Why swapping processed foods for whole foods helps weight loss – nutritionists explain the science behind shock research findings
Grains, fresh fruit, oats, hard cheeses, nuts – whether you choose a low-fat or a low-carb whole food diet, you will shed the kilos regardless of calories or portion size. Why? They’re more nutritious, higher in fibre and lower in sugar than processed foods
If you’ve ever followed a diet, you were probably told that if you wanted to lose weight, you had to limit your calorie intake. But a new study, published in February in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that counting calories may not be key to shifting those extra kilos and keeping them off in the long run.
Instead, the study revealed that people who consumed less sugar, refined grains and processed foods but ate more whole foods and plenty of vegetables, without counting calories or controlling their portion sizes, lost significant amounts of weight over 12 months.
The study also pointed out that the results were the same whether the participants followed a low-fat or a low-carbohydrate diet; the participants were simply encouraged to choose the highest quality foods that they could reasonably find, realistically afford and enjoy.
I’ve never felt this good before. My digestion is also better and I have more energy to exercise and play sports
Those in the healthy low-fat group were instructed to eat whole grains, like steel-cut oats, brown rice and quinoa, beans and legumes, fresh fruit, low-fat dairy products, and lean meats.