New research reveals that the secret to slimming can be more complex than general advice, "Eat less and exercise more." The key may be an enzyme, the protein kinase activated by AMP, found in blueberries, grapefruits, green tea and cayenne pepper. This enzyme effectively uses the body's sugar and accelerates metabolism, which helps in weight loss.
The AMPK enzyme is generally activated by exercise and helps the muscles to store energy from glucose and fat. But it can also be triggered by foods. The secret to activating AMPK's power is to include polyphenols, nootkatone and capsaicin in your diet.
1 Polyphenols are antioxidants found in tea, coffee, vegetables and chocolates. A very potent polyphenol that has been shown to activate the AMPK enzyme is resveratrol and is found in red grape and bilberry peel. Resveratrol can help reduce fat cell growth and can reduce adipose tissue in mice on a high-fat diet.
2 Nootkatone, an ingredient found in grapefruit, has been shown to significantly increase AMPK activity, increase calorie burning, and reduce the accumulation of stomach fat in mice.
3 Capsaicin, found in cayenne pepper, can increase the number of calories burned after a meal. A study published in the British Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that when the subjects studied consumed capsaicin to maintain weight, fat degradation had increased. Capsaicin can also stimulate AMPK production, further increasing lipolysis.
from : www.ego.gr
