Ben Wilson Introduction Unfortunately, women have been found to be more susceptible to the problem of obesity. Women are known to have lower basal metabolic rates and hence a lower utilization of energy taken into the body as food. In other words, for every calorie of energy taken into the body, men are prone to burn (or get rid of) this energy at a relatively faster rate than women; hence women stand a greater risk of storing unused energy as body fat. The following are a few diet tips to assist women in slimming down: 1. Eat Less Reducing one's food intake has been found to be a very effective as well as practical way of slimming down. This is because when one eats more than they should, they always have excess energy in their system which stands a chance of being converted to body fat, which eventually increases one's total body mass or weight. It should be noted that eating less does not mean that one should deny one's self of a balanced meal, containing all essential nutrients. 2. Stop Snacking In-Between Meals Snacking in-between meals has also been a very major contributory factor to obesity in most women, and even in children. For someone who is always snacking in-between meals, he or she is constantly saturating his or her blood with glucose (energy) which is not needed and hence would not be utilized. For such a person, this glucose is removed from the blood by converting it to other forms of stored energy, which primarily is fat. It is therefore very important to avoid snacking in-between meals if one is seeking to slim down. 3. Increase Your Fiber Intake Scientific studies have proved that increasing fiber content in one's diet helps in weight loss as well as prevents weight gain. High-fiber foods add bulk to foods, and promote increased water intake. Since fiber is non-caloric (i.e. it does not provide any energy in the body), it gives a feeling of satiety without necessarily increasing one's total calorie intake during meal times. Hence the risk of weight gain is greatly diminished. 4. Opt For Low Calorie Foods ow calorie foods are foods that will not provide the body with high levels of energy when eaten. Opting for low-calorie foods reduce the total energy intake and hence the total amount of energy that the body may store as body fat. You can do this by replacing animal fat products, such as cow's milk with soy milk, meat (e.g.: beef, pork etc.), with plant protein sources such as cow pea and animal oil sources e.g.; butter and lard, with healthy plant sources such as soy bean oil, olive oil and sunflower oil. 5. Increase Fruit and Vegetable Intake Fruits and vegetables are good sources of vitamins and minerals which are known to be essential in regulating bodily functions such as energy utilization. Cholesterol removal from the blood for instance, is known to be facilitated by the presence of certain essential vitamins and minerals that can be obtained primarily from one's diet. Failure to consume adequate fruits and vegetables therefore may facilitate weight gain as well as increase one's risk of acquiring coronary heart diseases, (if essential vitamins and minerals are not obtained from other non-dietary sources). Click for List of Articles |