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.
1. 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.
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.
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.
4. 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.
Related
5 Secrets to Saving on Groceries
3 Reasons Peanut Butter is Good For You