bad “science” that is being shoved down our throats by the FDA, USDA and the CDC.
There is a movie coming out which challenges these “truths” with common sense and objective science, not agenda based lies. How can they justify their proposed tax hikes on the foods they determine to be bad when the science behind their propositions is proven faulty?
Low fat diets do not prevent obesity or heart disease. Cholesterol does not cause heart disease. If small minded politicians have their way, we will all be vegetarians. They are probably loading their portfolios with stock in soybean tofu farms. Once they legislate their profits (and fail to pay the taxes us common folk are held to) they will be rich and not pay their “fair share”.
Enough criminal, I mean politician bashing. The point here is what is and has been shoved down our throats as “fact” is merely opinion. Scientists are afraid to speak up because politicians control the grant monies and only distribute the monies to scientists that agree with them. No wonder weight loss has become so hard for people when the weight loss programs are based on bad data.
Lets bring back common sense and objective science. We are not sheep, we can think for ourselves. Don’t let government control us as subjects, they work for us, the voters. We need to wake the voters up if we want to take back our freedom of choice.
Remember the government telling us eggs are bad, salt is bad, butter is bad – margarine, vegetable oils and low fat diets are good? Well that junk “science” sky rocketed heart disease and obesity.
There are a few doctors and scientists speaking out and trying to right this wrong thrust upon our society. If a weight loss diet isn’t working, try a low carb diet instead of a low fat diet. Eat meat like our bodies require and get the nutrients that you cannot get from other foods. High quality protein, B12, omega3s and more.
An iodine deficiency will affect your ability to lose weight and cause you to gain weight. Iodine or iodide are the main precursors required for your thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones which regulate your metabolism and other hormone systems of the body. The 2 main thyroid hormones are: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). T3 and T4 regulate the rate your body burns calories for energy. Hypothyroidism (slow metabolism) can be a result of iodine deficiency. If you are trying to lose pounds, especially trying to lose fat, an iodine deficiency is something to check out.
A person’s metabolism is the mechanism that maintains, allows weight loss or weight gain for the long term. A high metabolism will burn more calories even when at rest. A low metabolism will burn less calories making it easy to gain weight. Generally a person’s metabolism will achieve a “set point” and maintain the weight you are currently at. With any luck, you are at your ideal weight and your set point is allowing you to maintain that weight. As we age, our metabolism gradually slows down. If your caloric intake does not go down along with your metabolism, you will gain weight.
Iodine is deficient in the SAD diet (standard American Diet). Iodine has been depleted from our soils and therefore our foods. An attempt was made to supplement the American diet by iodizing salt. Then the same folks that recommended iodine be added to our diets for thyroid health, came up with the bright idea we should cut down on salt use. Natural sea salt and other natural salts are good for you and contain iodine and 71 other minerals. Table salt (sodium chloride) in this country is highly refined natural salt stripped of everything healthy and no longer resembles healthy salt. This form of “salt” is bad for you and should be avoided (even if it is iodized). Stick with sea salt or crystal salt for your salt needs.
Supplementation of iodine (as in supplementation of all nutrients) should be from a natural source, in a natural form. Sea kelp has an ideal form of iodine for absorbtion. As with any supplementation, you must “listen” to your body. If you notice any changes in your health for the worse, discontinue use of the supplement. An opposite condition of hypothyroidism is hyperthyroidism (an over active thyroid) and iodine supplementation would not be advisable. A blood test is the only for sure way to determine your thyroid hormone levels. If you are concerned, see a doctor (preferably a naturopathic doctor).
Iodine is just one factor that can affect your metabolism. Generally you need to supply your body with all the nutrients it requires to operate efficiently. If a weight loss diet is in your plans, eat healthy, avoid nutitionally deficient foods and get some exercise.
Here are 101 diet tips for fast weight loss and fast fat loss. It is far more important to lose fat than lose weight. Body weight should consist of less than approximately 20% body fat. During a fast weight loss diet, if it is not done correctly it can reduce muscle mass, especially if you are trying to lose weight fast. Muscle burns fat even during rest periods so it is obviously a good thing to maintain muscle while trying to lose weight. Fast diets and quick weight loss can cause you to lose muscle as well as lose pounds. That is why it is important to supplement with high quality protein to avoid muscle loss during a quick diet / fast diet.
These tips for diet are general recommendations as everyone is different and responds differently to weight loss diets based on age, gender, genetics, health, medications and a multitude of other factors. As always, check with your doctor before making any radical changes to your diet plan and “listen” to what your body tells you. Generally you do not want to lose fat at a rate of much more than 3 pounds a week. Toxins are stored in your body fat and by losing fat fast, you are overloading your body’s detoxification mechanisms – liver, kidneys, skin, bowels, lymph and other systems. The rest of your body suffers through the elevated toxins also – brain, organs, blood so it is best to go at it slow and steady and drink plenty of water. If you feel ill from the toxins from a weight loss diet, slow it down.
Basic Principals for Healthy Weight Loss are:
Slightly reduced caloric intake
Exercise to burn calories and increase metabolism
Healthy foods – plenty of fiber, fruits, vegetables, quality protein
Eating several smaller meals rather than one or more large meals
Adequate sleep
One or more bowel movements a day
Approximately 1/2 oz water per pound of body weight per day
101 Diet Tips to Lose Pounds
Don’t eat if you are not hungry – out of stress, habit, emotional need…
Avoid all sodas, especially diet sodas – empty calories and chemicals
Avoid foods with MSG – makes you add fat to your body
Fill your subconscious mind with positive subliminal messages
Mix it up – your diet and exercise
Beware of the “foo foo” drink – Lattes, frappucinos, caramel coolers…
Before you indulge, ask yourself, is it worth it
Drink ice water – your body burns calories maintaining body temp
Some of these diet tips to lose weight fast are probably foreign to you. They buck the traditional bad advice of the mainstream media and medical doctors. Remember – eggs are bad (cholesterol) – wait, now eggs are good again, butter is bad – margarine is good – now butter is good again and margarine is bad (trans-fat). Salt is bad (sodium chloride is bad), natural sea salt is not only good for you, it is absolutely necessary for life! Remember lard (animal fat) is bad, vegetable oils are good – NOPE, another complete reversal – vegetable oil throws off the Omega 3/6/9 balance. If you have been following their advice, your health will be suffering. Notice how heart disease has continued to climb despite all our “food science” ? How about another “brainchild” idea – we have an iodine shortage in our American diet which can cause hypothyroidism among other problems, lets supplement table salt with iodine, then tell everybody to avoid salt – what sense does that make?
As a general rule, the less man messes with a food, the healthier that food is. Somehow “scientists” think they can out do our creator and “improve” upon foods. It is getting scarier with genetically modified foods (Frankenfoods). Microwaves are another “advance” in science – there is controversy over their safety. I personally use them as little as possible, something about vibrating the atomic structure of the food does not appeal to me. NEVER microwave food in plastic containers or covered or wrapped in plastic wrap. Any fats or oils interact with the plastic and leach BPA at an accelerated level. BPA is a chemical which mimics estrogen (yes – the female hormone) and causes weight gain as well as unbalancing healthy hormonal levels in males and females.
There appears to be many factors that affect weight gain (fat in this case):
More calories consumed than needed
Hypothyroidism (slow metabolism) caused by many of the below mentioned “advances”
Chemicals throwing off bodily processes – pesticides, herbicides, preservatives, artificial colorings, antibiotics, steroids in animals, pharmaceuticals in our drinking water, mercury in our fillings in our teeth!
Those are some of the culprits of weight loss difficulty. Now you know what to avoid or minimize your exposure to. Eat organic whenever you can and avoid the hormones and antibiotics. Re-stock your gut with probiotics either via supplements or fermented foods (sauerkraut, kimchee, cheeses, yogurt, kefir, raw milk…). Get a water filter for your sink and your shower (or whole house). Basically stay close to nature and your body will function as it is supposed to / divinely designed.
If you apply one of the above weight loss tips, you will make progress towards your goal of fast weight loss / fast fat loss. Apply many of the above diet tips and your fat loss will increase exponentially. Keep in mind, food is life – don’t abuse it.
Why Diets Fail
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