Best 20 Superfoods For Weight Loss

After reading a fantastic article over at Self Magazine, I believe it’s time for a new slim-down mantra for everyone! ‘Eat more to weigh less’. This isn’t some late night infomercial pitch we should all run from! It’s all about the basics, the right foods help you drop pounds by revving your calorie burn and curbing cravings. The magazine consulted top experts for the best picks and asked leading chefs for easy, tasty ways to prepare them. Add these eats to your plate today and you’ll be slimmer and healthier in no time!

Steak

Beef has a rep as a diet buster, but eating it may help you peel off pounds. In a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, women on a diet that included red meat lost more weight than those eating equal calories but little beef. “The protein in steak helps you retain muscle mass during weight loss,” says study author Manny Noakes, Ph.D. Try to consume local organic beef; it’s healthier for you and the environment.

Eat more Grill or broil a 4-ounce serving of top round or sirloin; slice thinly to top a salad, or mix with veggies for fajitas.

Eggs

Dig in to eggs, yolks and all: They won’t harm your heart, but they can help you trim inches. Women on a low-calorie diet who ate an egg with toast and jelly each morning lost twice as many pounds as those who had a bagel breakfast with the same number of calories but no eggs, a study from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge reports. “Egg protein is filling, so you eat less later in the day,” says David Grotto, R.D., author of 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life (Bantam).

Eat more Omelets and scrambles are obvious choices, but if you can’t cook before work, bake a frittata on Sunday; chill it and nuke slices for up to a week. An easy recipe: Vegetable Frittata.

Kale

Long sidelined as a lowly garnish, this green belongs center stage on your plate. One raw chopped cup contains 34 calories and about 1.3 grams of fiber, as well as a hearty helping of iron and calcium. But kale’s earthy flavor might take some getting used to. Spinach, another nutrient powerhouse, is a milder-tasting option.

Eat more Mix chopped raw kale into cooked black beans, says Jennifer Iserloh, founder of Skinny Chef Culinary Ventures, in New York City. Or slice kale into thin strips, sauté it with vegetable broth and top with orange slices. Make it a meal by tossing the mix with quinoa.

Oats

“Oatmeal has the highest satiety ranking of any food,” Grotto says. “Unlike many other carbohydrates, oats—even the instant kind—digest slowly, so they have little impact on your blood sugar.” All oats are healthful, but the steel-cut and rolled varieties (which are minimally processed) have up to 5 grams of fiber per serving, making them the most filling choice. Instant oats contain 3 to 4 grams per serving.

Eat more “Instead of using breadcrumbs, add oats to meat loaf—about 1 cup for a recipe that serves eight,” Iserloh recommends. Or try her recipe for turkey and oatmeal meatballs.

Lentils

Lentils are a bona fide belly flattener. “They’re high in protein and soluble fiber, two nutrients that stabilize blood sugar levels,” says Tanya Zuckerbrot, R.D., author of The F-Factor Diet (Putnam Adult). “Eating them helps prevent insulin spikes that cause your body to create excess fat, especially in the abdominal area.”

Eat more There are many varieties of lentils, but red and yellow cook fastest (in about 15 to 20 minutes). Add cooked lentils to pasta sauce for a heartier dish, Zuckerbrot suggests. “Their mild flavor blends right in, and because they’re high in protein, you can skip meat altogether.”

Goji berries

These chewy, tart berries have a hunger-curbing edge over other fruit: 18 amino acids, which make them a surprising source of protein, says chef Sarah Krieger, R.D., spokeswoman in St. Petersburg, Florida, for the American Dietetic Association. (They also have more beta-carotene than carrots.) Snack on them midafternoon to stay satisfied until dinner. The calorie cost? Only 35 per tablespoon.

Eat more Mix 1/4 cup of the dried berries (from health food stores) with 1/4 cup raisins and 1/4 cup walnuts for a nourishing trail mix. Or for dessert, pour 1/4 cup boiling water into a bowl with 2 tbsp dried berries; let sit 10 minutes. Drain, then spoon over 1/2 cup lowfat vanilla frozen yogurt.

Wild salmon

Not only do fish fats keep your heart healthy, but they shrink your waist, too. “Omega-3 fatty acids improve insulin sensitivity—which helps build muscle and decrease belly fat,” Grotto explains. And the more muscle you have, the more calories your body burns. Opt for wild salmon; it may contain fewer pollutants.

Eat more You don’t need to do much to enhance salmon’s taste, says Sidra Forman, a chef and writer in Washington, D.C. “Simple is best. Season a fillet with salt and pepper, then cook it in a hot pan with 2 tsp oil for 1 to 3 minutes on each side.”

Apples

An apple a day can keep weight gain at bay, finds a study from Penn State University at University Park. People who chomped an apple before a pasta meal ate fewer calories overall than those who had a different snack. “Apples are high in fiber—4 to 5 grams each—which makes them filling,” says Susan Kraus, R.D., a clinical dietitian at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. Plus, the antioxidants in apples may help prevent metabolic syndrome, a condition marked by excess belly fat or an “apple shape.”

Eat more Apples are the ideal on-the-go low-calorie snack. For a pielike treat, chop up a medium apple and sprinkle with 1/2 tsp allspice and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Pop in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes.

Buckwheat pasta

Swap plain noodles for this hearty variety; you’ll slip into your skinny jeans in no time. “Buckwheat is high in fiber and, unlike most carbs, contains protein,” Zuckerbrot says. “Those two nutrients make it very satiating, so it’s harder to overeat buckwheat pasta than the regular stuff.”

Eat more Cook this pasta as you do rice: Simmer it, covered, over low heat. For a light meal, toss cooked buckwheat pasta with broccoli, carrots, mushrooms and onions. Or make buckwheat crepes using our tasty recipe.

Blueberries

All berries are good for you, but those with a blue hue are among the best of the bunch. They have the highest antioxidant level of all commonly consumed fruit, according to research from the USDA Agriculture Research Service in Little Rock, Arkansas. They also deliver 3.6 grams of fiber per cup. “Fiber may actually prevent some of the fat you eat from being absorbed because fiber pulls fat through the digestive tract,” Zuckerbrot says.

Eat more Instead of topping your cereal with fruit, fill your bowl with blueberries, then sprinkle cereal on top and add milk or yogurt, Iserloh recommends.

Almond butter

Adding this spread may lower bread’s glycemic index (a measure of a food’s effect on blood sugar). A study from the University of Toronto found that people who ate almonds with white bread didn’t experience the same blood sugar surges as those who ate only the slice. “The higher blood sugar levels rise, the lower they fall; that dip leads to hunger, causing people to overeat,” says study author Cyril Kendall, Ph.D. “Furthermore, blood sugar changes cause the body to make insulin, which can increase abdominal fat.”

Eat more Try it for a change from peanut butter in sandwiches, or make a veggie dip: Mix 1 tbsp almond butter with 2 tbsp fat-free plain yogurt, Iserloh suggests. Or add a dollop to oatmeal for flavor and protein.

Pomegranates

The juice gets all the hype for being healthy, but pomegranate seeds deserve their own spotlight. In addition to being loaded with folate and disease-fighting antioxidants, they’re low in calories and high in fiber, so they satisfy your sweet tooth without blowing your diet, Krieger says.

Eat more Pop the raw seeds on their own (many grocery stores sell them preshucked) as a snack at your desk. “Use them in salads instead of nuts,” Iserloh says. “They’re especially delicious on raw baby spinach with lemon–poppy seed dressing.” For another take on the seeds, use our easy recipe for sweet and spicy pomegranate salsa.

Chiles

One reason to spice up your meals: You’ll crank up your metabolism. “A compound in chiles called capsaicin has a thermogenic effect, meaning it causes the body to burn extra calories for 20 minutes after you eat the chiles,” Zuckerbrot explains. Plus, “you can’t gulp down spicy food,” she adds. “Eating slowly gives your brain time to register that your stomach is full, so you won’t overeat.”

Eat more Stuff chiles with cooked quinoa and marinara sauce, then roast them. To mellow a chile’s heat, grill it until it’s almost black, peel off charred skin and puree the flesh, Krieger says. Add the puree to pasta sauces for a one-alarm kick. Or stir red pepper flakes into any dish you enjoy.

Yogurt

Dietitians often refer to plain yogurt as the perfect food, and for good reason: With its trifecta of carbs, protein and fat, it can stave off hunger by keeping blood sugar levels steady. In a study from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, people on a low-calorie diet that included yogurt lost 61 percent more fat overall and 81 percent more belly fat than those on a similar plan but without yogurt.

Eat more “Use lowfat plain yogurt instead of mayonnaise in chicken or potato salad, or top a baked potato with a bit of yogurt and a squeeze of lemon juice,” Krieger says. You’ll save 4.7 grams of fat per tablespoon. Look for Greek yogurt, which has more protein than other versions.

Quinoa

Curbing hunger is as easy as piling your plate with this whole grain. It packs both fiber (2.6 grams per 1/2 cup) and protein, a stellar nutrient combo that can keep you satisfied for hours, Krieger says.

Eat more Serve quinoa instead of rice with stir-fries, or try Krieger’s take on a scrumptious hot breakfast: Cook 1/2 cup quinoa in 2/3 cup water and 1/3 cup orange juice for 15 minutes. Top with 1 tbsp each of raisins and chopped walnuts.

Sardines

These tiny fish are the unsung stars of the sea. They are high in protein and loaded with omega-3s, which also help the body maintain muscle. And they’re low in mercury and high in calcium, making them a smart fish pick for pregnant women. If the flavor doesn’t appeal to you, “soak them in milk for an hour; it will remove any trace of fishiness,” Iserloh says.

Eat more “Use sardines in recipes you like that call for anchovies, including Caesar salad and stuffing,” Iserloh says. Or make a sardine melt: Toss whole sardines with chopped onions, fresh herbs and diced bell peppers. Put the mixture on top of a slice of pumpernickel or rye bread, cover with a slice of cheddar and broil.

Tarragon

You can use this herb, a staple in French cooking, in place of salt in marinades and salad dressings. Excess sodium causes your body to retain water, so using less salt can keep bloating at bay. Plus, tarragon lends a sweet, licoricelike flavor to bland foods. (Use the French version of the herb when possible; it’s sweeter than other varieties.)

Eat more Rub 2 tbsp dried tarragon on chicken before baking or grilling. Or make a tasty dip by mixing 1 tsp chopped fresh tarragon into 4 oz lowfat plain yogurt and 1 tsp Dijon mustard, recommends Jacquelyn Buchanan, director of culinary development at Laura Chenel’s Chèvre, a fromagerie in Sonoma, California.

Parmesan

Drop that rubbery lowfat cheese and pick up the real stuff. Women who had one serving of whole milk or cheese daily were less likely to gain weight over time, a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds. Lowfat-dairy fans didn’t experience the same benefit. Whole dairy may have more conjugated linoleic acid, which might help your body burn fat. “Parmesan is so flavorful, it’s easy to stick to one serving,” Buchanan says.

Eat more “Grate Parmesan over roasted vegetables,” Buchanan offers. Or snack on a 1-ounce portion with an apple or a pear.

Avocado

Don’t let the fat content of an avocado (29 grams) scare you—that’s what makes it a top weight loss food, Kraus says. “The heart-healthy monounsaturated fat it contains increases satiety,” she says. And it’s terrific summer party food.

Eat more Add avocado to your sandwich instead of mayo for a creamy texture and a shot of flavor. Avocados do contain a lot of calories, so it’s best to watch your portions. One easy way to do it: Try Wholly Guacamole’s 100-calorie fresh guacamole packs ($3; grocery stores or WhollyGuac.com). They’re easy to pack in your lunch and pair with chopped vegetables.

Olive oil

Like avocados, olive oil has healthy fat that increases satiety, taming your appetite. But that’s hardly its only slimming feature. “Research shows it has anti-inflammatory properties,” Kraus says. Chronic inflammation in the body is linked to metabolic syndrome.

Eat more Drizzle your salad with olive oil and you’ll increase the antioxidant power of your veggies, a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition notes. Or toss pasta with a few teaspoons of olive oil, fresh basil and sautéed garlic, Kraus suggests. Add this oil to your summer menus for a flatter tummy by fall.

from: mytorontoweightloss.com

Baking soda to whiten your teeth

I’m getting hooked on DIY beauty! Because it’s fun, it’s healthy and it’s cheap! Here’s my experience with using baking soda to whiten my teeth. It works! Okay, don’t expect the sort of sparkling white teeth you see on celebrities but baking soda will take off some of the coffee and tea stains and give you a cleaner looking set of teeth.

Baking soda to brush teeth is safe
This is one of the most popular and safest DIY methods to whiten your teeth naturally. There are some DIY suggestions of using lemon juice or strawberries but those could do more harm by eroding the calcium in your teeth or cause tooth cavities. However, you want to know that baking soda is pretty abrasive on contact. So on some forums, the advice is to dig a toothbrush into the baking soda and then to start brushing. Well, not very good. You’ll find that your gums hurt quite a bit this way. The best way I have found through trial and error is to mix the baking soda with toothpaste.

Baking soda mixed with toothpaste
First, I squeeze some toothpaste on my toothbrush as usual. Then I top it up with a small spoonful of baking soda and start brushing. You can use baking soda only of course but I find that the toothpaste helps to ease off some of the abrasiveness of the dry powder for me.

Whiter teeth in a week
I saw a slight difference after the first brushing using baking soda. Within a week of brushing with this ingredient once a day, my teeth was noticeably whiter. Even my husband noticed and he has started to use it too.

Brushing with baking soda once or twice a week
However, I plan to slow down now that I see results and will probably keep to brushing with baking soda only once or twice a week. This is because I feel that baking soda while safe, is still a mild abrasive cleaner so I don’t want to use it everyday. And by the way, this stuff taste salty!

Newest Breakthroughs in Breast Cancer

By Sunny Sea Gold, PARADE

Major advances in the treatment and detection of breast cancer in the last two decades have saved the lives of millions of women. Since 1990, mortality rates have decreased dramatically—by 3.3 percent a year in women under 50 and by 2 percent a year in older women. Experts say that breakthroughs made in the past few years, however, may have an even greater impact in the fight against breast cancer. Here are five reasons researchers are excited—and hopeful.

Clearer screenings

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), best known for its use in brain scans, is now revolutionizing breast-cancer screening and diagnosis in high-risk women. Unlike mammography, which identifies lumps and calcifications, MRI uses contrast to look at blood vessels, which can't be obscured by breast implants or naturally dense tissue. Since the blood supply to malignant cells differs from healthy cells, the cancers appear as bright spots on the digital image.

"The downside of MRI is that it picks up so much, including benign structures, that there are more recommendations for biopsies," says Dr. Christy Russell, co-director of the Breast Cancer Center at the University of Southern California. For an average-risk woman, the procedure is not worth it, she adds. For women with a BRCA1 or 2 gene mutation, however, an MRI could be lifesaving. In fact, the American Cancer Society recently updated its guidelines to recommend that all high-risk women age 40 and older be screened annually with both mammography and MRI.

Tougher drugs

Experts are optimistic about a new class of drugs known as aromatase inhibitors (AIs), "one of the most exciting things to happen in years," says Dr. Larry Norton, deputy physician in chief of Breast Cancer Programs at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Many breast cancers are fed by estrogen, which tells the malignant cells to grow. In postmenopausal women, an enzyme in the breast itself, called aromatase, converts other hormones into estrogen. AIs have been used successfully to block that conversion.

In a recent National Cancer Institute of Canada study, women who were switched to an AI after two years of taking tamoxifen—a medication that's been used successfully to treat breast cancer since 1977—had 32 percent less risk of a recurrence, a new breast cancer, or death than those who stayed on the original drug.

Better biopsies

First performed on breast-cancer patients in the mid-1990s, sentinel lymph node biopsy—a procedure that involves removing one to three lymph nodes to check for cancer cells—has now become the standard of care. The technique saves patients a great deal of risk, pain, healing time, and scarring. "It used to be that we would go in and remove many of the lymph nodes from a patient's armpit to figure out if any were involved," explains Dr. Russell. "Now, if surgeons remove just one node or two nodes that are cancer-free, it is unlikely that others are involved. If it's positive, then the surgeon goes back in and removes the rest." The more nodes that test positive for cancer cells, the greater the risk of cancer recurrence.

Targeting stem cells

When you hear the term "stem cells," you likely think of the controversial embryonic type, but adults have stem cells, too. Unfortunately, so do cancerous tumors. Experts believe that, just like in healthy organs and tissue, stem cells are what spur and direct a cancer's growth. "A lot of our traditional therapies [for example, chemo] kill the surrounding cells very well, but not the stem cells," explains Dr. Max Wicha, director of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center in Ann Arbor. "We have to figure out ways of knocking them out."

In clinical trials at the Baylor College of Medicine, at least one medication has been shown to successfully kill stem cells. Dr. Wicha's team, along with researchers at Baylor and Harvard, currently is investigating another drug, originally developed for Alzheimer's disease.

Gene-based treatments

Genetics in breast-cancer research is no longer limited to looking at the patient's genes. Now doctors and researchers are examining the genetic information of cancer cells themselves to help determine the best treatment options. One such test already is widely used with women whose cancer has not spread to lymph nodes. This type of genomic profiling also has led to the creation of super-effective drugs used to target a specific aggressive type of tumor that makes up about 15 percent to 30 percent of all breast-cancer cases.

But, experts say, what's even more important than these drugs themselves is the evidence that targeted therapies can work. Zeroing in on specific genes and molecules, Dr. Wicha says, is critical to the future of breast cancer treatment. "It's pointing us in the right direction."

Apples for Your Heart?

A new study shows apples may protect against metabolic syndrome.

By Joyce Hendley, EatingWell.com

Can eating an apple help protect you from metabolic syndrome—a cluster of symptoms related to an increased risk of heart disease? It's possible, say researchers who analyzed data from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In the survey, people who reported consuming any form of apples within the past day were 27 percent less likely to have symptoms of metabolic syndrome—like high blood pressure or a waist measurement of more than 40 inches (for men) or 35 inches (for women)—compared to those who didn't. The apple eaters also had lower levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation whose presence in the blood suggests an increased risk for heart disease and diabetes.

While a one-day snapshot doesn’t represent a long-term dietary pattern, the study shows that eating apples "is associated with broad metabolic advantages," notes lead investigator Victor Fulgoni, Ph.D. This study adds to a growing body of evidence indicating apples benefit the heart. Last year, the Iowa Women's Health Study reported that, among the 34,000-plus women it's been tracking for nearly 20 years, apples were associated with a lower risk of death from both coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease. Some years earlier, Finnish researchers studying dietary data collected over 28 years from 9,208 men and women found that frequent apple eaters had the lowest risk of suffering strokes compared with those people who didn't eat apples.

What explains the heart benefits? Researchers suggest that the strong antioxidant flavonoid compounds found in apples—quercetin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, kaempferol and other polysyllabic wonders—play a key role by preventing LDL cholesterol from oxidizing and triggering a series of events that result in the buildup of plaque in arteries, as well as inhibiting inflammation. "But antioxidants are just one piece of the whole puzzle," notes Cornell University food scientist and apple expert Rui Hai Liu, Ph.D. Apples are also rich in pectin, a form of soluble fiber known to help lower cholesterol, and they provide a decent amount of vitamin C, another antioxidant.

Liu, whose own pioneering work has identified cancer-fighting elements in extracts of whole apples, believes that we're only beginning to understand how the various components of apples "work together additively and synergistically to provide health benefits." David Jacobs, Ph.D., a University of Minnesota researcher involved in the Iowa Women's Health Study, concurs. "There are probably thousands of compounds in apples that we haven't yet identified and maybe won't identify for a long time," he muses, "but we really don't need to know all that, because we can eat whole apples."

Bottom line: Enjoy apples in all their forms—applesauce and juice (look for brands labeled "made with whole apples," recommends Liu) and especially apples in their simplest, whole form. Be sure to leave the peel on—and not just because that's where much of the healthy phytochemicals are concentrated, but for apples' full flavor complexity.

Foods That Fight Fat Over 40

Ready to get slimmer and feel younger? Add these foods to your diet and you'll gain nutrients as well as lose pounds.

By the Editors of Prevention

Boost the benefits of your workout and burn more fat, faster, with these seven smart food choices. Add them to your daily diet and you can shed about 10 pounds over the course of a year.

Water with lemon

A California study of 240 women found that dieters who replaced their sweetened drinks with water lost an average of 3 pounds more a year than those who didn't. Subjects who sipped more than 4 cups of water a day lost 2 additional pounds, compared with those who drank less. Plus, the phosphoric acid in soda may contribute to bone loss—and osteoporosis—by changing the acid balance in your blood.

High-fiber granola bars

A small British study found that women who eat a fiber-rich, high-carb breakfast burn twice as much fat during workouts later in the day as those who eat more refined (lower-fiber) foods. Try a granola bar with at least 4 g of fiber, like Kashi, instead of the typical bar that contains just a single gram. Refined carbs spike your insulin levels, which limits your body's ability to use fat as fuel, explains Lisa Dorfman, R.D., adjunct professor at the University of Miami.

Ground flaxseed

Flaxseed is rich in fiber and healthy fats, which help stabilize blood sugar, so you're less likely to binge. Some research suggests flax can also help soothe symptoms of hormone swings because it's high in plant estrogens. Ground seeds are easier to digest. Sprinkle them over cereals, soups, or salads; add them to smoothies; or substitute 1 cup of ground flaxseed for 1/3 cup canola, corn, or other oil or shortening in muffins and cookies. Note: Lower oven temperature slightly, since baked goods brown faster with flax.

Walnuts

Instead of snacking on some chips, open up a bag of nuts: Walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which may keep you feeling fuller longer. In a one-year study of people with diabetes who were following a low-fat diet, Australian researchers discovered that those who included 8 to 10 walnuts a day lost more weight and body fat. The subjects also reduced their insulin levels, which helps keep fat storage in check.

Hot sauce

Forget bland condiments. If you want to burn fat, spice things up. In a study of 36 men and women, Australian researchers found that following a spicy meal, levels of insulin—the hormone that triggers body fat storage—were lowered by as much as 32 percent. One theory: Capsaicin, the chemical that gives chiles their fire, may improve the body's ability to clear insulin from the bloodstream after you eat, so you're more likely to burn fat following a meal spiked with chile peppers than after one that isn't packing heat.

Cinnamon

Sweeten your oatmeal or frothy coffee drinks with this sweet spice instead of sugar (which has 16 calories per teaspoon) and you can save a couple hundred calories a week, enough to shed 2 to 3 pounds in a year without doing anything else. You'll also be doing your heart a favor as protective estrogen levels decline: Pakistani researchers found that 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon a day could lower heart-damaging cholesterol by 18 percent and triglycerides by 30 percent.

Salmon

Just 3 ounces of canned salmon delivers 530 IU (more than the daily value) for vitamin D and 181 mg of calcium, a power-packed nutritional combination that may be just what your waistline needs as you get older. In a 7-year study of more than 36,000 women ages 50 to 79, researchers at Kaiser Permanente found that those who took both calcium and vitamin D supplements gained less weight after menopause than those who took a placebo. Other research shows that without enough vitamin D, our appetite-regulating hormone leptin can't do its job. Other fatty fish choices include tuna, sardines and mackerel.