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Big breakfast diet aids weight loss
 New research from Venezuela and Virginia Commonwealth University shows
eating a big
breakfast filled with
carbohydrates and
protein then eating a low-carb,
low-calorie diet the rest of the day can
help you
lose weight
and keep it off.
Researchers compared their new diet with a strict low-carb diet in 94
obese women who were not
physically active.
Both diets were low in
fat
and total calories but had
carbohydrates distributed differently.
The 48 women on the “big-breakfast diet” had 1,240 calories a day – 46 grams
of fat, 97 grams of
carbohydrates, and 93 grams of
protein.
They ate a 610-calorie breakfast with 58 grams of
carbohydrates, 47 grams of
protein and 22 fat
grams. Lunch had 395 calories (34, 28 and 13 grams of carbohydrates,
protein and
fat, respectively); dinner had 235 calories (5, 18 and 26 grams, respectively).
After four months, results show the women on the low-carbohydrate diet lost
an average of about 28 pounds. Those on the big-breakfast diet lost nearly 23
pounds on average. But after eight months, the low-carb dieters regained an
average of 18 pounds, while the big-breakfast group kept losing weight, dropping
another 16.5 pounds. Women on the new diet lost more than 21 percent of their
body weight, compared with 4.5 percent in the low-carbohydrate group.
The
big-breakfast diet works because it makes you feel fuller and reduces cravings
for sweets and starches.
Having a good breakfast is important. It increases
metabolic rate
so you burn up more kilojoules during the day, which can help you
lose weight. Beware of eating too many
sweet foods. No matter what time of the
day you eat kilojoule laden food (sweets) - if it's more energy than your body
can use it will be stored, meaning excess kilos.
Tips to add a lift to your breakfast
 Here are some greats tips to help you give your breakfast a bit of a lift.
-
A cereal bar or simply some fruit is a great way to get some early-morning
nutrition, even when you don’t have time to sit down to the breakfast table.
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Whether its cornflakes or weetabix, readybrek or good old porridge, why
not liven up your breakfast by adding some fresh fruit? Slice a banana and add
to your cornflakes – or chop up some fresh raspberries to give your porridge a
bit of fruity edge. Vary the fruits and the cereals and treat yourself to a
deliciously different
healthy combination each morning.
-
Take a low-fat yogurt, blend a handful of fresh strawberries and a small
banana into the yogurt – and there you have it – one healthy, tasty and
nutritious drink to get your day off to a great start. And it doesn’t have to
be strawberries – use any
fruit of your choice.
-
Pop your favourite rashers under the grill. Slice a baguette or a ciabatta
in two and toast it. When ready to serve add some tomato and fresh salad
leaves to make a really tasty breakfast sambo!
Remember, the food we eat at breakfast really kick-starts our body and
provides it with necessary
minerals and nutrients. A nutritious breakfast gives
your body the energy it needs throughout the morning. By
skipping breakfast you
may simply end up starving your body and
overeating later as a result.
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