Is it possible to lose weight with yogurt? Well according to a University of Tennessee study, dieters who ate three servings of yogurt a day lost twenty two percent more weight and sixty one percent more body fat than the dieters who only cut calories and didn't add calcium to their meal plan. How can this be explained?
One theory is because yogurt contains an abundance of calcium which reduces our fat cells' ability to store fat. Consequently our cells burn more fat and less is produced in our liver. And for whatever reason, yogurt tends to significantly reduce fat around the midsectionthe most dangerous kind of fat.
Yogurt is also a terrific source of protein. When combined with calcium, these two nutrient groups have been clinically proven to boost our metabolic rate and improve our digestion.
Along with aiding in weight loss, yogurt is also effective in maintaining lean muscle mass which is a critical issue when you are dieting since muscle helps burn calories.
I know a number of people who absolutely abhor the idea of eating yogurt simply because of its texture and tart flavour. Here are a few of the ways I incorporate yogurt into food and fool my finicky friends.
Substitute low fat yogurt for mayonnaise in my potato salad
Add chopped cucumber and dill weed to plain yogurt and serve as an accompaniment to my barbecued chicken
Serve my pound cake made with yogurt instead of sour cream
Use yogurt in my strawberry smoothies
If you're like me and really enjoy yogurt and eat it to lose weight, I would suggest purchasing a yogurt maker. For one thing making your own yogurt is cheaper than buying it from the supermarket plus you have control over the ingredients and texture of the finished product.
Having said all these great things about yogurt, you will not lose weight simply by existing on an exclusiveyogurt diet. You still need a healthy balanced diet along with an exercise program to achieve success but by adding yogurt to your grocery list, you may drop those pounds just a tad bit faster.