If you have been yoyo dieting or having trouble losing those stubborn pounds it could be related to these 3 fat-storing foods that almost everyone has in their pantries or refrigerators, and maybe a contributing factor why you cannot lose that stubborn weight.

1. MSG - Monosodium Glutamate

Researchers have found that people who eat foods containing MSG are more likely to be overweight than those who avoid MSG. It is referred to by many doctors as the "SILENT KILLER" because it can lead to cell damage and even death. MSG has also been linked to headaches, fatigue, and even depression.

MSG interferes with leptin, this is your hormone that tells your brain that you are full and you need to stop eating. Without leptin, you will continue to feel hungry even when you have eaten enough, and your will body will store fat instead of releasing it. If you want to shed unwanted pounds, the first thing to do is eliminate MSG from your diet.

Where do you find MSG?

MSG is everywhere, processed foods, fast food restaurants, canned soups, crackers, potato chips, salad dressings, and thousands and thousands of other products. There are many diet foods that contain MSG such as protein shakes, protein bars, and even trail mix. Food manufacturers just love it when you can't stop with a single serving. For them, it's the sound of cash registers ringing. But what does this mean for us? It means that the food is now in control. Somehow it has been manipulated to cause you to overeat. The best way to ensure you are not eating or feeding this to your family is to try and stick to a diet that is rich in whole fresh foods and that are not processed.

Sneaky Names that MSG Uses:

Autolyzed yeast, Autolyzed yeast protein, Calcium glutamate, Carrageen, Glutamate, Glutamic acid, Hydrolyzed corn, Ingredients listed as hydrolyzed, protein fortified, ultra-pasteurized, fermented, or enzyme-modified, Magnesium glutamate, Monoammonium glutamate, Monopotassium glutamate, Textured protein, Vegetable extract, Yeast extract

2. High Fructose Corn Syrup

Sugar is the # 1 cause of excess weight gain and high fructose corn syrup is even worse than table sugar. Research continues to highlight the role of high-fructose corn syrup and fructose in obesity. It can also add visceral fat, a harmful type of fat that surrounds your organs. Consuming high amounts of fructose contributes to many other health conditions - insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and more, so if you want to reach a healthy body weight and reduce the risk of these chronic diseases you need to remove HFCS from your diet.

3. Soy

Not only is Soy highly processed it creates a hormonal imbalance in your body. Soy interferes with the thyroid gland and can slow down your metabolism, it also leads to excess estrogen which is a fat-storing hormone. Remember anything that stimulates our fat-storing hormones and is a contributing factor in weight gain, should be avoided.

Take Away Message: Eat natural foods such as unprocessed meat, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and unprocessed dairy products. While it may take a little time for your taste buds to adjust to a wholesome diet, you will soon find that you not only look slimmer but feel healthier than before as well.