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Why Weight?

4 Foods to Help You Lose Weight

By Bob on April 23, 2014 4:22 AM

When I was in my 20's and 30's I could eat ANYTHING and not gain weight. True story - when Charlotte and I were first married, my waistline was so small **How Small Was It** that I bought my clothes in the boy's dept. at Stripling & Cox. BaDaBOOM! Thank you, I'll be here all week. Tip your waitress.

It's a different story today. Charlotte and I watch what we eat (we're both cancer survivors) and I'm especially interested in foods that are healthy AND help you lose weight. Here are 4 of our favorites.   

4 Foods That Help You Lose Weight

Lean Beef-600.jpg1. Lean beef
You'd expect a Texan to be all "eat more beef" and well, that's what I'm saying - in moderation. Why? Turns out the amino acid leucine, which is abundant in proteins like meat and fish can help you shed some pounds while maintaining calorie-burning muscle.

Walnuts-600.jpg

2. Nuts
I know, nuts are fattening, right? Yes and No. A handful of peanuts is about 165 calories, so that's the down side. The UPside is that research shows that people who snack on nuts tend to be slimmer than those who don't. A Purdue University study found that when a group of 15 normal-weight people added about 500 calories worth of peanuts to their regular diet, they consumed less at subsequent meals. Here's the best part - the participants also revved up their resting metabolism by 11 percent, which means they burned more calories even when relaxing. If you like nuts, you might consider eating walnuts and pecans. Walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids. And researchers at Loma Linda University recently found that eating 10 to 20 whole pecans daily can reduce the risk of heart disease.

Soup-600.jpg

3. Soup
Any Jewish mother will tell you chicken soup is good for you - and she's right! A cup of chicken soup is as satisfying to your appetite as a piece of chicken. At least that's what recent study showed. Why? Researchers think that even the simplest soup satisfies hunger because your brain perceives it as filling.

Pears-454.jpg4. Pears
Harry & David may be on to something with this delicious fruit. They're now recognized as having more fiber (six grams per medium-size pear,) so they're great at filling you up. Apples come in second, with about three grams. Both contain pectin fiber, which decreases blood-sugar levels, helping you avoid between-meal snacking. 

Why Weight? is a column on diet, nutrition and making better choices so you can live a longer healthier life. The authors are not doctors and nothing here should be taken as medical advice. Always consult your physician before making any changes in diet, exercise, nutrition or cell phone provider (Let's face it doctors are just really, really smart, they know a lot about a lot of stuff). Our goal is simple: We want all Baby Boomers to live long enough to get back the money they've paid into Social Security. Remember, your children's inheritance isn't going to spend itself. It's up to you.

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Diabetes-Friendly Chicken Burrito Bowl

ChickenBurritoBowlEverydayDiabetes 600.jpg

By Laura Cipullo and Lisa Mikus, authors of Everyday Diabetes Meals
Image credit: Colin Erricson

Prepare your own Mexican quick fix with this Chipotle-inspired bowl. Carbs are moderated by filling the bowl with beans, extra veggies and chicken. No need for rice, since the beans count as carbs.

Tips:

If you love tomatoes, increase the quantity to 1/2 cup, but note that the carbohydrates will also increase.

If preparing this recipe for one person, cut all of the ingredients in half. Or simply prepare the full recipe up to the end of step 2 and store leftover chicken and vegetable-bean mixture in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through, and continue with step 3.

Health Bite: The iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc in black beans help to keep bones strong and healthy.

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