Hello everyone,
By now you have started your New Years resolutions. The hard part of sticking to any diet plan is craving sweets. As I'm sure you are aware, cravings for comfort foods like ice cream or chips can endanger your
waistline. But researchers in Sweden say that a common vegetable
contains natural compounds that can ease your unreasonable hunger.
A study
at Lund University in Sweden shows that spinach contains green leaf
membranes called thylakoids that can lower the risk of cravings and
binge eating by 95 percent.
In the 3-month study, the thylakoids
increased weight loss among overweight women by 43 percent.
Scientists
call food cravings “hedonic hunger” because these desires are for
unhealthy foods that are overly sweet and salty like cookies, ice cream
and fast food.
These cravings, warn the researchers, often lead to
obesity and poor eating habits.
The Swedish study demonstrates
that the thylakoids in spinach support the production of hormones that
make you feel full and may eliminate hedonic hunger. That helps you
control your appetite more effectively and focus on eating healthier
foods. It can also help you lose weight.
So, follow Popeye's example and eat your spinach! And don't worry if you have failed your New Years resolutions already - Make a new one on the Chinese New Year which starts Feb. 19!!
Happy Qi,
Tom
