Foods that boost metabolism, and other diet tips from Woman’s World

I secretly have a large amount of affection for Woman’s World magazine. As a person who loves to stay on top of all the diet trends (even the crazy ones), I appreciate a magazine that somehow manages to tout a new, different miracle diet nearly every week.

Drop 20 in six weeks by boosting metabolism
The June 2 issue of the magazine is promoting The Hot Latin Diet, a book and diet plan by Dr. Manny Alvarez, who you might know from watching Fox News (admit it, you watch Fox News).

Perhaps saying the diet “has already helped women crash off up to 20 pounds in six weeks” isn’t the best way to get people to try the diet, crash diets not exactly being known for their safety or effectiveness in the long-term.

Nonetheless, the magazine says Dr. Manny’s Cuban-inspired weight loss plan is heavy on foods that will supercharge the metabolism, cutting hunger by 11 percent and speeding fat burning by 25 percent.

Key foods include beans and rice, naturally, as well as cinnamon, which is said to help stabilize blood sugar; chilies, which speed the metabolism and cut hunger; garlic, which seems to block fat and sugar absorption; tomatoes and avocado.

The diet also suggests eating seafood at lunch, which is where that 11 percent less hunger figure comes from. A study showed that people who ate fish at lunch cut their dinner portions by 11 percent. Researchers say that may be because of amino acids in the fish that trigger satiety hormones.

Readers who tried the diet lost up to 6.5 pounds in a week and loved the spicy, fun foods, which are perfect for summer, by the way, since spicy foods help you cool down.

Cutting cravings and getting the most from your veggies
It’s not just the cover story in Woman’s World, but often also other articles, tips and tidbits in its pages, that provide diet advice. In the same issue as the Hot Latin Diet there’s advice on cutting food cravings by distracting your mind, packing snacks to take to work and taking a catnap instead of grabbing an afternoon snack.

The magazine also suggests trying a healthier version of the food you’re craving, chewing sugar-free gum or eating something sour to cancel out a sweet craving.

And if you’re trying to trim your waistline, the magazine recommends getting more vitamin C, which is vital to the production of the amino acid L-caritine, which the body needs to burn fat.

But don’t chop those veggies too much. Research says chopping C-filled foods like broccoli and red bell peppers reduces levels of the vitamin. Eating veggies raw will also net you 25 percent more vitamin C than if you cook them.