Using a Food Label to Pick Foods that Make You Full & Avoid Those That Cause Hunger : Brain Foods

Article by Richard Lipman M.D.

The best method to minimize hunger and therefore overeating is to pick foods and beverages that prevent hunger and avoid foods that cause hunger. I suggest picking foods based on the following three techniques that require only a food label: Food Label Tells Us Characteristics of Foods Producing Fullness:

1. Low Energy density2. High protein (> 10grams/portion)3. Low sugar (< 10 grams/portion)4. High fiber (> 2.5 g grams/portion)

1. Foods with Low Energy Density Produce Fullness Energy density (ED) is the quantity of energy or calories in food related to its weight (and its volume). It is usually presented as the calories per gram of foods. Foods with low energy density provide large portions with few calories–foods with a lot of water or air. Foods with high density have smaller portions containing more calories.

Foods with Low, Medium and High Energy Densities Energy Density(ED) = calories in food divided by weight in oz. or grams

Very Low ED foods: 0- 0.6 calories per gram include lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries, cantaloupe, apples, low fat milk, carrots, soups.

Low ED foods: 0.6 to 1.5 calories per gram include whole milk, grapes, bean, peas, bananas, cheerios, baked potato, ham, and tuna

Medium ED foods: 1.5 to 4.0 include rice, eggs, beef, fish, skim milk cheeses, air popped popcorn Eating foods with low ED permits eating larger portions which results in more fullness, satisfaction and fewer feelings of deprivation. Incorporating low ED foods like non-creamed based soups, fruits and vegetables into a meal reduces subsequent calorie consumption in that meal. Dr Barbara Rolls noted that the participants eating an appetizer before lunch– either a soup or a salad were much less hungry than those that did not eat the appetizer and ended up eating one third less food in the subsequent meal. Satiety is related to both the weight and the volume of food. Even the visual cues of seeing a large portion on one’s p

Tips on Picking Foods with the Lowest Energy Density:

Breads, cereals, pasta, riceSelect those with the highest fiber, such as whole wheat or brown rice. White breads are slightly higher. High fiber breakfast cereals are often the best. You need to watch the portions here.

Vegetables: Most vegetables are great, including green vegetables, tomatoes, green beans and squash. Starchy vegetables like potatoes, corn, peas, lentils are little higher. Fried vegetables like French fries (3.2) and onion rings (4.1) are among the worst choices.

Fruits: Almost all fruits are good; watch the canned or dried fruits. Watch out for fruit juices they have low energy densities, but lots of calories and sugar.

Foods with multiple ingredients: soups stand out as having some of the lowest energy densities, less than 1.0.

2. Some Food Groups Increase Fullness, Others Cause More Hunger

Some foods are better than others in producing fullness. Of all the food groups, proteins are the most filling, satisfying, and protective against hunger. Low-carb diets often succeed because of this. Foods high in protein digest slowly emptying from the stomach at 4 calories per minutes. Of all of the carbs, simple sugars offer the least fullness emptying from the stomach at 10 calories per minute. Less processed carbs such as whole wheat, brown rice and other whole grain products are processed slower and less tendency to produce hunger. Foods high in fiber are also more satisfying because they too are processed more slowly. The third food group-fat is different than the other two. Fat produces satiety because of its slow stomach emptying time of just 2 calories a minute. The problem with fat is the high calories of the foods and the fact that it takes a longer period of time for the satiety signal to reach the brain.

Foods High in Protein Produce Fullness Proteins are responsible for a long list and wide variety of essential functions in the body including the growth and maintenance of muscle, bones, cartilage, hair, skin, and nails. Proteins are also needed to make certain enzymes, hormones, and blood elements. The benefit of dietary protein is that it increases the feeling of fullness (satiety) when compared to equal amounts of carbohydrates and fats. The result is that one eats less calories from protein. More about the roles and need for proteins in the appendix. .Foods with Less than 10 Grams of Sugar Do Not Increase Hunger, Foods with Sugar More than 10 Grams Produce Hunger Sugars are rapidly absorbed by the stomach, turn into fat, and produce hunger. Avoid foods and beverages with more than 10 grams of sugar per portion. Most fruits, vegetables, and many whole-grain bread products, cereals, and even pasta can reduce hunger. The sugars in these foods are surrounded or encased in fibers that dissolve slowly in the stomach, resulting in a much slower release of sugar into the bloodstream. When sugar is released slowly–over hours instead of in seconds–the body is able to utilize the sugar for metabolism and activities. Foods High in Fiber Promote Satiety

A high-fiber food has 5 grams or more of fiber per serving and a good source of fiber is one that provides 2.5 to 4.9 grams per serving.

Fibers, the parts of plants that our bodies cannot digest, will promote fullness and feelings of satisfaction. The suggested fiber intake is 25 grams per day for adults. Some researchers suggest that increasing fiber actually absorbs calories from our foods. Children and teens need fiber just as much as adults. Foods with fiber are beneficial because they’re filling and, therefore, discourage overeating — even though fiber itself adds no calories. The natural tendency is for children to like sweet, salty and sugary foods and avoid eating fiber rich fresh fruits and vegetables. Fiber, the indigestible portion of plant food is not found in dairy or meat. Fiber comes in two forms soluble and insoluble –both important and with different functions. Soluble fiber slows down the absorption of sugar from the stomach so that there are fewer spikes in sugar and insulin. This reduces hunger and episodes of low blood sugar. Soluble fiber also helps to remove cholesterol and fats in the blood. Insoluble fiber is important for maintaining bowel regularity and preventing constipation. It also gives children a sense of fullness that may help with overeating. Insoluble fiber is found in whole grain breads, nuts and seeds. Corn, popcorn and pasta are good sources of insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber is found in fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits, apples, apricots, oats, barley, and dried beans.

Foods appropriate for the HCG plan include most fruits, all vegetablesexcept corn, peas and carrots and all protein. The revised HCG dietpromotes fullness making weight loss easy.

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