Going to the gym and exercising every day sounds appealing… but we all know sometimes going to the gym every day doesn’t happen. It would be wonderful eating foods that just burn everything off, but those foods just don’t exist...or do they? Low Glycemic Index (GI) foods are known to burn fat and maybe you've seen this idea marketed with NutriSystem. The basic premise is simple: foods that have a low GI are best for dieters because they promote a slow, moderate rise in blood sugar and insulin after a meal. The glycemic index ranks carbohydrates according to how quickly they tend to raise blood sugar levels after eating, and eating a lot of low glycemic index in your diet, can result in greater reduction of body fat over time.
Here is a list of great low GI foods that will get your body in shape and your hunger in check just in time for bathing suit season:
Breads: Rye bread, whole grain or oat bran bread. When you see a brown bread wrapper with the words multi-grain, wheat, or some other healthy description you probably automatically think, "healthy." Yes and no. You'll score higher in the healthy column by purchasing bread that is whole grain.
Cereals: Kelloggs’ All-Bran, and General Mills Fiber One, Kashi Go Lean, Raisin Bran are all great brands that have low GI.
Muffins, Crackers, Snacks: Fruit-based muffins, Healthy Valley and Nature’s Choice granola bars are a great choice.
Dairy: Soy and Soy milk, and plain frozen or fruited yogurt (some good brands are Dannon fat free, Yoplait Light Fat Free, Baskin-Robbins Truly Free Vanilla No Sugar Added Nonfat Soft Serve Yogurt).
Fruit: Apples, applesauce, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, honeydew melon, grapefruit, grapes, oranges and peaches to name a few.
Vegetables: Asparagus, beans, bean sprouts, broccoli, cabbage cauliflower, eggplant, greens, kohlrabi, leeks, mushrooms, okra, onions, pea pods, peppers, rutabaga, sauerkraut, spinach, summer squash, tomatoes, tomato and vegetable juices, turnips.
Meats: Boneless skinless chicken breast, boneless skinless turkey breast, Cod and Salmon.
Carbohydrates: Whole wheat spaghetti, wheat rice, pickles, sweet potatoes, and corn.
Next time you are looking through your cupboards, look for these types of food that will help you burn fat faster. You can find recipes at www.the-gi-diet.org for your low GI diet.
