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Quick Tips - Healthy Alternatives To Newfangled Fads

 Portion Control Can Be Your Friend:

Most diets do seem to have a common denominator, however, which is some sort of portion control. It only makes sense; the more you eat, the more calories you have to burn. Control the calories and half the battle has been won. The problem is it's a big battle.

A 2004 study by the Centers for Disease Control showed Americans are eating much more than we did 30 years ago. Some blame the overproduction of processed foods. Others blame the diets themselves, citing a tendency for people to overeat the foods they are allowed to consume.

So now that we've identified the problem, what's the solution? Here are five tips, time-tested and medically sound, all geared towards helping you to put down the fork:

Eat more meals of smaller size - We have been conditioned to eat three meals a day; breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Studies show that eating six meals of smaller size not only reduces your appetite, it also keeps your metabolism functioning optimally. In addition, it cuts down on impulse snacking!

Begin meals with citrus fruits - Studies show that beginning a meal with an orange or half a grapefruit cuts down on the amount you eat. This is because citrus fruits contain mostly fiber and water, two things that fill you up. Citrus is also a great way to get vitamin C and other valuable nutrients into your diet.

Begin dinner with a cup of soup - Clear broths and consommés are great for two reasons: they fill you up with a nutritious, low calorie liquid; and they get your metabolism moving in the right direction.

Make your calories count - Processed foods, such as frozen dinners, are filled with empty calories. Foods like fresh produce and whole grains, on the other hand, are chock full of fiber. Take the time to eat the right foods, and you'll find yourself eating less.

Slow down - It's been proven that the slower you eat, the less you eat. Also, after you finish eating, wait five minutes before having seconds. Chances are that's all it will take to realize you are fuller than you thought.

Diets will continue to come and go. But by establishing healthy eating habits, you'll be able to enjoy the foods you love without having to sacrifice carbs, fat, or whatever the hot diet of the day suggests!

It seems like most of America is on a diet of one sort or another. From Atkins to South Beach, there's always at least one regimen that captures the country's imagination for a time. The irony is that in the beginning, many of these diets actually seem to work. Then, as months go by, advocates get tired of what they're eating and return to old habits, only to gain back everything they've lost and then some.

Eat Your Way To A Smaller Diet