Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Nutrition Q&A - Do Apples Shed Fat

I caught the end of a news item the other day saying something about eating apples to shed fat. Any truth to this one?

My guess is you saw a report on the 3 apples per day plan designed by dietitian and personal trainer Tammi Flynn. Tammi stumbled across the benefits of eating apples to lose body fat when she began encouraging her clients to add more fruit and vegetables to their diet. Washington apples were her first recommendation. Before long her clients began reporting amazing reductions in body fat. It became apparent that the apples were doing something to promote this.

So, what is it about apples that make them a good (and cheap) fat loss supplement? Apples are a good source of pectin – a soluble fiber that controls the appetite and helps to lower cholesterol. Apples are also an excellent source of soluble fiber, with an average sized one containing about 4 grams. There are many sources of insoluble fiber such as bran, green vegetables and whole wheat. Soluble fiber is less commonly available. Yet, it is an important long term appetite suppressant. As it happens, apples are actually a great source of both fiber types. Insoluble fiber (which provides a short term feeling of fullness) is contained in the peel, while soluble fiber is in the flesh of the apple.

So, what’s the best way to add apples to the fat loss mix? Tammi Flynn’s 3 apple a day plan suggests having an apple before breakfast, lunch an dinner in order to control the amount you eat at each of those meals. When it comes to choosing your apples, go for those with shiny skins. You can select whatever variety you desire as long they are displayed on a refrigerated case in the supermarket. When you get them home, store them in the refrigerator. Make sure, too, that you eat the skin along with the rest of the apple. It contains many important nutrients, including vitamins A and E, along with soluble fiber. Stringent codes of practice enforced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration can give us confidence that the apples we buy are pesticide free.

Apples are cheap, convenient, portable, require no preparation and unlike other fruits, accessible year round. Incorporate them into your lifestyle eating plan and you will be fitter, fuller and, most importantly, leaner.


About the Author: Dane Fletcher is the world's foremost training authority. He writes exclusively for GetAnabolics.com, a leading online provider of Bodybuilding Supplements. For more information, please visit http://www.GetAnabolics.com

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home


  Forum  | About Us  | Privacy  | Returns  | Contact Us
   Copyright © 2006 GetAnabolics.com