Here’s another tip for revving up your sluggish metabolism:  Make sure you are getting your B vitamins. According to the American Dietetic foundation, several of the B vitamins can give your natural fat-burning powers a boost.

Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin is a definite fighter on your side of the battle of the bulge.  It aids in the process of converting fat to energy, and you want your body to be busy burning the fat, not storing it up for a rainy day.  You can find B2 in leafy green vegetables (like spinach), dairy products, eggs, salmon and chicken.  You can also find it in enriched grain products — but I wouldn’t go there.  The grain products turn into sugar quickly in the bloodstream, which causes a big insulin dump, which instructs your body to store up the fat.  Counter-productive.  Besides, “enriched” means that they have been stripped of the natural vitamins during processing and have had other, often synthetic, vitamins added in.  Better to stick with the naturally occurring vitamins.

Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, helps the body break down fats, too. You can find B6 in nuts, beans, bananas, fish, and chicken.

Vitamin B12 (a.k.a. cobalamin) binds to proteins so that your body can convert them into energy.  Foods that have B12 include eggs, dairy products, salmon, and turkey.

Hmm.  Did you notice that this list could be taken straight from the green-for-go low glycemic list?  If you are eating a low glycemic diet, you will be getting B vitamins which will help speed up your fat burning.

Another good reason for sticking with the healthy eating plan!

Eating to live and living for Christ,

Susan Jordan Brown

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