With all this buzz around appetite suppressants including a new lip gloss I tried call “Huge Lips Skinny Hips” (yes there is a lip gloss out there that claims to plump your lips and suppress your appetite to help you get skinny hips!), I decided to do some investigation!
Why natural appetite suppressants?
- To reduce cravings and emergency hunger without adding more calories
- A natural way to control your appetite
- To help you cut out snacking and sudden sweet tooth cravings
How do you suppress that sudden emergency hunger and craving for food without adding more calories? Is it even possible? Yes, definitely it is, with the aid from natural appetite suppressants. Divided into two major groups, food supplements and whole foods, these foods can help you regulate problematic appetite swings during the day and keep you on track still. Important to know is that a sudden feeling of hunger is usually not of such immediate emergency as you think in the first place. More important though; don’t move into that ridiculous habit of starvation, it won’t do you good on a long-term basis, and it might even result in you gaining weight instead – starving makes your body want to protect your fat stores and hence slow down the process of burning fat. Keep a diet based on variety, and turn to the natural appetite killers when the immediate need for something to chew on appears. Also remember that regular exercising and workouts is an excellent habit to keep your appetite low. An active lifestyle will help you from overestimating your hunger.
The benefits of such natural appetite suppressants are more than merely reducing your desire to eat. In the long run this means an improvement of one’s health in terms of reducing the risk of heart disease, helping to lower blood sugar levels and thus risks of diabetes, also improving the digestive system and the immune system, increasing your energy and thus promoting a healthy lifestyle.
The choice between turning to supplements or whole foods is personal. Two well-known supplements are the Hoodia Gordonii and whey protein. The former is a cactus-like plant, which has been used by hunting men in South Africa for centuries. Only a small piece is needed to prepare for long hunting hours, the story tells. Hoodia cannot be found as a raw food, but can be purchased in the form of Hoodia pills.
Whey protein provides your body with many essential amino acids, often used by athletes to repair and build muscles after heavy workouts. They are made from natural whey which is a complete protein, i.e. including the maximum amount of amino acids. You can find whey protein in the form of bars, concentrate, shakes, drinks, and powder depending on your preference and taste. I often get a shot added to my Jamba Juice in the morning after a tough workout!
In terms of whole foods as an appetite suppressant we might turn to high fiber foods such as whole grains (oatmeal preferably), beans, apples, salads, water-based soups, grapefruit, and fish. Usually it’s a matter of filling your stomach to get rid of that scream from the brain telling you to eat something quickly. Ways to keep your stomach full while drinking includes primarily green tea, water, and lemon juice, only to name a few. Drinking water is probably the cheapest way to suppress hunger. Drink frequently during the day and this will help to curb those immediate attacks of hunger in a natural way. It’s a well-known fact that hunger and thirst go hand in hand, implying that your brain believes you are hungry instead of thirsty. Some recommend a glass of water before each meal; this will naturally reduce your appetite.
Green tea is my personal favourite. You can drink it both before and after a meal. Matcha powders tea is what I usually have for that energy boost! Preferably you should skip the milk to cut down further calorie intake, or you might substitute with low-fat milk. Plus adding milk to a nice cup of loose leaf Chinese green tea is committing a serious sin! My new favourite team spot in London is called Yumchaa. A visit there reminds me of my MIT days sipping tea at TeaLuxe on Newbury Street during the cold months of New England! I have yet to find a nice tea shop in Stockholm, please do share if you have suggestions!
Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, cabbage, and all forms of lettuce are great appetite suppressants in their natural form. They are extremely low in calories and a great source of fiber. There’s a saying that these vegetables works as “negative calories” in the sense that the digestion requires more calories than the actual calorie content of these vegetables.
Apples. They only contain about 100 calories each, brings you those good fibers, and are definitely low in carbs. They are a good snack instead of those calorie traps you might fall into by eating candy bars, cookies, or potato chips. Also, eating an apple means chewing, chewing takes time and hence signals to your brain that you are in fact eating. It takes 20 minutes for the brain to realize satisfaction after a meal, so the longer it takes to eat the better it is and you will never feel too full.
Natural food suppressants generally help you regulate and control your appetite during the day. They save you from falling into sudden traps, when you feel like you’re losing the grip, you can’t think, you’re so intensely hungry. Usually it’s about routine, habit, and a little manipulation of the brain. Just give it a try – have some of the foods or beverages mentioned here next time when you’re considering a fast chocolate bar or candy bag. Natural appetite control foods and beverages make your brain think your stomach is full, when in fact you haven’t added any significant amount of calories at all.
For your reference and knowledge, let’s compare the effects on hunger and calorie intake between a cup of cashews and a cup of cabbage. Regardless of which one you choose to eat the hungry feeling will go away after a couple of minutes. What is important here though is the calorie content involved in achieving this feeling of satisfaction: cabbage carries approximately 20 calories versus cashews which contain up to 900-1000 calories. Huge difference!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment