Eating quality food helps lose weight--study

Latest research has revealed that the best way to keep a check on those extra kilos is to eat quality food.

Lifestyle changes required
Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in the United States aver that what we eat has a greater impact on the body than how much we eat.

Thus, only focusing on calorie intake is not the best method of reducing weight. Thus the ideal way to stay slim is to eat wholesome food of good quality.

The study suggests that simple lifestyle changes may prove the key to weight loss.

The secret is to focus on the quality of foods, especially carbohydrates, suggests the study. People seeking to shed that extra weight should refrain from sugar-sweetened drinks and potatoes.

Ideally refined grain foods such as white bread, white rice, and low-fibre cereals should also not be a part of the diet for these people.

The study researchers have suggested that people should eat more of fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and yoghurt. Processed foods should be avoided as far as possible.

“Small dietary and other lifestyle changes can together make a big difference – for bad or good. This makes it easy to gain weight unintentionally, but also demonstrates the tremendous opportunity for prevention,” opined Mozaffaria.

"A handful of the right lifestyle changes will go a long way," added Mozaffaria.

Corroborates with previous research
Findings of the present research corroborate with those of earlier studies which have established the benefits of minimally processed foods like fruits and vegetables.

Nutritionist Angela Dowden said, “As well as being nutrient-dense they are satiating and their fibrous nature also require slightly more energy to digest.”

“It is not so much that calories don’t count - they definitely do - it’s more that a healthy pattern of eating makes it easier for you to feel full on fewer of them,” concluded Dowden.

The findings of the latest study have been published in the 'New England Journal of Medicine.'