When trying to get rid of visceral fat, understanding the energy density of each food type may help to speed up the fat burning process. What is an energy reduced diet and what foods should be consumed and what should be avoided?
What to eat and what to avoid
Fruits and vegetables generally have high water and fibre content, which provide volume and weight but not calories, said the Mayo Clinic.
The site continued: “That’s why they’re low-energy-dense foods with grapefruit as an example being about 90 percent water.
“Half a grapefruit has just 37 calories and raw, fresh carrots are about 88 percent water.
“High-fibre foods not only provide volume but also take longer to digest, making you feel full longer on fewer calories.
“Vegetables, fruits and whole grains all contain fibre with popcorn being a good example of a high-volume, low-calorie whole grain.
“Fat on the other hand is high in energy density.
“One pat of butter, for example, contains almost the same number of calories as two cups of raw broccoli.
“Foods that contain fat naturally, such as dairy products and various meats, or foods with added fats are higher in calories than are their leaner or lower fat counterparts.”
DON’T MISS
Vitamin B12 deficiecency: Two changes in your face [INSIGHT]
How to spot a narcissist: Key signs [TIPS]
Dr Chris issues warning about showering [ADVICE]
In a study published in the National Library of Health, factors associated with visceral fat loss was further investigated.
The study noted: “Visceral adipose tissue is more metabolically active than other fat depots and is more closely associated with obesity-related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, than indicators of obesity, such as body mass index.
“Across various strategies to promote weight loss, including energy-reduced diet and exercise, variable effects on VAT compared to loss of total body fat have been reported.
“To examine the effect of a behavioural weight loss intervention using portion-controlled pre-packaged entrées on VAT, we examined data and measurements from overweight/obese men and women who were assigned to a weight loss intervention and prescribed a reduced-energy diet in a randomized clinical trial.”
The results showed a reduced-energy intake facilitated by prescribing portion-controlled pre-packaged entrées, in addition to increased physical activity, resulted in greater loss of VAT, as well as total fat and percent fat over the 3-month intensive behavioural weight loss intervention.
Foods with a lower energy density provide fewer calories per gram than foods with a higher energy density meaning for the same number of calories, a person can consume a larger portion of a food lower in energy density than a food higher in energy density.
Energy density values are influenced by the composition of foods with water being the lowest and fibre.
Fibre also has a relatively low energy density (1.5–2.5 kcal/g) and helps lower energy density.
When striving for visceral fat loss, the goal is to eat low-energy-dense foods.
That is, a person should eat a greater volume of food that’s lower in calories. This helps one to feel fuller on fewer calories.
