The newest diet trend actually allows you eat some of your favourite foods – dark chocolate included! The sirtfood plan is all about what you should include and add to your meals.

What are sirtfoods?

• They’re foods that are high in substances called sirtuin activators. There are seven types of sirtuin in the body.
• Sirtuins can help you shift weight because they fire up pathways in the body that help boost your metabolism.
• These pathways help you torch fat and boost muscle. They’re normally activated by exercising and by fasting (i.e. the basis of the 5:2 diet).
• A sirtfood diet mimics the effects of fasting or vigorous exercise. Packing your diet with sirtfoods basically tricks your body into sparking up your metabolism.

There are other health benefits to adding sirtuins to your diet, beyond just losing weight. A diet high in sirtuins reduces cell inflammation – a key cause of type 2 diabetes – heart disease and even dementia. As sirtfoods are known to help protect cells from dying, eating lots of them can also have powerful anti-ageing benefits.

What foods should I be eating?

This top 10 list shows the foods most rich in sirtuin activators:

1. Green tea
2. Kale
3. Dark chocolate
4. Red wine
5. Turmeric
6. Parsley
7. Onions
8. Olives & olive oil
9. Pomegranate
10. Soy beans & tofu

• Chicory contains inulin, which helps diabetics regulate their blood sugar levels.
• Chicory is closely related to lettuce and dandelion but is a member of the sunflower family.
• It may be cleansing to the liver and gallbladder.
• Chicory is beneficial for digestion, the circulatory system and the blood.
• Chicory leaves are a good source of calcium, vitamin A and potassium.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are a dieter’s dream, but the pesticide residue on them can keep your calorie-burning machine from performing at its peak.

Pesticides may affect your thyroid’s ability to function and there’s evidence that they also harm the functioning of mitochondria, the parts of a cell that convert fuel into energy.

Government researchers say you need to scrub fresh produce for at least 30 seconds to remove the residue.

You can also minimize your exposure by purchasing organic produce, especially the kind with an edible peel, as well as organic beef and dairy products, because regular cattle feed can contain high concentrations of pesticides.

Each piece of skin contains 69 calories and six grams of fat, so it makes sense to separate it from the breast before popping it in the oven, right?

Not really. The skin locks in moisture, so you get tender, more flavourful chicken for not a lot of extra calories.

Don’t remove the skin until right before serving, and the chicken won’t need as much calorie-rich sauce, salad dressing, or mayo.

The exception, however, is if you’re making a soup or a casserole. The fat from the skin will drain into the dish, so peel it off beforehand.

Not all carbohydrates are an enemy. It’s the refined carbs (like white bread, white sugar, and sweets) that you need to avoid.

They seem harmless, but they have been stripped of their macronutrient content and reduced to a simple sugar that your body quickly digests.

The result is, your blood sugar spikes, your body pumps out tons of insulin to get the sugar into your cells, your blood sugar plummets, you feel sleepy, and any sugar the insulin didn’t deal with gets converted into fat.

This access fat typically sits around your belly, which can lead to illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.

Complex carbohydrates, like whole grains, help to maintain well-controlled blood sugar levels. Keeping you energized, slim, and healthy.

They are your body’s main source of fiber, giving you energy to keep you perky even during the grey days of winter.

The mood-boosting neurotransmitter serotonin comes from an amino acid called tryptophan, which is only able to enter the brain after digesting a healthy serving of carbs.

So for your waist’s (and your mood’s) sake, don’t give up all carbs!