As you know, refined carbohydrates cause insulin to be secreted into the blood and when insulin is high then fat loss is inhibited. This does not mean that we are the sworn enemy of carbohydrates, only excessively refined carbohydrates like bread, pasta, cake, candy and cereals.
Wait a minute…did I just say cereals? Isn’t this article titled “What Cereal is Best for Fat Loss?”
Both Blythe and I believe that carbohydrates are an important part of a healthy diet. When the body is in balance, it loves to burn carbohydrates because they are a very clean burning fuel. The problems arise when two factors happen:
- When the carbohydrate intake exceeds the body’s ability to utilize it for energy.
- When the carbohydrates absorb too quickly thus resulting in high insulin levels.
Oatmeal is a wonderful cereal for people who are looking to lose fat because it absorbs slowly (especially steel cut oats) and is very high fiber. This, however, is not my choice for the best cereal for fat loss award. One-quarter cup of oatmeal contains approximately 150 calories, 27 grams of carbohydrates and 4 grams of fiber. To burn that off, the average person would have to walk for 42 minutes, jog for 17 minutes, swim for 12 minutes or cycle for 17 minutes.
So which cereal takes the prize for “Best Cereal for Fat Loss”?
A cereal that I recently discovered on the shelves of Trader Joe’s called “Trader Joe’s High Fiber Cereal” wins the prize. Two-thirds cup of this cereal contains 80 calories and a whopping 9 grams of fiber! That means that you would be able to burn off a single serving by walking for 22 minutes, jogging for 9 minutes, swimming for 6 minutes or cycling for 9 minutes. This cereal is tastier than oatmeal, not to mention quicker to make.
Some of you may be wondering about how this cereal compares to Fiber One, a cereal on the market that contains just 60 calories and 14 grams of fiber. The reason that I chose the Trader Joe’s High Fiber Cereal over the Fiber One is because The Trader Joe’s formula appears to have been made in a kitchen while Fiber One appears to have been made in a laboratory. The Trader Joe’s formula is made with absolutely NO artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors or additives. The ingredient list is short and made up entirely of whole grains. The Fiber One contains corn oil, aspartame (Nutrasweet), colorings and a good bit of the fiber is actually fortified into the cereal from guar gum and cellulose.