Corn flakes for weight loss: is it possible to lose weight with them?

Weight loss products are very popular among weight watchers. Cereal flakes are used very often for weight loss and are a main component of many diets. This product is not only very economical and easy to prepare, but very useful. Thanks to a special production technology, they retain all the beneficial properties of the main component - the cereal from which they are made.

Depending on the main ingredient and the method of their preparation, flakes have different properties and have different effects. They are used for preparing breakfasts and for baby food, but they have gained the greatest popularity in the fight against extra pounds. Which cereals are more effective for weight loss? How to choose them correctly in the store and prepare them?

What are corn flakes made from?

Before we figure out what is more harmful or beneficial in corn flakes, let's find out how they are made. Of course, the name speaks for itself and corn flakes are prepared. First, the grains are thoroughly cleaned and crushed, supplemented with the necessary additives, then everything is heated with steam and dried. Finally, the mixture of ground corn kernels and additives is roasted. Now, with the addition of water, sugar and salt, those same corn flakes are made.

At first glance, it seems that the composition is quite acceptable for eating corn flakes while losing weight. The problem is this: increasingly, cereal manufacturers allow themselves to add corn flour, starch and various sweet syrups at the manufacturing stage, not to mention various chemical substitutes, and these are the ingredients that make corn flakes harmful in terms of weight loss.

When are cereals acceptable and prohibited when losing weight?

When can you eat corn flakes?

If your goal is to lose a few extra pounds, then corn flakes can be eaten for breakfast on rare occasions, but before you buy them, carefully read the ingredients. Perhaps your favorite cereal contains all the ingredients that will prevent you from losing weight. If you have already found those very natural corn flakes, then try to eat them not just with milk, but with Greek yogurt. It's even better if you mix the flakes in equal parts with bran.

If, in addition to dieting, you do fitness or go to the gym, then 1 hour before class, without much harm to your figure, you can have a snack of corn flakes or within 15 minutes after, to restore strength after a strength or very intense workout.

When is corn flakes prohibited?

If the excess is more than 10 kg, then it is logical to assume that corn flakes are under no circumstances acceptable. To lose a sufficiently large amount of excess weight, you need to adhere to a very strict diet that does not allow sweets and other high-calorie foods, which cornflakes certainly include. And, of course, playing sports is simply necessary to not only lose weight, but also to stay in good shape, training muscles and preventing the skin from becoming flabby and sagging as you lose pounds.

Corn flakes: a light and nutritious dietary product that helps you lose weight without risk to your health

Corn flake diet

We have already found out that if you are slightly overweight and especially if you are exercising, you can eat corn flakes. The world knows many diets, which, surprisingly to nutritionists, can consist of chocolate and coffee and even allow the consumption of a small amount of wine. To be honest, diets of this kind are more likely to be some kind of marketing ploy or a way to force people to lose weight using the food that we are used to eating. Of course, such diets can bear fruit if the number of calories burned per day significantly exceeds the number of calories eaten.

A diet based on corn flakes is no exception. Its calorie content is very low - about 1000 kcal, so it will be quite a difficult test to withstand it. The duration of the diet is 7 days, but if it becomes really difficult, you can reduce it to 5 or even 3 days. The menu of the first and second days alternates, and the last day of the diet must be done as a fasting day. On such a diet you can lose from 2 to 4 kg of weight.

Day 1

On the first day, the menu will be quite simple both in preparation and in taste.

Breakfast on the first day

For breakfast you should eat:

Corn flakes – 60 grams;
Greek yogurt or low-fat kefir – 120 grams.

Lunch on the first day

For a snack after 1.5-2 hours, a large orange weighing 200-250 grams is recommended. If you don’t have an orange, you can replace it with grapefruit, which will be even better for breaking down fat.

Lunch on the first day

Lunch includes:

Corn flakes – 90 grams;
Greek yogurt or skim milk – 100 grams.

Dinner on the first day

Dinner will not be varied, since it is completely similar to breakfast; in the evening, only cereals doused with Greek yogurt or low-fat kefir are served.

Day 2

On the second day, the cereal should be filled not with dairy products, but with juices.

Breakfast on the second day

On the second day, breakfast will consist of the following products:

Corn flakes – 60 grams;
Orange juice – 120 grams;

Basic oatmeal recipe

Ingredients for 1 serving

4 tablespoons oatmeal (about 50 grams)
250 ml (vegetable) milk
1 teaspoon honey, xylitol, or other sweetener of your choice

Here's how to make it: Place the oats and milk in a small saucepan and simmer - stirring occasionally - for a few minutes until creamy. Depending on your preference, sweeten with honey and you're done. It's up to you whether you enjoy your porridge with fruit or nuts.

Add spices such as vanilla or cinnamon to the porridge. A handful of fresh fruit also provides natural sweetness while adding vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Delicious oatmeal

I. Toast the cereal This gives your oatmeal a wonderful, nutty flavor and then gives your cereal more flavor. Much more!

II. Add the correct amount of liquid The old rule of thumb: 1/2 cup oatmeal to 1.5 cups liquid (for two servings) still works best. For example, whether you use just water or mix a cup of water and half a cup of plant-based milk is up to you. And for savory variations, broth, miso, soy sauce, etc. are also used. Everything is delicious!

III. Stir, stir and stir The most important thing when preparing porridge is that the oatmeal acquires the correct, soft and creamy consistency. And this only happens if you stir it vigorously. The Scots, of course, use a special spoon for mixing porridge, a “spurtle”. An upside-down, regular wooden spoon also does the trick. The shape of the rod prevents clumping when stirring. Yes!

IV. Add Toppings You can of course be as creative as you like here, there are of course countless options to enhance your oatmeal.

For example,

Grated apple, cinnamon and toasted pumpkin seeds
Plum compote and roasted hazelnuts
Depending on the season, fresh berries or figs, coconut yogurt and maple syrup
Fried bananas with cinnamon and cashews
Boiled apples with cardamom and roasted walnuts

Every diet requires discipline. You can only lose weight with the oatmeal diet if you consume fewer calories per day than you expend. However, since oats are a great hunger-quencher due to their high fiber and high protein content, you will eat less than usual. You should always drink enough while on a diet. Water and fruit and herbal teas without sugar are preferable to juices and soft drinks. It is also important to combine diets with sufficient exercise and consider long-term dietary changes.

Nutritious oat and corn flakes for weight loss

Oatmeal. Oat flakes contain a sufficient amount of carbohydrates, which provides a large amount of energy to a person. These carbohydrates are complex, thanks to which a person does not feel hungry for a long time. In addition, complex carbohydrates do not lead to the production of insulin in the blood. Such carbohydrates fill a person with energy for the whole day. In addition to carbohydrates, oatmeal contains a large amount of fiber, which cleanses the body. Fiber is not digested in the stomach and perfectly removes all unnecessary “dirt” from the body. It is recommended to consume such flakes for people who often experience flatulence. Product contains:

It is good to add dried apricots, prunes, raisins, candied fruits, and nuts to the product. But do not forget that these supplements are high in calories. You can add berries and fruits to brewed cereal. A classic of the genre for weight loss: eat cereal 2 times a day, and in the evening, eat, for example, a vegetable salad, boiled meat or poultry. It is possible to carry out such a diet for no more than 2 weeks, and no more than once every six months. You can simply eat an oat product in your morning meal and then you won’t feel hungry all day. But in this case, it is important that during lunch and evening meals the food is low in calories.

Cornflakes. These flakes are made from flour made from corn. This type of flakes contains minerals necessary for the body. Corn flakes contain:

In addition to useful substances, these flakes are rich in fiber. For your diet, it is better to choose a sugar-free product. These cereals are good as a snack. To prepare a nutritious dish, you can pour them with milk.

Product benefits

Corn flakes contain substances that are beneficial to health and provide energy. This product is most useful for brain activity and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Benefits of corn flakes for the gastrointestinal tract:

Fiber and fiber stimulate digestive processes and intestinal function. Eating cereal is an excellent prevention of enterocolitis and constipation.
Pectins have an antitumor effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
Cereals are a good snack for those who suffer from appetite disorders. They stimulate the appetite, provide instant satiety, which is quickly replaced by a feeling of hunger.
Corn flakes are not a dietary product, but are suitable for those on a strict diet.

Benefits for brain activity:

Tryptophan is a substance that stimulates the synthesis of serotonin, a hormone responsible for good mood and positive emotions.
Glutamic acid improves memory, mental activity, and accelerates metabolic processes.
Starch strengthens nerve cells, increases intelligence, strengthens the nervous system, and improves short-term memory.

Buckwheat and rye flakes for weight loss

Buckwheat flakes. These flakes are made from high quality raw materials; no unnecessary components are added to them. After processing, the result is fluffy flakes that can be consumed with milk or kefir. They also make excellent casseroles and porridges. For a diet, the option with fermented milk products is perfect. The composition includes the following elements:

B vitamins;
magnesium;
iron;
amino acids.

Dietary food including buckwheat flakes cannot last more than 14 days and such a mono-diet can be repeated no more than once every six months. You can eat cereals and porridges in any quantity, but only if granulated sugar and salt are not added to the dish. But all other foods should be excluded. In a couple of weeks of this diet you can lose up to 13 kg. Of course, if you really want to, you can add candied fruits, raisins, nuts and dried apricots to buckwheat flakes, but then the result will be different.

Rye flakes. This type of cereal contains a huge amount of fiber. Includes:

nucleic acid;
vitamin B;
phosphorus;
manganese;
magnesium;
zinc;
calcium;
iron;
anti-cancer substances.

This product is perfect for morning and evening meals. The flakes can be topped with low-fat yoghurts, fermented milk products and milk. You can add nuts and dried fruits. This product is perfect for diets, and is perfect in combination with low-calorie dishes, giving a great effect in the process of weight loss.

How to choose?

For nutrition, you need to choose only good quality products. When choosing cereal for weight loss, you should pay attention to:

Compound. The packaging must contain information about all the components included in the product. The best are considered natural cereal flakes that do not contain dyes, sweeteners or other food additives.
Date of manufacture. There must be a marking with the dates of manufacture and expiration date. If the marking is missing or the deadline has expired, it is advisable to refuse the purchase.
Appearance. The flakes must be intact, without obvious signs of damage. There should be no debris or dust at the bottom of the package - this means that it may have been stored incorrectly. The color and smell should also be fresh. If you smell a slightly musty odor and the flakes taste bitter, this means that it is undesirable to eat them.

Products retain their beneficial properties longest in sealed, non-transparent packaging. Paper boxes absorb moisture and affect the quality of the contents.

Transparent plastic bags in which cereals and grains are stored allow light to pass through, causing the grains to lose their beneficial properties.

Healthy “Fitness” cereal for weight loss

Today, few people have not seen “Fitness” cereals on supermarket shelves, which promise weight loss in fourteen days. This product is presented in the form of a dry breakfast, specially designed for people who are used to taking care of their body and keeping it in perfect shape. In two weeks, if you follow a special diet, you can actually lose up to 4 kg, and in the area of the waist, thighs and buttocks the volume can decrease by up to 3 cm. The effect of the product was confirmed by academicians of the Institute of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. But simply eating “Fitness” cereal will not give a positive result. The important thing is to eat a balanced diet. The cereal diet looks like this:

What are corn flakes

A popular product in commercials for healthy breakfasts and diet foods, it is the result of processing corn grains under certain production conditions. The corn is peeled from the rough shell, and the resulting grain is boiled in sweet syrup to a certain state. The boiled mass is flattened and sent for frying at high temperature. The final step in making corn flakes is coating them with icing. In some cases, corn flakes are packaged without coating if a product with less calories is intended to be sold.

The main composition of corn flakes is starch, which gives them a high calorie content. There are up to 335 kcal per 100 grams of corn grits; if you consider that during the production of flakes various flavors and sweeteners are added, the calorie content may be higher. When using dietary supplements, do not forget about the calorie content of the liquid (juice, milk, yogurt, kefir) with which the flakes are poured.

This product also has a high glycemic index (up to 75 units), which indicates rapid absorption of the flakes, but not long-term saturation. Hunger will come quickly, which is inappropriate when trying to lose weight.

Corn flakes contain 75 g carbohydrates, 8.3 g protein, 1.2 g fat. A high percentage of carbohydrates does not contribute to weight loss if you abuse corn flakes. When including corn flakes in the menu, you need to take this indicator into account and add physical activity if the portion exceeds the daily calorie requirement.

Corn is a product with a high allergic factor. This cereal is not recommended for use in making porridge in children under 3 years of age if there is a predisposition to allergies.

What are the disadvantages and harms of the product

According to research conducted by British experts, it turned out that corn flakes have quite a few disadvantages.

The biggest and main disadvantage is that it is a high-carbohydrate product (75 g of carbohydrates per 100 g of flakes). It is made from the highest grades of corn flour, i.e., before grinding, the corn grains are completely cleared of the shell and germs, leaving almost only carbohydrates.
When making corn flakes, a lot of sugar is added to the flour, and then the finished product is coated with a sweet glaze. As a result, 100 g of product may contain 40 g of sugar (8 tsp).
The technology for preparing corn flakes involves frying them. Consequently, the finished product contains trans fats, which, when ingested, displace beneficial fatty acids from cell membranes. As a result, metabolic processes in cells are disrupted, and this can lead to various pathologies.
When making corn flakes, manufacturers often use artificial flavors, flavorings, preservatives and other chemical components, which does not have the best effect on health.
The product has a high calorie content - 325.3 kcal. This means that with its uncontrolled use there is a risk of gaining excess weight.

This is interesting. Scientists conducted observations of children aged 5 to 10 years who ate corn flakes for breakfast every day. After a year of eating this way, the entire group developed the problem of obesity.

Positive qualities of corn flakes for the body

But the product also has benefits for the body. Corn grain contains the following vitamins and microelements:

Plant fiber;
Iron of plant origin;
Zinc;
Calcium;
Magnesium;
Vitamins from groups A, E, PP, B.

In the processed form (flakes), the amount of the listed components is reduced due to heat treatment.

In addition to the listed components, the corn product contains amino acids that improve the digestion process, which is important in a diet for removing waste, toxins, preventing constipation and other congestion in the intestines.

Negative properties of corn flakes

Despite the large list of positive qualities of the corn product, flakes also have “pitfalls” that do not allow adding corn flakes to a weight loss system. This is relevant for people diagnosed with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, because corn has a high glycemic index and carbohydrate content.

Allergic manifestations for people with symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis and other pathologies also make one think about the advisability of including the product in the menu if they want to lose excess weight.

Before choosing a new-fangled diet based on corn flakes, you should think about the presence/absence of contraindications so that the diet does not cause additional weight gain.

Contraindications for use

Chronic caries, because high sugar content destroys tooth enamel.
Allergic reactions because corn flakes contain many chemical components.
Diabetes mellitus type 2 - with this disease, you should not eat foods with a high glycemic index.
Increased blood clotting and a tendency to thrombophlebitis.
Obesity, because carbohydrate foods contribute to the accumulation of fat deposits.
Disorders in the gastrointestinal tract (supplements can cause colic, constipation).
Individual intolerance.

Principles of dietary methods based on corn flakes

If you decide to try out the effectiveness of a diet menu with the addition of a corn product, you must adhere to certain conditions:

Use cereals with the least amount of sugar and other additives to reduce the calorie content of the dish.
Do not overuse the product, calculate the useful amount for the daily norm, taking into account physical activity, which will help burn the energy received, and not turn it into regular fat deposits.
It is worth remembering that corn is a fast carbohydrate and the feeling of hunger will not keep you waiting. Therefore, you should not choose a long-term mono-diet on corn flakes if you have not previously trained the body on strict methods of losing extra pounds. A constant feeling of hunger will cause stress, loss of strength, irritability and will not allow you to get a positive result.
The best option is to include a cereal dish for breakfast, and focus other meals on foods based on calorie counts for the day. The more varied the diet menu, the easier it is to maintain and not harm the body.
A serving per serving should not exceed 60 grams of corn flakes, which can be poured with low-fat milk, fermented milk products without sugar and flavorings, and freshly squeezed juices.

Among dietary systems that include corn flakes, methods that alternate between different foods rather than mono-diets are popular. But you shouldn’t count on great results if you are overweight by more than 5 kilograms. During a seven-day course of a strict diet, you can lose 3-4 kilograms, while adding fitness classes to burn the calories obtained from eating cereal.

It is better to replace corn flakes with porridge made from corn grits, which will provide more benefits, satiation and is acceptable for a long-term course of weight loss for 3 weeks.

If you want to go on a strict diet, in which you are allowed to eat only corn flakes with a daily calorie intake of no more than 1000 kcal. Considering that 100 grams of the product contains 335 kcal, you can eat no more than 300 grams of this delicacy per day. A serving per serving is 60 grams, which means the total amount is divided into 5 snacks with the addition of sugar-free and low-fat liquids. Such a menu can be called excessively hungry, and many people who want to lose weight break down and begin to consume everything indiscriminately in order to satisfy their hunger.

Nuances of use

Pregnancy period

While carrying a child, a woman should be very attentive and careful when choosing foods, since the future health of the baby directly depends on her diet. Corn flakes are not the best food for pregnant women because they are high in calories and contain a lot of sugar and additives. All this contributes to the gain of extra pounds and the development of allergic reactions. Therefore, during pregnancy, if there is an irresistible desire to eat cereal, you need to choose an unglazed product and preferably made from whole grains, while the daily intake should not exceed 1 tbsp. l.

Corn flakes while breastfeeding

After birth, the baby receives all the necessary nutritional components through breast milk. However, harmful substances also enter the baby’s body. Since the cereal contains a lot of sugar and chemical components, a nursing mother should think about the fact that this product will do more harm to the baby than good. In the first months of life, the baby’s digestive system continues to form, and each new product can cause unbearable colic, bloating, rashes, etc. in the baby. It makes sense to completely abandon corn flakes. They can be tried for the first time by a nursing woman 6 months after the birth of the child. In this case, the dose should not exceed several petals. The product should be consumed in the first half of the day. After this, it is necessary to monitor the baby’s health for 2 days. If no negative reactions appear, then the product is allowed to be taken in the amount of 1 tbsp. l. with low-fat yogurt or kefir once a week.

Introduction to complementary feeding

Children are allowed to give corn flakes no earlier than 2 years old. In this case, you should choose an unglazed whole grain product. A child can enjoy the product 1-2 times a week, with the daily norm being 1 tsp.

Children should not eat cornflakes daily

Is it possible to eat corn flakes if you have certain diseases?

Nutritionists do not recommend using the product for chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers in the acute stage. During the period of remission, you can eat no more than 1 tbsp. l. cereal with low-fat yogurt or milk once a week.

If you have pancreatitis, you should forget about this product forever, because it contains many chemical components that negatively affect the condition of the pancreas.

For type 1 diabetes, it is possible to consume corn flakes no more than once a week, and the daily intake should not exceed 3 tsp.

Weight loss and diet

Those who want to lose weight often believe that the product will help them in this matter. However, those who want to lose excess weight should not consume this product, since the high sugar and carbohydrate content only contributes to the accumulation of fat.

But if you don’t have the willpower to give up cornflakes, you can mix them in a 1:1 ratio with bran and dilute them with Greek yogurt. As a result, protein and coarse fiber will significantly reduce the glycemic index, i.e., they will slow down the absorption processes in the intestines. In this case, cereals can be consumed an hour before physical exercise, so that all accumulated calories are consumed during training. The daily norm should not exceed 1 tbsp. l.