Why Weight

How Hot is Your Food?

By Ben Warstler


How 'Hot' is your Food

You say potato and I say salmon!

Well maybe you don't say potato but I will always say salmon. At least when it comes to the thermic effect of my food. The 'therm what'? you ask. The Thermic Effect, or the amount of energy it takes to digest foods. You see, not all foods are created equal. Some foods will provide instant energy, some will support your bodily functions, and some will be used to help you leaner than you ever imagined. Now before I continue I must warn you that there are no magic tricks here, just smart choices. And keep in mind that supportive exercise is always part of the plan (unless of course you want half the results you really could be getting).

When looking to boost your metabolism and erase any memory of body fat, you want as much help as you can get. Knowing about the Thermic Effect of foods is one tool you will definitely want in your tool box. If we look at Carbohydrates, Fats, and Proteins, it is obvious right off which food we should focus a bit more on:

Carbohydrates: 6-8% of total energy is used for digestion

Fats: 2-3% of total energy is used for digestion

Protein: 20-30% of total energy is used for digestion

Protein would be the obvious choice based on its Thermic Effect. This does not mean, however that you should eat nothing but protein. Carbohydrates and Fats both have their very important rolls in the body and successful fat loss will not happen if these are not an important part of a daily nutrition plan. But based on the clientele I have had in the past, protein is severely lacking our daily food intake. So much that it is shutting down our metabolism, simply because we are taking in too much carbohydrates and fats with a low Thermic Effect and we aren't maximizing the benefit of eating for a purpose.

Now this may sound a little confusing so let me simplify it a bit. When planning a daily menu or weekly menu, it might be wise to start with protein sources at each meal and work around them. This will help you get closer to reaching the amount of protein daily so that you are starting to see changes in your physique. Taking this tip and adding it to eating five to six small meals per day rather then two or three larger meals, will go a long way to helping you reach your bodies potential.

For more articles and your free report on the 4 Hotspots to train on your body for optimal fat loss, go to http://www.bensbootcamps.com

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posted by Cheryl Levesque @ 9:29 AM