Most people feel hunger many times throughout the day. Some people feel it as soon as they wake up, others rarely eat breakfast. Some people like to graze throughout the day, while other people prefer to sit down to a big meal. In France, snacking is frowned upon and lunch is the biggest meal of the day. In America, potions are typically much larger than the rest of the world. In Spain, dinner is typically eaten at around 10 P.M. All around the world, and even across the U.S., eating habits and culture shape the way we experience and deal with hunger. In general, there are two types of hunger: physical and mental. Physical hunger is considered more “real” while mental hunger is felt psychologically.

Certain foods are known to be healthy and beneficial for weight loss, but you may find that the reason behind their reputations to be surprising. Some of the foods on this list are obvious choices, but many of these foods don’t seem like clear favorites for weight loss and overall health but they actually offer advantages.

Cheese

Cheese is a fantastic source of protein. Cheese contains nearly as much protein per ounce as beef or chicken, and many  forms of cheese contain virtually no carbs. Many forms of cheese also contain microflora, a healthy bacteria found in your intestines. Age can cause microflora to decrease, but diet and exercise can be adjusted to keep microflora in healthy numbers. A microflora imbalance can cause you to feel bloated, gassy, constipated and overall run down. Including low fat cheese in your diet will give you these benefits while keeping you on track with your weight loss.

Black Licorice

Extract of the root of the licorice plant has been used for hundreds of years and is still used today for a variety of medical uses. It has been known to help treat peptic ulcers and has also been used to relieve symptoms of indigestion and astro-esophageal reflux disorder (GERD). When used with peppermint and chamomile it has been known to help ease gastrointestinal problems. In terms of weight loss, the active compound in black licorice is about 50 times sweeter than sugar but actually increases fat burning in your body. Make sure you are eating licorice with licorice root extract – most black licorice is made with anise extract now. Anise extract has the same flavor and taste but not the same benefits as the real thing.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon has been consumed since 2000 BC. It has always been highly prized and was used in those times by doctors to treat medical conditions. These days it is a potent antioxidant that can be used to aid in weight loss by decreasing blood sugar, speeding up metabolism, and lowering LDL cholesterol. Cinnamon is included is many detox water recipes because of these reasons. Recent studies have shown that cinnamon can help relieve fungal infections, may improve lipid levels for patients with diabetes, and can even inhibit the development of Alzheimer’s and Multiple Sclerosis and one study even found that cinnamon bark may potentially be effective against HIV. Though many of these studies are new and in the early stages, just the fact that cinnamon is associated with these claims and that some of the top medical communities are conducting this research suggests that adding cinnamon to your diet can benefit you in many ways.

Egg Whites

Egg whites are commonly known as an obvious choice to anyone trying to lose weight. But did you know that most of the protein in an egg comes from the white? Of the average 6g of protein in an egg, 4g comes from the white without the fat and other detriments from the yolk. Eggs whites are also free of cholesterol and low in calories. This is one reason why they are a great breakfast – they will keep you feeling fuller longer, they help burn fat and they boost metabolism.

Flaxseed

Flaxseed is another great source of protein that is also high in fiber and Omega-3. Flaxseed can be consumed as supplement tablets and ground or oil forms – all of them offer healthy benefits. Flaxseed has been known to lower blood pressure, stabilize blood sugar, reduce bone loss, promote weight loss, increase immunity and even fight cancer. Flaxseed can easily be added to your diet – you can sprinkle it on quinoa oatmeal, add it to mustard, blend it in smoothies, mix it in with yogurt, and the list goes on.

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness

8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797

469 7th Ave Manhattan, NY 10018

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