There are many more breakfast choices available today than there were 20 or 30 years ago but cereals are still one of the favorite choices. Cereals are made up mostly of rice, wheat and corn and date way back in our civilization. Their calories and nutrients are used throughout the world. If you add a little fresh fruit and milk to your cereal you almost have the entire range of required nutrients. You would only need to add some protein. The question is though; can cereals help you lose Fat?
If you watch cereal commercials or walk down the cereal aisle of your food store you will see that not only can you lose Fat, but you can also lower your cholesterol and prevent heart disease (according to the cereal makers). Some of them also claim to help you lose a specific amount of Fat like 10 lbs. You will also see the cute little healthy heart on some of the cereals, to let you know that their cereal is good for your heart.
So can cereals help you lose Fat? The answer to the question is yes but it is not a slam dunk yes.
If you look closely at some of the cereal maker’s claims regarding losing Fat and getting a healthy heart you will find that there are some other steps you should take.
For one thing you are asked to eat their cereal as a replacement for one or perhaps two of your meals. You may also see that you should eat the cereal with reduced fat or fat free milk. You can also add some fresh fruit according to some.
The second thing you should do is focus on portion control at mealtimes. This has very little to do with cereal helping you lose Fat but it has obvious benefits.
The third thing you should do is add more physical activities into your day. Again, can cereals help you lose Fat if you exercise more?
This is sound advice. Replacing a meal with a cereal serving will most likely reduce your calorie intake. Controlling how much you eat and doing some exercise is a proven method to help you lose Fat.
So can cereals help you lose Fat? When combined with eating less and exercising the chances are you will lose Fat. Losing Fat will also help lower your cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease. Of course you should consult your physician before starting any diet or exercise program and get periodic check ups.
The creative advertising of cereals as Fat loss products is in some ways a method to increase sales. There is constant competition in the cereal industry for market share. So advertising that cereals can help you lose Fat is more visible today than ever before.
Now don’t get me wrong. There are some cereals which are better for you than others. There are cereals higher in fiber, whole grains and lower in sugar content. However, the healthy nutrients are generally more beneficial when they are unprocessed and are good carbs. Once the outer layer of the grain has been removed, the starch calories come from fewer nutrients and have been converted to rapidly absorbable bad carbs. Processing cereal grains into flakes, circles and puffs often makes the starches even less nutritious.
Breakfast cereals are supposed to be good for you most are so thoroughly processed and filled with sugar they are not as healthy as advertised. The relatively unprocessed ones still are good for you. It’s hard to imagine how most cereals can help you lose Fat.
So what are the best cereals to help you lose Fat? Your best bets will be cereals with a short ingredient list, little or no sugar added and lots of fibers.
Eating the right cereals, combined with eating less and exercising more should result in you losing Fat.
So can cereals help you lose Fat? In my opinion the answer is yes! Do a little research on the brands and find the cereal that has the right mix of calories, fiber and sugar for your nutritional needs.
