No. However, there are high-calorie foods which, consumed too regularly and/or in excess, promote weight gain. Or foods that are too refined and therefore devoid of fibers (white bread, white pasta), which cause highs and lows in blood sugar (blood sugar levels) resulting in food cravings. Or even ingredients that are more easily stored than others by the body, such as syrup of fructose for example. Or finally foods unsuited to the needs of our body, capable of disrupting its regulatory mechanisms, such as sodas (with or without sugar). “There’s an inequality, too,” Dr. Nys notes: some people can eat a lot of fries without gaining weight, while only a few will seem to benefit others. The fry is ultimately not so much in question, it is the metabolism and individual calorie expenditure that are! Finally, the way you eat matters too. Swallowing whole paves the way to overweight: chew your food for a long time before swallowing it. This basic dietary hygiene reflex also allows you to take your time and eat less. Impossible to lose weight without chewing…
What about foods that make you lose weight?
No. For a food to make you lose weight, it would have to provide negative calories, which of course does not exist. Only water would come close since it contains zero calories, but it is not considered a food. However, foods very rich in fiber and/or protein, such as white beans or steak, have a high SI (satiety index): they are recommended because they are generally low in calories and/or because they help to eat less. Some super foods, such as agar-agar or konjac, form a gel in the stomach that traps some of the sugars and fats in the meal. And then there are some useful tips. For example, the more effective the saliva, the more it will break down the fat in the meal into tiny, easy-to-burn cells. To enhance its fat-breaking effectiveness, add a dash of lemon juice to your drinking water, your salad, your vegetables… or bite into a slice of lemon as a dessert. It makes you grimace, but it’s good!
