Every now and then, I'll stumble across a new diet that is making the rounds in the media. Today, I discovered one called Sensa and it was quite interesting to me because unlike most diets, you manage your appetite by sprinkling the food you eat with Sensa. According to the web site, Sensa works by triggering your senses and overcoming the urge to overeat.
I can see why many people would jump at this product because you are not restricted with any of the foods that you eat. You simply sprinkle on the Sensa and let it go to work, keeping you from overeating.
I'm not sure what exactly is in Sensa but it claims to be sugar-free, calorie-free, gluten-free, and contains no MSG. However, I don't know how well this would last in the long term. Is this something that dieters would become dependent on so they can eat whatever they crave?
I would think changing your lifestyle by eating clean would help prevent overeating because you are eating more filling foods that are good for you. What do you think? Have you heard of Sensa or ever tried it yourself?
One of the big enemies of those who follow a clean eating lifestyle is sugar. Sugar is a hard habit to break and luckily there are several sugar substitutes on the market. However, if you don't like sugar substitutes that are created in a lab, then you may opt for natural substitutes like stevia or agave nectar
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I have only recently heard of agave nectar myself as I was researching sugar substitutes after coming across the different ones available in the sugar aisle of the supermarket. I was wondering what other natural substitutes were available besides stevia
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The Facts About Agave Nectar
Agave nectar (also called agave syrup) is derived from the agave plant. If you are not familiar with the agave plant, it is also used to make tequila (Blue Agave). The syrup is commercially produced in Mexico. It is much sweeter than honey but less viscous.
It is popular for use as a sugar substitute and has a low glycemic index, but I am not sure how safe it is for diabetics. It is usually used as replacement for honey in recipes and is about 40% sweeter than sugar.
Overall, it seems to be a good natural sugar substitute but it's always good to do your own research. Have you tried agave nectar?
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agave_nectar
Most clean eaters may say that they can't give up their coffee. Coffee itself is low in calories just like tea. It's when you add creamer and sugar that make the fat and calorie content go up. Otherwise, both are "clean eating" beverages and can be had on a daily basis. The debate over the good and bad of coffee has been ongoing. One day you hear that it does something detrimental to your health and the next it does something to boost your health. Below are some of the benefits and risks of coffee consumption:
Coffee Health Benefits
Keep in mind that these coffee health benefits are not proven, but only "appear" to have helped in the following ways.
- Reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease
- Reduced risk of Parkinson's disease
- Reduced risk of breast cancer
- Reduced risk of heart disease
- Reduced risk of diabetes
- May help fight against certain types of cancer
Coffee Risks
- Can lead to iron deficiency
- May raise cholesterol levels (in some)
- Can impair calcium absorption
- Caffeine risks (heartburn, high blood pressure, sleeplessness, etc.)
Personally, I enjoy coffee both for the jolt it provides and the flavor. I drink about 1 - 2 cups per day. How about you? Do you love your coffee or have you given it up?
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee#Health_and_pharmacology
http://men.webmd.com/features/coffee-new-health-food
