
In a world where access to information is now available at
the click of a mouse, it is quite easy to stumble upon a variety of myths on
foods that help you lose weight.
From vinegar to grapefruit and pineapples to warm water,
there is a range of rumours and half truths that are in circulation today – all
praising the potential benefits of things that help you burn fat simply by
eating or drinking them.
But is it really true that there are foods that burn fat in
the body? To shed light on some of these facts and fantasies, here is a
detailed breakdown of the myths surrounding foods and drinks that are supposed
to possess fat burning benefits:
Myth #1: Grapefruit gets you thin!
Fact: Grapefruit will not directly cause you to burn fat.
But it is considered very healthy as it contains vitamin C and a great deal of
fiber which makes you feel full faster and has a positive effect on the sugar
absorption system in your body.
Myth #2: Magic Cabbage soup burns
fat and makes you lose weight!
Fact: Contrary to what you may have heard, no food by itself
can burn body fat. Actually, the temporary loss of weight that you may
experience is due to a loss of water loss and not fat. Besides, eating only one
type of food or drinking cabbage soup for a week will have serious negative
effects on your health. It will not only make you feel weak and tired, but will
deplete your storage of vitamins as well. And although you may experience
short-term weight loss, as soon as you stop your soup diet, you will eventually
gain all your weight back. However, the good thing is that starting your meal with
fulfilling soup can reduce the amount of food you eat during your meal, thereby
reducing your calorie consumption.
Myth #3: Vinegar in the morning is a
very good fat burner
Fact: Not really. And more importantly, remember that when
consumed on an empty stomach, the acid in vinegar can cause a stomach ulcer
rather than burn extra fat in your body.
Myth #4: Warm water when you wake up
dissolves excess fat
Fact: Warm or cold: water is the same. This is because water
takes the same temperature as your body when you drink it, which is why it
doesn’t ‘melt’ fat. But it does help rid your body from toxins and process body
work efficiently. Drinking water will help contribute to weight loss if you
also follow a healthy diet plan.
Myth #5: Pineapple breaks down fat
in the food you eat
Fact: Pineapple is a much publicised fruit for its fat
burning properties. It was previously through that this prickly tropical fruit
which contained the bromelain enzyme, helped split fat. However the truth is
that it actually helps in digesting protein. And since it is low in calories
and rich in fibre to make you feel full faster, it is a great fruit to
incorporate in your balanced weight loss diet.
Myth #6: Caffeinated beverages can
help burn fat
Fact: The common claims that caffeine burns fat and speeds
up your metabolism are untrue. In fact the truth is that caffeine is a mild
stimulant that helps you stay alert and gives you a boost for the day, but
without its famed fat burning effects.
The truth about fat burning food
It is believed that fat burning foods speed up the
metabolism and promote faster weight loss. This claim is false. Any meal in
general provides you with a temporary boost in metabolism due to the thermic
effect of food. This is especially true in the context of a mixed diet, where
the differences among foods are very minimal to be noticed.
“Move it to Lose it!”
The best way to speed up your Metabolic Rate is with daily
exercise. This will help increase your muscle mass and decrease fat deposits.
Remember, losing weight the healthy way and maintaining it with a balanced
varied diet is the best way for a healthy lifestyle.
Good
to remember: Fad
diets and unhealthy practices focusing on one kind of food can seriously
jeopardize your health. Instead, you should follow sound nutrition advice and
maintain a moderately low calorie, low fat diet in order to achieve the weight
loss you want.