Fat burning/metabolism boosting foods

rkcampbell
rkcampbell Posts: 188 Member
edited December 1 in Health and Weight Loss
So I just got into a debate on a fitness page with a man who said grapefruit, lentils, etc. have metabolism boosting properties. He also claimed good calories vs. bad calories leading to nutrient absorption vs. fat storage. Then something about the "alkaline spectrum of the food chain." I have never read an article with any scientific evidence to back any of this. Am I wrong in this? Is there proof out there of any of this? I genuinely just want to be more educated on all of it.

Replies

  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    No such thing as a fat burning/metabolism booster food.
  • HippySkoppy
    HippySkoppy Posts: 725 Member
    Oh well done you for questioning the validity of the above diet Woo, it's always good to be skeptical of the "Miracle" food claims as well as the "Miracle" diets.
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    Nope!! No magical foods, drinks or pills to boost metabolism.
  • MissusMoon
    MissusMoon Posts: 1,900 Member
    This is generally woo.
  • rkcampbell
    rkcampbell Posts: 188 Member
    Thank you. I didn't want to be spouting false information.
  • MelaniaTrump
    MelaniaTrump Posts: 2,694 Member
    edited April 2016
    Can you give the link? I would love to see this conversation.
    Maybe he meant that a cup of lentils is better healthwise than a cup of fruit loops for energy.
  • Afura
    Afura Posts: 2,054 Member
    But I like froot loops. :frowning: Man I haven't had those in years actually.
    Fat boosting / metabolism boosting things sound great, but are woo meant to hype you up, and read the article (so they get money from ads) / buy a product.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,336 Member
    JanetYellen wrote: »
    Can you give the link? I would love to see this conversation.
    Maybe he meant that a cup of lentils is better healthwise than a cup of fruit loops for energy.

    That really depends on what you are looking for. A cup of Fruit Loops could be a quick carb source with fast absorbing sugars for someone on a long 3+ hour bike ride. I could not imagine eating a cup of lentils in the same situation. However, if I am looking for a filling meal that takes a while to digest, lentils are right up there. Healthwise it really depends on goals and the situation.
  • rkcampbell
    rkcampbell Posts: 188 Member
    It is a Facebook group so I can't link it. But when I said there are no foods that but fat any more than others. He disagreed. I asked if he had any studies to prove it. His response:

    "Try google and thermogenics but not with supplements. Natural foods. Grapefruit, lentils, hot peppers all have metabolism boosting effects. It all comes down to clean eating but at the day there are some foods that will help burn more than others and whether small studies or not, I'm grateful that I've found them as my weight loss goal was a daunting one at 250+ pounds to lose. Any edge to break a plateau and keep the momentum moving forward I will readily try and embrace if it. Seems to work for me. Additionally staying in the alkaline. Spectrum of e food chain will pay huge dividends."

    My response:
    "From every legitimate article (not health magazine) I have read the effect on thermogenesis is incredibly minimal. Like 10's of calories. There are lots of claims but very little in the way of peer reviewed studies. Grapefruit does have extra vitamin C, capsaicin (spicy foods) has anti inflammatory effects, green tea has caffeine (which does speed up the system a bit but not much). Each person has the way of losing that works for them but the scientific backing for these blanket claims is not there. It's whatever helps you stick to your calorie deficit."

    His response:
    "For those looking for immediate quantifiable results maybe, but "Not much" when spread over weeks and months can be something quantifiable and impactful. And just using the simple calorie deficit formula is misleading as there are good calories and bad calories. This that all things being equal lead to nutrient absorption and utilization as opposed to fat storage."
  • LBuehrle8
    LBuehrle8 Posts: 4,044 Member
    He's bought into all the woo out there unfortunately.
  • rkcampbell
    rkcampbell Posts: 188 Member
    That's what I thought. I just agreed to disagree. I am no no means an expert but have learned a few things over the last few years. Just made me second guess what I knew!!!!
  • evildeadedd
    evildeadedd Posts: 108 Member
    edited April 2016
    I think it's part of human nature. The good/bad calorie argument is a way to make excuses for your self, I.e. I am fat because pizza is bad for you, not because I eat a whole large. We live in a microwave society, we want results in weeks not months. The more outlandish the claim the more desperate people will cling to it. "I can't lose weight only counting calories". They blame to system, and ignore the fact that they were inaccurate in their tracking, anything to push the blame and responsibility elsewhere. So in come the magic foods/pills/shakes. They eat a 100 calorie grapefruit instead of their 700 calorie bacon and eggs, and think the grapefruit is magic.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,336 Member
    Even while they may cause some small increase, what happens is your body adapts to that stimulation quite quickly. Take hot pepper for example, they do cause a slight increase by causing stress from the irritation that the capsaicin, but you adapt. Even the effect in your mouth changes over time. A hot pepper may seem extremely hot the first time you eat it, but if you eat it regularly, it does not cause the same discomfort because you have adapted to deal with it. The same thing happens with all their so called metabolism boosting foods. Our bodies are very good at regulating metabolism, and that means some rather powerful things are needed to speed it up and food will not fall into that category.
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