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The Cherry Diet

Can Dark Cherries Reduce Belly Fat?

Have you ever heard of the cherry diet? It’s becoming more popular lately because it’s incredibly easy to follow. There is only one rule to this diet – to eat cherries every day and/or to drink fresh cherry juice. Although they are more popular for their taste, researchers are now seeing that cherries are actually extremely healthy as well. The bioactive components and nutrients found in this fruit are linked to the prevention of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory diseases, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.

However, not only will they protect you from various health conditions, but cherries will also make it easier for you to accomplish your weight loss goals. There are a few reasons why cherries help promote weight loss.

First of all, they don’t contain a lot of calories (the average cherry contains 5 calories). Although a lot of other fruits contain fewer calories, it’s worth noting that cherries aren’t considered to be high-calorie foods. You can easily satisfy your hunger with a dozen cherries, which roughly amounts to 60 calories.

Cherries do a good job of satisfying your hunger because they are rich in fiber. Most weight-loss diets suggest that you should consume more fiber, since this nutrient isn’t easily digested by your body. In other words, you will have to drink a lot of water in order to move it through your digestive system. This will help you with your weight loss goals because the water will contribute to the feeling of fullness.

It’s also worth mentioning that many people often confuse thirst with hunger, so staying hydrated can prevent you from overeating. The great thing about fiber is that consuming it will help you feel full for an extended time period. This means that it will actually help prevent you from overeating foods that are potentially high in calories.

Additionally, the soluble type of fiber that absorbs water helps you by slowing the absorption of sugars, thus making your body store less fat.

Dark cherries also contain compounds known as anthocyanins, which will help you reduce belly fat. Back in 2008, the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry published a study which showed just how powerful these compounds are when it comes to reduced belly fat (http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Anthocyanins-show-potent-anti-obesity-potential-study).

Anthocyanins are flavonoid pigments that are found in a lot of different fruits and vegetables. Although there is still a lot of research to be done on the way anthocyanins are absorbed and distributed in the tissues of our bodies, researchers generally agree that these compounds can be a powerful tool for weight loss.

Although cherries definitely can help you reduce belly fat, simply adding them to your existing diet won’t do the trick. There are no magical foods that you will help you shed those extra pounds simply by consuming them.

Cherries will help you reach your weight loss goals, but you will also need to make sure that your diet is filled with other fresh produce. You should avoid eating junk food and you should exercise regularly if you want to shed those extra pounds.

With that being said, you should definitely consider incorporating cherries into your diet and consume them whenever you feel the urge to snack on something healthy. By keeping your fridge stocked with washed cherries, you will always have a snack ready to munch on.

However, just because you decided to include more cherries into your diet doesn’t mean that you should forget about other fruits. Consuming a variety of fruit is important in order to maintain proper health. If you eat the rainbow you can get a good variety of nutrients.

And if you have cravings you just can’t handle on your own, schedule a session and we’ll take care of whatever is beneath those cravings and is keeping you stuck at your current weight.

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Macronutrient Diets

Macronutrient Based Diets: What The Science Shows

With the abundance of macronutrient-based diets over the past several decades – from low carbohydrate diets to low fat diets – fats, proteins, and carbohydrates have become principal when talking about optimal diets.

Scientists have begun comparing these types of diets to determine which is the most effective.

A study that was published in the Journal JAMA in 2007, reported results of a comparison of four weight loss programs, ranging from high carbohydrate diets to low carbohydrate diets. The study took twelve months and included obese and overweight premenopausal woman, who were randomly assigned either a very low carb diet, the Zone diet, the Learn diet, or the Ornish diet.

After one year, the weight loss achieved in the Atkins (low carb) diet group was greater when compared to the other diet groups. The study also looked at secondary outcomes, looking at the metabolic effects, such as blood pressure, glucose levels, body fat, and cholesterol. They determined that those that took part in the Atkins diet had more weight loss when compared to the other diet groups. This study raises questions about the long-term effects of a low carbohydrate, high fat, and high protein diets.

Another research study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2009, disagreed with the above study’s findings. They tested four different types of diets and found that the weight loss was the same regardless of the type of diet the patient was on. The study followed eight hundred individuals over two years and assigned each participant to a high fat/high protein diet, an average protein diet, a low fat/high protein diet, and a low fat/average protein diet. They concluded that every diet resulted in weight loss, even though there were differences in the composition of macronutrients.

The study also found that the more group counseling sessions the individuals attended, the more weight they were able to lose and the less weight they gained back. This supports the idea that not only what the person ate was important, but social factors, psychological factors, and behavioral factors were essential in losing weight as well.

An additional study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2010, looked at the role of glycemic index and protein on weight loss and weight loss maintenance. Scientists first started the participants on a low calorie diet to allow for some weight loss and then examined whether glycemic index and protein had an impact on weight loss maintenance. The participants were made up from almost 800 obese individuals from European countries that had lost at least eight percent of their body weight using a low calorie diet.

Participants were placed on one of five diets for six-and-a-half months with a focus on weight loss or maintenance: high protein-low glycemic index, low protein-high glycemic index or a low protein-low glycemic index. The results showed that the low protein-high glycemic index program resulted in significant weight gain, and that weight gain was less in those people who followed a high protein diet. These results showed that modest increases in protein content and small reductions in the glycemic index lead to better weight loss maintenance.

Bottom Line

The results of these studies suggest that there may be a benefit to a dietary approach that is based on a high macronutrient diet. Research also tells us that a particular diet may cause weight loss in one person but may not be beneficial for someone else, due to differences in lifestyle and genetics.

There isn’t a perfect diet for everyone. The good news is that everyone can choose flavorful and healthy foods to find a diet that works best for them. Energy techniques – such as muscle testing food choices – can help determine the food plan that will provide the best value for your health goals.

If you just can’t seem to eat fresh fruits and vegetables to get your daily requirement, consider concentrated nutrient sources such as Juice Plus.  You can get the nutrients you need even when you’re away from your fridge.