9. Grapefruit. It's back! A 2006 study of 91 obese people
conducted at the Nutrition and Metabolic Research Center at
Scripps Clinic found that eating half a grapefruit before each meal
or drinking a serving of the juice three times a day helped people
drop more than three pounds over 12 weeks. The fruit's phytochemicals reduce insulin levels, a process that may force your
body to convert calories into energy rather than flab.
10. Cinnamon. Sprinkle it on microwave oatmeal or whole-grain toast
to help cure those mid-afternoon sugar slumps. Research from the U.S.Department of Agriculture found that a little cinnamon can help control post-meal
insulin spikes, which make you feel hungry. Health bonus: One USDA study
showed that just a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon a day lowered the blood
sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
11. Vinegar. It's a great filler-upper. In
a Swedish study, researchers found that people who ate bread dipped in vinegar felt fuller
than those who had their slices plain. The
probable reason: Acetic acid in the vinegar
may slow the passage of food from the stomach into the small intestine, so your tummy
stays full longer. Vinegar can also short-circuit the swift blood-sugar rise that occurs
after you eat refined carbs such as white
bread, cookies, and crackers.
12. Tofu. It seems too light to be filling, but a study at Louisiana
State University showed that tofu does the job. Researchers tested
it against chicken as a pre-meal appetizer for 42 overweight womenand the participants who had tofu ate less food during the meal. The
secret: Tofu is an appetite-quashing protein
52 SmokinUnderground.com