Reduce or get rid of wheat in your diet. One of the most common food allergens and a major cause of "false fat" in many women is consuming wheat. Wheat contains a protein called gluten, which is difficult to break down, absorb and assimilate, and which can trigger fatigue, depression, bloating and intestinal gas. Try substituting breads made with rice, millet, amaranth, quinoa, or soy and oat; crackers made with rice or potatoes; pasta made with rice, quinoa, or buckwheat; and cookies made with rice, oat or millet flour. There are plenty of delicious options in your local health food store or the healthy aisle of your supermarket.

Neutralize your appetite. Did you know that some essential fats help you feel full and even reduce your appetite? Fiber and flaxseed contain omega-3 fatty acids and are an excellent source of fiber, plus, may also help your skin. Flaxseed can be used in a variety of ways, but must be milled or ground to release the nutrients. Try using four to six tablespoons of flaxseed per day either alone or sprinkled over food. Milled flax also tastes great in hot or cold cereal, on salads, pasta, or in shakes.

Fat and fiber play a crucial role in weight loss because these nutrients provide more calories than protein and carbohydrates, are used more slowly for energy, and help to satisfy appetite. Consume adequate amounts of good fat (omega-3 and –6 essential fatty acids) while dieting. A moderate fat diet (25%-35% of calories from fat) is effective in losing weight. In addition to their appetite-suppressing abilities, fats may also help promote normal brain function, and improve mood and emotional state, a big plus while losing weight.

Fiber is another important part of weight loss. It increases bulk and helps reduce appetite, producing feelings of being full. By slowing the release of carbohydrates into the bloodstream, fiber also helps keep energy levels consistent and high. Plus, sufficient fiber helps support good colon function and helps to eliminate wastes and excess fluids that are released during weight loss.

Shift into high gear. You’ve flushed out the false fats, now it’s time to rev up your metabolism, and start burning fat and calories more efficiently. You may be surprised to learn that along with its antioxidant properties, green tea can help you burn calories as well. Green tea contains special chemicals called catechins that may protect a brain chemical related to metabolism. The higher your levels of this brain chemical, the greater your metabolism and the faster you burn calories. One cup of brewed green tea contains about 100 mg of catechins. To reap the full benefit of green tea, you’ll need to consume at least three eight-ounce cups daily (providing roughly 240-320 mg of catechins).

If you prefer not to drink the tea, you can also take: (1) 300-400 mg daily of green tea extract. Be sure the product is standardized to 80 percent catechins and at least 50 percent epigallocatechin (EGCG). However, this extract is not always caffeine-free, so check the label. (2) 100 mg of green tea catechins three times daily.

Simply doing this one thing can help to fuel up your metabolism each day or try one of the other natural, fat-burning nutrients that may help with weight loss. There are also areas of weight loss that connect with the thyroid and its’ functioning. This will be covered in another article soon.