There is a new method for slimming down out there, and it doesn’t involve an unusual diet. It’s actually based on an old concept: portion control.
North Americans are blessed with an abundance of fairly inexpensive food year-round. Go to the grocery store on any given day and you can pretty much get whatever you need (or think you need) to stock your kitchen shelves and your fridge.
This abundance is reflected in the way we eat. Meal portions are large. All-you-can-eat buffets encourage us to do just that — eat until we can’t fit one more mouthful in our stomachs. And ads bombard us with pictures of snack foods, reminding us that we can enjoy foods between meals, too.
Recently, nutritionists have started to question the impact this all-you-can-eat attitude is having on our health. Many diabetics, for example, are also obese. Medical experts agree that being overweight increases your chances of getting diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
In an effort to find a practical solution for America’s increasing obesity problem, the “portion control dinner plate” was invented — or reinvented, depending on how you look at it!
A portion control dinner plate is divided into pie-shaped sections and tells you how much protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables, for example, should make up each meal.
Recently, researchers tested the effectiveness of the portion control dinner plate on 130 obese patients with type 2 diabetes.
They were divided into two groups. The first group was given portion control plates that had clearly marked sections for carbs, proteins, cheese, and vegetables.
The second group was given the usual dietary counseling. The study lasted for six months.
The researchers discovered that 16.9% of the patients who used the portion control plates achieved a least a 5% weight loss. Only 4.6% of the control group managed a 5% reduction in weight.
In total, 26.2% of the portion control group was able to reduce the amount of diabetic medication needed, compared to only 10.8% of the control group.
Portion control plates can be a valuable tool in shedding a few pounds. A portion control plate can visually remind you how much to eat, and to eat from the different food groups.
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Tags: foods for diabetics, functional foods
