What you eat is just as critical as how much you eat. When it comes to losing body fat, not all calories are created equal.  The calories that should really be getting your attention are those that are nutrient-dense; these will provide your body with the energy it needs and allow it to burn energy from fat stores. Nutritionally sparse food on the other hand can cause the body to store extra energy from food as fat. Plus, as amazing as it may seem, it is possible to boost your metabolism and get some extra help with-fat burning with certain foods and spices. Nature really is like a living library, you just need to know how to read it!

Eating raw is a real adventure – you’ll discover a whole world of truly wholesome, tasty recipes that are surprisingly easy to make, plus new ways to enjoy your old favourites. Once you follow a largely raw food diet, your body is sure to thank you. Check out our scrumptious raw recipes, and our essential raw food shopping list.

You’ve got to admit the Tim Noakes Diet sounds appealing – plenty of filling foods, plenty of flavour and the chance to enjoy a leaner, fitter, healthier lifestyle! However, cutting out those carbs and sugar can be tougher than it sounds. So to simplify things, we’ve found you a few fab Paleo-friendly recipes, plus our own essential shopping list for aspiring “Banters”.

The 5:2 Diet, also known as The Fast Diet or Intermittent Fasting, is fast gaining popularity not just as a weight loss plan, but as a healthier way of life. This eating plan can take some getting used to though, as you’ll have to keep your calorie intake very low for 2 days every week. Luckily, there are plenty of low-calorie recipes you’ll find delicious, and easy to make. The Faithful team has put together some handy 5:2 recipes you’ll love; each one is under 200 calories a serving, so you can enjoy them on fast days and “normal” days. Plus we’ve included a fab shopping list to get you started.

Looking at the natural sweetener alternatives over the refined sugars that we see on the shelves of so many shopping malls. There are a number of fairly new natural sweeteners on the block that are dubbed calorie-free and carbohydrate-free. These plant derivatives and sugar alcohols taste as good as sugar, but due to the way they have been absorbed, they result in a much slower and smaller rise in blood sugar and insulin. Do be careful though when choosing foods containing these substitutes – the actual sweeteners may be better for you, but they are often added to food high in saturated fats, which defeats the benefits of using these sweeteners.