The Crazy Way Cheese (Yes, Cheese) Could Help You Lose Weight

Wonder why the French have lower heart disease rates and smaller waistlines despite a diet high in saturated fat? Experts used to credit wine and lifestyle, but now, a new study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests cheese may play a role. Yes, we’re serious…and pretty ecstatic. Best of all, the study is backed up by older research corroborating cheese's potential metabolism-revving effect. 

For the study, researchers compared urine and fecal samples from people whose diets were high in either cheese or milk, or who ate a control diet with butter but no other dairy. Those who consumed cheese had higher fecal levels of butyrate—a short chain fatty acid produced by gut bacteria—compared to the other groups. These elevated butyrate levels were associated with significantly less elevation in "bad" LDL cholesterol than the control group, suggesting that cheese may be healthier for your heart than some other types of dairy. 

With these types of aged cheeses, Clausen says, you can also expect a higher degree of proteolysis—degradation of proteins into peptides and amino acids, which preliminary research shows can affect carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, leading to reduced fat accumulation in the body.

MORE: Seven nutrition tips for metabolism

While the study was small, it’s still something to pay attention to, as it corroborates earlier research from 2011 showing that cheese reduces LDL cholesterol compared to butter with the same fat content. It also complements another recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, which found that increased cheese intake was associated with weight loss provided it was eaten as part of a low-glycemic diet (i.e. one full of low-glycemic foods such as fruits, veggies, meats, and whole grains as opposed to high-glycemic processed and refined carbs).

So go ahead, consider this permission to shave some Parmesan on your next salad.

Comment below if you're a fan of cheese. Would you start adding extra cheese to your diet to lose weight? Let me know if you found this helpful. Have a great day lovelies x

Source
http://www.prevention.com/food/why-cheese-may-help-you-lose-weight

Sneaky Meat-Free Proteins #3: Chickpeas

If you’ve never tried hummus, you’re missing out! Not only is it HIGHLY delicious, but it’s one of the best uses of chickpeas.

Chickpeas are an odd legume. They are VERY hard, and it takes hours of cooking to make them edible.

Fun Fact: Remains of chickpeas dating back 7,500 years have been discovered in the Middle East.
For every 100 grams of chickpeas, you get about 19 grams of protein. Compare that to 30 grams of protein per 100 grams of chicken breast, and you can see why chickpeas deserve their place on this list.

 

Aside from the protein, chickpeas offer a lot more benefits:
Loaded with fiber – Fiber improves digestive health, heart health, and prevents blood sugar spikes and crashes.
Rich in manganese – Manganese is needed both for your immune system and the healthy conversion of food to energy.
Provide iron – Iron helps your body produce more red blood cells, which carry oxygen and nutrients. It’s also necessary for pregnant, menstruating, and lactating women.
Contains saponins – Saponins are antioxidants that reduce your risk of breast cancer, minimize menopausal hot flashes, and protect against osteoporosis.

Definitely a good reason to have containers of hummus in your fridge at all times!

 SOURCES 
Resources: http://greatist.com/health/unexpected-sources-protein ,http://www.naturalfoodbenefits.com/display.asp?CAT=2&ID=86
http://hiit-blog.dailyhiit.com/hiit-diet/protein/sneaky-meat-free-proteins-3-chickpeas/