07 August 2023 , 13:28
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If you're trying to lose weight, you'll know that there is a lot of conflicting information out there about the best ways to stay healthy. But according to one health guru, you definitely shouldn't be skipping any meals if you want to lose weight in a way that's healthy and good for your body - and you should be making the most of a good lunch.
Doctor Michael Mosley, the founder of the Fast 800 diet, explained that eating a healthy lunch is vital for keeping your metabolism "fired up and burning calories" throughout the rest of the day, so it's definitely not a meal you should take lightly. However, there are foods you should avoid eating for lunch if you want to have the best chance of keeping your energy levels high for the afternoon.
There are certain foods you shouldn't be eating for lunch if you want to lose weight, warns Dr Mosley (Getty Images)In an article on his Fast 800 website, Dr Mosley said: "Eating a good lunch will help keep your metabolism fired up and burning calories throughout the day, and should keep you full all the way through to your evening meal, avoiding the need for snacking. A low-carb lunch, which is rich in protein and healthy fats, will also help to ensure your brain is working efficiently and that your stress levels are kept steady, avoiding that horrid 'hangry' feeling."
The health guru warned dieters to avoid eating many of the traditional lunch favourites such as pasta salad, sandwiches, and crisps as they "spike blood sugars" and can end up making you feel worse as the afternoon goes on. Instead, Dr Mosley suggested that making a healthy lunch out of dinner leftovers from the night before is a great way to make sure you're eating well with little effort.
He added: "While pasta salads, sandwiches, beans on toast, and crisps are all common go-to's, they actually spike our blood sugars which give up a 'crash' or 'dip' in the afternoon. Carbohydrates can be a helpful source of energy for your body. When we consume quality carbohydrates, like whole wheat, beans, and certain fruits and vegetables, our body burns the glucose (sugar) from carbohydrates as its primary source of energy. However, if we consume too many carbohydrates, or rely on complex carbohydrates like white bread, that excess glucose spikes blood sugars and is stored as fat in the body.
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"Low-carbohydrate diets have been shown to reduce appetite better than a low-fat diet. Studies suggest that a low-carb diet results in the consumption of far fewer calories in general, potentially as a result of a reduction in snack cravings later in the day. Furthermore, low-carb diets can lead to more weight loss, and particularly assist with the loss of visceral fat (a dangerous type of fat which wraps around internal abdominal organs). Not only that, but opting for low-carb lunch ideas can help to reduce your risk of various illnesses such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and some brain disorders like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer's."
If you don't have leftovers to hand for your lunch, then the Fast 800 article suggests batch-cooking lunches such as frittatas, roasted vegetables, or homemade soup, all of which can be easily frozen and reheated throughout the week. You should also invest in a "good lunch box" to make it easier to store your lunches and keep them ready to eat for longer.