Obesity is becoming a global issue. Research has demonstrated for many years direct and some indirect links between obesity and many chronic diseases including diabetes, heart disease and cancer and arthritis.
Our bodies have some incredible systems in place that have served us for thousands of years. We have around 75 trillion cells working in cooperation with each other, like a smooth-running computer where everything is synchronized – when we feed it with the right foods, keep the stress levels low and stay active.
I always thought greens provided fibre but that is not necessarily true for those large amounts of fibre our Hunter-Gatherer body systems need. What I didn’t know about was a compound found only in green plants called THYLAKOIDS. Because chlorophyll only comes from plants!
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:
- Green plant cells contain membrane with sac-like structures
- These resist our digestive enzymes – even when chewing
- They bind to lipase, which digests fat
- This means that fat absorption is delayed, because it can’t be digested easily
So what does this mean?
That delayed action of fat absorption sends a signal to the brain that you are FULL (satiety factor) – which causes a drop in the hunger hormone ghrelin. This is our natural satiety mechanism our body knows well. That’s a Win-Win!
So what greens should you add?
Focus on dark leafy greens like collards (make great bread/bun substitutes), kale (especially Lacinato), arugula, and mizuna to mention a few.
Some greens like spinach, beet greens and chard are high in oxalates that in SOME people can cause kidney stones (that’s a very small population) – but watch out for this just in case.
Steam your greens lightly for about 15-30 seconds – this keeps the greens bright and in the perfect “crunch zone”!
One more thing: drinking hibiscus tea has been found to help in weight loss (traditionally used in Mexico for treatment of obesity). Recent studies have shown that 1 1/2cup hibiscus tea + lemon verbena tea (1/4 cup) once a day for 2 months resulted in weight loss over several months. Hibiscus tea is also high in Manganese. BE AWARE – any sour food or beverage can affect our tooth enamel so rinse your mouth with water/don’t brush your teeth for an hour after having the tea. Referenced from Dr. Michael Greger’s book, How Not to Diet.
