Weight Loss Secrets From Around the World
Wednesday, January 27, 2010 by: JM
Many are struggling to remove those fats to become a slimmer one. And the good news is – we have the answer! From around the world, there are different strategies in various countries on weight loss. We have reliable tips from different countries to share to you. The tips below are proven by professionals such as doctors and Nutritionists. Try and see! 
Making Food Spicier (Thailand)
Food in Thailand is among the spiciest in the whole world. What does this contribute to your weight loss dream? Hot peppers actually raise your metabolism, but the real benefit is that it slows your eating, said by James Hill Ph.D. (Past President of the American Society for Nutrition) By the time that your body signals your full, you’ve overeaten. Eating slower is a good weight-loss strategy, and making it spicier is the key.
East your breakfast! (Germany)
Nutritionists have been advising people not to skip their breakfast for years, but recent studies show it' have other importance. In one, British researchers discovered that if you haven’t eaten breakfast, your brain’s reward center will light up more vividly when you see a high-calorie food— making you more likely to
indulge.
indulge.
No to Supersizing (United Kingdom)
Supersize option was discontinued in U.K. after it accounted for less than 0.1 percentage of sales. The Brits prefer smaller options .In the United States, McDonald’s has backed supersizing too. A coke in U.S. still contains 100 calories more than in U.K.
A side of Rice and Beans (Brazil)
Brazilians stay slim by having this traditional dish with just about every meal. A study found that diet consisting of Rice and Beans lowers the risk of overweight by about 14 percent because it is lower in fat and higher in fiber which is to stabilize blood sugar level.A diet full of beans is equal to a energized body.
Fasting Sometimes (Indonesia)
Fasting is not eating and no drinking for a period of time.In Indonesia they practice mutih which is drinking only water and eating white rice. Remember that experts doesn’t recommend fasting for weight control, instead they recommend it in fasting in moderation can break patterns of mindless eating. No need for strict abstinence. Try just cutting your calories half a day.
Eat more at home than you eat out (Poland)
In Poland, they typically spend only 5 percent of their family budget on eating out. “People who don’t cook at home tend to eat less healthy food and be heavier than people who do. In fact, the collapse of cooking in a society tracks very closely its rise in obesity.
Try Using your Bike (Netherlands)
Bikes (18 million) outnumber people (16.5 million) in the Netherlands. But unlike Americans—most of whose two-wheelers languish in basements and garages—54 percent of Dutch bike owners use them for daily activities, such as shopping and traveling to work. The average Dutchman pedals 541 miles per year. Traffic lights in parts of Amsterdam are even synchronized to bike speed. Bike-to-Work Day in the United States is Friday, May 21—try using your bike to commute that day or just for errands close to home. If you’re of average size and pedaling at a moderate pace, you can burn around 550 calories per hour.
A Bowl of Muesli (Switzerland)
Muesli is a porridge or cereal made from oats, fruit, and nuts, each of which has been linked to better health and weight control. It was developed by a Swiss physician more than a hundred years ago to nourish hospital patients, but the Swiss eat it for breakfast or as a light evening dish. Muesli’s fiber makes it slow to digest, keeping you feeling full longer. Read the label carefully, though: Sugar content can vary from 2 to 14 grams per serving.Carve out a dacha plot (Russia)
Country houses, or dachas, where 51 percent of city folk spend vacations and summer weekends, almost always feature a garden. Russians grow their own vegetables and fruits and preserve and can what they grow. That makes their diet more nutritious. And “there’s not much you can grow in a garden that will make you fat,” notes Hill.
Sit Long, Talk A Lot (France)
The French excel at the leisurely family meal. On average, 92 percent of French families dine together nightly, compared with 28 percent of American families. “For the French, eating is the event of the day,” says Fred Pescatore, MD, president of the International & American Associations of Clinical Nutritionists. “For us, it’s something we do before heading out to do something else.” Lengthy meals actually encourage less eating, Dr. Pescatore says: Conversation slows down the fork and gives you time to realize you’re full.
Take up Nordic Walking (Finland)
This is one of the Finns’ favorite outdoor activities. All that’s required is a pair of inexpensive, lightweight walking poles. Holding these in your hands aids balance, which is great if you’re older or if you’re on slippery terrain. Even better: Because they make you use muscles in your shoulders, arms, and torso, the poles transform walking into a total-body workout that burns 20 percent more calories,
according to a study at the Cooper Institute in Dallas. Winter or summer, it’s a simple way to derive more fat-reducing benefit from your regular walk.
Turn up the turmeric (Malaysia)
This spice, a key ingredient in curries, grows wild in Malaysian jungles. One of its chief components is a substance called curcumin, which may turn out to be a potent fat fighter. Researchers think the ingredient suppresses the growth of fat tissue and increases fat-burning.
Rooibos tea (South Africa)
Rooibos tea is more robust than green tea, and because it’s naturally sweet, it needs no sugar. Frappuccino for a cup of rooibos—Starbucks now sells it—could save you thousands of calories per month.Crunch more pickles (Hungar)
Hungarians like things pickled—not just cucumbers but bell peppers, cabbage, and tomatoes. These tart treats can help keep you thin, probably because of the vinegar that pickles them. Growing evidence suggests that acetic acid, the main component of vinegar, helps reduce blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and the formation of fat. Swap your ranch salad dressing for oil and vinegar!
Swallow More Herling (Netherlands)
The Dutch down about 85 million of these slippery fish per year—raw. Oily fish like herring is slimming for a few reasons, says Dr. Pescatore, author of The Hamptons Diet. It contains lots of omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce levels of the stress hormone Cortisol—and Cortisol is known to increase the amount of fat deposited around your middle.
Take a Sunday family tour (Norway)
It’s a deeply rooted Norwegian habit: On Sunday, everyone from toddlers to grandparents heads out.
Start a Nordic tradition in your house. At halftime, shoo everyone outdoors for a walk around the neighborhood.
Get yourself all twisted up (India)
Most Americans respect yoga’s stress-busting and flexibility-enhancing power, but not many realize it facilitates weight loss. In fact, a recent study found that yoga devotees have a lower body mass index (BMI) than other exercisers do. There are probably multiple reasons.Yoga is best done on an empty stomach and can build muscle (depending on your preferred poses), which boosts your metabolism. And it encourages mindfulness, which includes paying attention to whether you feel full.Perfect the power nap (Japan)
In this on-the-go country, many people take time for a daily 20- to 30-minute nap, says James Maas, PhD, a sleep researcher at Cornell University and the author of Power Sleep. There’s increasing evidence that chronic sleep deprivation raises the risk of weight gain. Maas blames two hormones: leptin, which helps the brain sense when you’re full, and ghrelin, which triggers hunger. The less sleep you get, the lower your leptin levels—and the higher your ghrelin. “Many people think they’re hungry when they’re actually sleepy,” Maas says. “Instead of a snack, they need some shut-eye.”Make the midday meal the biggest (Mexico)
Instead of ingesting the bulk of the day’s calories in the evening, as most Americans do, Mexicans traditionally eat their biggest meal between 2 and 4 p.m. If you eat less at night, you’ll wake up hungrier and eat a bigger breakfast, which facilitates weight control. As a general fat fighting rule, try to get the bulk of your daily calories at breakfast and lunch.
- Reader's Digest
