Most people want to try to eat things that are “healthy”. What is healthy? The answer to that question often depends on who you ask. Can you tell by the label? The labels on foods aren’t much help either. All kinds of things are being labeled as “healthy” because the fat or sugar content has been reduced, but how “healthy” are reduced-fat cookies?
Healthy also doesn’t mean it will help you lose fat. Often people think they are eating “healthy”, but struggle with their weight. Following a healthy diet might not be what it takes to make body shape changes. For example, yogurt, whole grains, seeds and nuts, avocados, beans, bananas and pineapple are healthy, but none of these will do much to help with fat loss. Changing the body requires reducing fat, increasing lean protein, reducing carbohydrates and increasing fiber and water.
Here are 8 foods that are healthy but won’t help with fat loss.
1. Quinoa – Pronounced keen-wa, and is a very healthy grain that can be used as a substitute for rice. Although loaded with vitamins, minerals and more protein than most grains, it still has too high of a carbohydrate to protein ratio. So it is healthy, but shouldn’t be viewed as a “free food” on a fat loss plate.
2. Ezekiel bread – This is a higher fiber and higher protein bread than regular wheat bread, but still can’t compare to a meal of lean meat and mixed greens. A fat loss plan would have to limit breads – even Ezekiel bread.
3. Beans and Legumes- Vegetarians rely heavily on bean and pea proteins, but they are over 70% starch! Despite being low on the glycemic index and high in a number of vitamins, people looking to lose fat need to limit the amount of beans and legumes in their diet.
4. Organic Foods – A huge upsurge in organic food has hit the market in past years. While having definite health benefits, there is nothing about organic food, whole food, raw food or natural foods that is inherently good for fat loss. Many potato chips are labeled “natural”, but are they good for fat loss? Hardly!
5. Milk, Yogurt, Cheese- Again, milk is not BAD. Milk products have a number of good qualities, but they are not good for losing fat. Milk products are great for building muscle but they are high in insulin producing amino acids, so not the best for burning off the fat.
6. Most Fruit – As with the other foods on this list, fruit has many health benefits. But, with all the sugar, too much fruit can significantly slow fat loss.
7. Whole Wheat and Whole Grains- The fiber to carbohydrate ratio is a key fat loss concern. Whole grains may have some fiber, but are still 70 to 80% carbohydrates. Whole grains, while great in many ways, need to be used sparingly when fat loss is the goal.
8. Nuts and Seeds – Another great food, nutritionally. However, there is generally twice the fat as protein, so it is a fat. Fat, like carbohydrates, store on the body very easily. For fat loss, limit nuts to a small portion if you eat them.
A fat loss diet is relatively low fat, high in lean protein and high in fiber. The carbohydrates are eaten in an amount just enough to give you energy, but not so much to halt fat loss. Everyone’s carbohydrate tolerance is different to get results.
If you want to learn more about how to design your own fat loss diet, make an appointment at the Canton Fitness Center for a nutrition consultation. Your initial consultation is FREE. What do you have to lose, but the fat?