It sounds too good to be true–a weight loss aid that could stop hunger and make you thin too.
But according to researchers from Lund University in Sweden, it’s now a reality.
According to their research, published in the health journal Appetite, they’ve uncovered a new weight loss aid extracted from spinach–an extract that can make people feel less hungry and nearly double weight loss.
Better yet, it’s all natural.
“Our analyses show that having a drink containing thylakoids before breakfast reduces cravings and keeps you feeling more satisfied all day,” says Charlotte Erlanson-Albertsson, a Lund University Professor of Medicine and Physiological Chemistry. “The thylakoids extend digestion, producing a feeling of satiety. This means that we are able to stick to the diet we are meant for without snacks and unnecessary foods like sweets, crisps and such.”
Working with a group of 38 overweight women, Erlanson-Albertsson, along with other researchers, wanted to test out a new extract taken from spinach, a common leafy vegetable. To do so, she split up the group and had them consume one of the following during breakfast: A drink containing 5 grams of spinach or a placebo. As well as being instructed to eat a balanced diet, Erlanson-Albertsson had them follow the same breakfast pattern for the next three months. When the study ended, they looked at how many of them lost weight–and who self-reported lower levels of hunger.
Luckily, the spinach extract was twice as effective at helping people lose weight.
“In the study, the control group lost an average of 3.5 kg while the group that was given thylakoids lost 5 kg,” says Erlanson-Albertsson. “The thylakoid group also found that it was easier to stick to three meals a day–and they did not experience any cravings.”
On average, those who consumed the spinach beverage lost 43 percent more weight than those who were on placebo. But that wasn’t the best part–researchers also determined it reduced their hunger by a whopping 95 percent.
Clearly, if you want to lose weight, taking a spinach extract is the way to go.
“It is about making use of the time it takes to digest our food,” says Erlanson-Albertsson. “There is nothing wrong with our digestive system, but it doesn’t work well with the modern ‘pre-chewed’ food.”
What You Should Do
While getting your hands on a spinach extract isn’t likely to happen soon, you too can reap the benefits by simply juicing or pureeing spinach into your favorite beverage at breakfast. Make sure to add at least 5 grams of spinach, however–the amount the participants consumed during the study.
Readers: Would you try this to lose weight? What other products do you use to decrease your appetite?
Sources:
Spinach Extracts Helps People Lose Weight, Have Smaller Appetite – ScienceDaily.com
Extract Taken From Spinach Minimizes Appetite and Doubles Weight Loss – ScienceDaily.com
Want to Lose Weight? Take a Spinach Extract at Breakfast to Double Weight Loss – LundUniversity.lu.se
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