The Best Fat Burning Foods - A Case For MUFAs
Believe it or not, some of the best fat burning foods are chock-full of fats.
It's true, science has shown us that a low-fat or non-fat diet is actually detrimental to your health, but a diet rich in fats can help you lose weight.
But before you run out and load up on fried chicken and cheesecake, let's make it perfectly clear: the fats that can help you shed unwanted pounds are called monounsaturated fatty acids or MUFAs for short.
This type of fat is plant-based and can offer amazing health and dietary benefits for dieters who choose to get most of their fats from this source.
What Are MUFAs, and Where Can I Get Them? Scientifically speaking, monounsaturated fatty acids are fatty acids that lack two hydrogen atoms and shares one double bond between carbons.
They are liquid at room temperature and semi-solid when refrigerated.
The most common foods that contain MUFAs are olive oil, which has 55%-83% MUFAs, and avocadoes, which contain 13 grams of MUFAs per cup.
Other MUFA-containing oils include canola, safflower, flaxseed, sunflower, and walnut.
Raw nuts also contain MUFAs, especially peanuts, walnuts, almonds, and pistachios; seeds such as pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower also contain MUFAs.
Olives and even dark chocolate also contain MUFAs.
What are the Health Benefits of MUFAs? In general, fats are necessary for your body to function properly.
Without fats, your body cannot absorb nutrients properly and your nerves cannot transmit messages well.
Fats also assist with cell membrane integrity.
The crucial difference among the different kinds of fats is that MUFAs actually lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (aka "bad" cholesterol) while simultaneously increasing HDL cholesterol (aka "good" cholesterol) levels in your body.
This is especially good for cardiovascular health.
In fact, there is evidence that the "Mediterranean diet," which emphasizes MUFAs, can significantly reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
What are the Dietary Benefits of MUFAs? There are a few clear dietary benefits if you choose MUFAs over other types of fat in your eating program.
First, these fats contribute to a feeling of satiety, making you feel full and satisfied after a meal.
This can prevent you from overeating or splurging on treats that are full of bad fats.
A study published in Diet Care in 2007 confirmed that MUFAs can prevent "central fat" (or belly fat) distribution; subsequent studies by other physicians have confirmed this.
In addition to preventing belly fat, MUFAs have also been shown to preserve lean muscle tissue while dieting, a discovery confirmed in a 2004 study conducted by the Journal of Nutrition.
MUFAs are not just among the best fat burning foods; they could well be considered a diet super food--one that burns fat, preserves lean muscle, lowers cholesterol, and makes you feel full.
Who needs diet pills when a single avocado or piece of dark chocolate can pack such a powerful nutritional and dietary punch? It's no trouble to change, especially when these foods rich in MUFAs are so delicious! For lasting weight loss, begin replacing bad fats with foods rich in monounsaturated fatty acids today.
It's true, science has shown us that a low-fat or non-fat diet is actually detrimental to your health, but a diet rich in fats can help you lose weight.
But before you run out and load up on fried chicken and cheesecake, let's make it perfectly clear: the fats that can help you shed unwanted pounds are called monounsaturated fatty acids or MUFAs for short.
This type of fat is plant-based and can offer amazing health and dietary benefits for dieters who choose to get most of their fats from this source.
What Are MUFAs, and Where Can I Get Them? Scientifically speaking, monounsaturated fatty acids are fatty acids that lack two hydrogen atoms and shares one double bond between carbons.
They are liquid at room temperature and semi-solid when refrigerated.
The most common foods that contain MUFAs are olive oil, which has 55%-83% MUFAs, and avocadoes, which contain 13 grams of MUFAs per cup.
Other MUFA-containing oils include canola, safflower, flaxseed, sunflower, and walnut.
Raw nuts also contain MUFAs, especially peanuts, walnuts, almonds, and pistachios; seeds such as pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower also contain MUFAs.
Olives and even dark chocolate also contain MUFAs.
What are the Health Benefits of MUFAs? In general, fats are necessary for your body to function properly.
Without fats, your body cannot absorb nutrients properly and your nerves cannot transmit messages well.
Fats also assist with cell membrane integrity.
The crucial difference among the different kinds of fats is that MUFAs actually lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (aka "bad" cholesterol) while simultaneously increasing HDL cholesterol (aka "good" cholesterol) levels in your body.
This is especially good for cardiovascular health.
In fact, there is evidence that the "Mediterranean diet," which emphasizes MUFAs, can significantly reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
What are the Dietary Benefits of MUFAs? There are a few clear dietary benefits if you choose MUFAs over other types of fat in your eating program.
First, these fats contribute to a feeling of satiety, making you feel full and satisfied after a meal.
This can prevent you from overeating or splurging on treats that are full of bad fats.
A study published in Diet Care in 2007 confirmed that MUFAs can prevent "central fat" (or belly fat) distribution; subsequent studies by other physicians have confirmed this.
In addition to preventing belly fat, MUFAs have also been shown to preserve lean muscle tissue while dieting, a discovery confirmed in a 2004 study conducted by the Journal of Nutrition.
MUFAs are not just among the best fat burning foods; they could well be considered a diet super food--one that burns fat, preserves lean muscle, lowers cholesterol, and makes you feel full.
Who needs diet pills when a single avocado or piece of dark chocolate can pack such a powerful nutritional and dietary punch? It's no trouble to change, especially when these foods rich in MUFAs are so delicious! For lasting weight loss, begin replacing bad fats with foods rich in monounsaturated fatty acids today.
