| Are you wondering if there are natural weight loss | | | | in the general female population. Could this be a |
| foods? Well, there are. And their secret ingredient | | | | secret weapon for women? |
| is flavonoids. | | | | At any rate, it seems the best weight loss plan |
| Flavonoids are chemical compounds found in | | | | includes weight loss foods high in flavonoids. |
| plant-based foods. There are hundreds of them | | | | Common Dietary Flavonoids |
| and they are known to reduce the risk of heart | | | | What are these weight loss foods? Here's a brief |
| disease and cancer because of their antioxidant | | | | overview of some of the most common ones: |
| activity. | | | | - Anthocyanidins – red, blue and purple berries; |
| Now it appears they fight fat as well, so they | | | | red and purple grapes; red wine |
| really are weight loss foods. | | | | - Catechins – teas (particularly green and |
| The Best Weight Loss Plan Includes Plenty of | | | | white), grapes, berries, apples, chocolate |
| Flavonoids | | | | - Theaflavins – teas (particularly black and |
| A number of studies have documented the | | | | oolong) |
| effect of flavonoids on fat. The Journal of | | | | - Flavanones – citrus fruits and juices |
| Agricultural and Food Chemistry reported that fat | | | | - Flavonols – yellow onions, scallions, kale, |
| cells exposed to certain flavonoids led to lower | | | | broccoli, apples, berries, tea |
| levels of an enzyme that forms triglycerides – | | | | - Flavones – parsley, thyme, celery, hot |
| fat in the blood. Researchers believe that | | | | peppers |
| flavonoids can improve the symptoms of | | | | - Isoflavones – soybeans, soy foods, legumes |
| metabolic syndrome. (1) | | | | (4) |
| Another study used a flavonoid from citrus, called | | | | Include as many of these weight loss foods in |
| naringenin, to prevent obesity in mice. Two | | | | your diet as you can to create the best weight |
| groups of mice were fed a high fat (western) diet | | | | loss plan that will work naturally. The bonus is the |
| to trigger symptoms of metabolic syndrome. One | | | | disease fighting power you'll get from all the |
| group was supplemented with naringenin, which | | | | antioxidants. |
| completely normalized their glucose metabolism. It | | | | Stock Your Fridge With Flavonoids |
| was determined that naringenin genetically | | | | The weight loss industry is big, big business. But |
| reprogrammed the liver to burn up excess fat | | | | you don't need to depend on magic pills, |
| instead of storing it. | | | | cardboard food or the latest fad. The best weight |
| Lead researcher Murray Huff commented, "What | | | | loss plan available is as close as your own |
| was unique about the study was that the effects | | | | refrigerator. All you have to do is stock it with |
| were independent of caloric intake, meaning the | | | | weight loss foods high in flavonoids. You'll eat well, |
| mice ate exactly the same amount of food and | | | | fight disease and lose weight all at the same time. |
| the same amount of fat. There was no | | | | Do check with your personal physician before |
| suppression of appetite or decreased food intake. | | | | making changes to your diet, exercise or |
| Furthermore, the marked obesity that develops in | | | | supplement routine. |
| these mice was completely prevented by | | | | Sources: |
| naringenin." (2) | | | | 1. Yen GC, Hsu CL, "Effects of Flavonoids and |
| These same results were obtained previously in a | | | | Phenolic Acids on the Inhibition of Adipogenesis in |
| 14 year assessment called the Netherlands Cohort | | | | 3T3-L1 Adipocytes," Journal of Agricultural and |
| Study. Researchers tracked the association | | | | Food Chemistry, Oct 17, 2007 |
| between 3 flavonoid subgroups and BMI (body | | | | 2. University of Western Ontario (2009 July 14). |
| mass index) in 4280 men and women aged 55-69 | | | | Citrus-derived Flavonoid Prevents Obesity, Study |
| at the start of the study. Women who had the | | | | Suggests. Science Daily |
| highest intake of flavonoids had a significantly | | | | 3. Hughes LA, Arts IC, Ambergen T, Brants HA, |
| lower increase in BMI than the women who had | | | | Dagnelie PC, Goldbohm RA, van den Brandt PA, |
| the lowest intake of flavonoids. (3) | | | | Weijenberg MP; Netherlands Cohort Study, Am J |
| Interestingly, there were no differences among | | | | Clin Nutr. 2008 Nov; 88(5):1341-52 |
| the men. The study concluded that flavonoid | | | | 4. |
| intake may contribute to maintaining body weight | | | | |