Resolving to Lose Weight

Losing weight is probably the number one resolution at the top of people's New Year lists. Although there are myriad diet recommendations and the internet contains a glut of information about the "best" ways to lose weight, consider some of these interesting tips and ideas for shedding unneeded pounds in the new year.

 

 

Get out in the cold

Exposure to cold temperatures is known to mimic the effects of exercise, protecting against obesity and improving metabolic health. A study published December 3 in Cell now reveals that the beneficial health effects of cold exposure are mediated in part by gut microbes. The researchers found that cold exposure dramatically alters the composition of intestinal bacteria in mice and that this microbial shift is sufficient to burn fat, improve glucose metabolism, and reduce body weight. Source: Science Daily

Healthy fats are important but don't overdo

While fat isn't necessarily fattening when it's eaten as part of whole foods with lower calorie density and high fiber or protein (meat, yogurt, avocados, nuts), a lot of research has converged on the conclusion that added fat is fattening. Source: wholehealthsource

Avoid eating late at night

"Research consistently shows that people who eat late at night weigh more than those who eat all of their food earlier in the day. For example, people who eat most of their food at night have higher body mass indexes than people who eat earlier in the day, according to a 2007 study published in the International Journal of Obesity. And in one study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, participants who ate between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. gained more weight than those who kept their mouth shut during those hours. Source: health.usnews

Drink more water

Water hydrates your body and helps it work efficiently. Water boosts your metabolic rate, which gives you energy and helps to burn calories. Source: weightlossforall

Take a vitamin D supplement

According to a recent study, vitamin D deficiency is associated with a higher risk of obesity and obesity-related complications. Source: webmd.com

Synchronizing Your Body Clocks May Help Shed Excess Weight

You have circadian clocks in virtually every organ of your bodies, including your fat cells, and you need regular sleeping and eating schedules to keep all of your internal clocks in sync. Source: mercola.com

Take a fish oil supplement or eat more fish

Fish oil transforms fat-storage cells into fat-burning cells, which may reduce weight gain in middle age, new research shows. Fish oil activates receptors in the digestive tract, fires the sympathetic nervous system, and induces storage cells to metabolize fat. Source: sciencedaily