Controlling obesity with food choices is one of the easiest ways to make a difference in your weight. One of the main causes of obesity is simply a high caloric intake. By cutting out some of the main culprits that are known to add weight (and be bad for your health), you can help control your weight.
Minimizing Sugar Intake
Sugar is so prevalent in the typical American diet. This is one of the main contributing factors to obesity, as well as a number of additional illnesses. By cutting out a great deal of the sugar in your diet, you can help to control your weight. Some of the common foods that have a great deal of sugar are beverages such as soda, juices with added sugar and sweet teas, cookies and candy.
Additionally, you can find sugar in a lot of choices that you would think are healthy like fruited yogurt. One single serving size of yogurt typically has more than half of the daily recommended serving of sugar. Try instead to buy plain yogurt and add your own fruit for a better, lower-sugar option.
Limiting Saturated and Trans Fats
These are the two worst kinds of fats that you can have in your diet. Mainly present in processed foods, fast foods and many meats, these kinds of fats have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and many other conditions including obesity. For a really healthy diet, you should eat very low levels of both of these fats. While saturated fats are alright to eat in moderation, trans fats are man-made fats and for the best health should not be consumed at all.
Limit your saturated fat intake by cutting down on eating red meat (to two or less times per week). Instead, add beans, legumes, fish or poultry to your diet in the place of the red meat. Be sure to add plenty of fruits and vegetables as well.
Trans fats can be avoided by lowering (or altogether cutting out) the amount of processed foods you eat. Skip packaged cookies, crackers and snacks, and instead eat whole grain products and healthy snack alternatives such as nuts and fruits.
Cutting Dairy Fat
If you are eating full fat dairy products, stop. Skim or low-fat dairy is a great way to cut some calories and fat out of your diet. Whether milk, cottage cheese, yogurt or cheese, reach for the low-fat alternatives and save on those calories that you would otherwise be consuming. Low-fat cheeses have come a long way in the past years, and many are nearly indistinguishable from the full fat varieties, making them an excellent choice for anyone looking to cut down on their calories.
Just by cutting out these 3 elements from your diet, you can make some big changes, feel better and improve your health. Moderation and balance is key, and by making some simple adjustments to what you eat on a daily basis, you can be on the road to controlling obesity in no time.
