May 1, 2009 7:21 pm US/Eastern
HealthWatch: Fat-Burning Tips For Your 40s
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
The older we get, the fewer calories our bodies need, and research shows in each decade from our 40s on, we should eat 100 fewer calories a day.
It seems like people in their 20s can eat just about anything without gaining weight, but 40-year-olds say every calorie sticks.
"The body composition starts to change in a not so fabulous way," says dietician Leslie Bonci.
Bonci says with age, fat deposits more readily in the body, but five foods fight fat over 40.
First, spice it up with hot flavors in your food.
The active ingredient in all these things, capsaicin, may have a role to play, although it's a temporary one. For a half an hour, it can actually boost the metabolism.
Try jalapenos in your eggs or hot peppers in your stir fry. You'll eat less and drink more water, another fat fighter.
Plenty of water helps the body burn fat instead of muscle. And of course, it has zero calories. Research shows dieters who replaced sweetened drinks with water lost an average of three pounds more a year than those who didn't.
Sweet flavorings like nutmeg, vanilla, and almond essence may lower your sugar intake.
"You don't need to be using as much sugar or honey when you use these items," says Bonci.
By replacing sugar in your coffee alone, you can save a couple hundred calories a week.
Lean protein fights fat, too.
"Often times when people increase the amount of protein they eat, they find they eat less overall," says Bonci.
Bonci says chicken, fish, lean red meat, and eggs should be part of every meal.
The last thing on our list is food with fiber, which includes whole wheat bread, apples, broccoli, and cereals.
"When we eat food with fiber, it tends to cause us to pull more water into the stomach. The benefit of that is we actually feel fuller longer," says Bonci.
Men have an advantage over women when it comes to weight loss. They tend to have more muscle mass than women of the same weight, and muscle burns more calories than fat.
Women can close this gap by working out.
One way to cut calories out of your diet without eliminating your favorite foods is to reduce the portion size of every meal. Regular physical activity, even if it's just a 20 minute walk, is also key.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
2009 Celebrity Deaths
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments