Calorie counting, also known as the caloric model is the most popular. This is where you count your calories, and limit the number of calories you eat.
The British Dietetic Association (BDA) did a thorough review of the optimal macronutrient ratio for weight loss and concluded that due to the conflicting studies, the most consistent explanation for why people lost weight, was due to decreasing their caloric intake.
But what does that actually mean?
Macronutrients include Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fats. The BDA looked at studies and found that in those studies the common denominator was calories rather than changing how much or little carbs, proteins and fats that were eaten.
But is that the whole picture?
Imagine there was a substance which if found in foods, causes you to block fat absorption? Huh….?
You’re telling me that there are foods that, despite increasing my caloric intake, actually result in me absorbing less fat???
Yes….
Not only that, but they have the added benefit of actually making you feel full.
Now that’s really cool!
Well what are they?
They are called thylakoids!
Studies have shown that if you ingest thylakoids, they ‘retard fat digestion and induce satiety’. Fantastic eh?
So, where can they be found?
Thylakoids are the name for the chloroplast membranes found in plants. So your mum was right when she told you to eat your greens! But instead of calling them greens, she should have called them fat blocking, satiety inducing super heroes.
Some are better than others.
The next time you do your shopping, make sure to include dark green vegetables in your shopping. My favourite is dark leaf kale, also known as Cavolo Nero which is found in most supermarkets. It’s very dark green. The darker the better. The taste might not be to everyone’s liking, but who cares when you have just eaten fat absorbing, satiety inducing superheroes.
For more details, check out the study here:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17044813/
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