Only better!

Increasing the body’s ability to burn fat for fuel can make weight loss effortless. For the fastest results, trade everyday staples for these fat-rich picks

62 percent, boost mood by 52 percent, enhance sleep quality by 21 percent and decrease levels of heart-harming triglycerides by 300 percent.

So why does this way of eating fail to deliver for so many of us? Researchers now have the answer.

As scientists at the Yale School of Medicine explain, if we maintain a high-carb diet over time—which most of us do since the standard American diet is so high in carbs—our mitochondria (the body’s energy production engines) shift from burning fatty acids to burning carbs and sugar. While this is necessary to help the body metabolize the carbs and sugar we eat, there’s a long-term downside: The process of burning sugar causes the mitochondria to produce damaging cellular debris and free radicals, says nutrition expert Mark Sisson. This shortens the life span of the mitochondria and makes it harder for them to burn fatty acids when we do consume a high-fat meal.

As we age, it becomes increasingly difficult to shift the mitochondria back into fat-burning mode. “The negative effects of a carb- and sugarburning system build up over time,” says Sisson. “By the time most of us are 40, the body no longer has the machinery it needs to burn fat for energy.” And that means that when you switch to a low-carb diet like Atkins and eliminate the carbs that your mitochondria have grown accustomed to burning, your body won’t be able to create enough energy to fuel all of its essential functions—and you’ll end up feeling tired, foggy, achy and ravenous.

The good news: It is possible to turn an over-40 metabolism into a fat-burning machine. “The key is to prompt the body to activate the genes that strengthen the mitochondria,” says Sisson. The best way to do that, he adds, is to fill up on healthy fats (which switch on the genes that fire up fat burning) without drastically cutting your carb intake (to ensure the mitochondria that are set to carb burning get the fuel they need). Science suggests that within 21 days, your body will have created new, healthy mitochondria that have never been damaged by burning sugar and are fully primed to burn fat—so you can get all the benefits of an Atkins-style diet.

“The most dramatic benefit is the quick and efficient reduction of excess body fat,” says Sisson, “but you’ll also notice a regulation of your appetite such that you feel alert, wellnourished and rarely hungry.” And science backs him up: Researchers at Texas Tech University in Lubbock found that healthy fats decrease the production of hormones that send hunger signals to the brain.

Weight loss is just the beginning. Women FIRST spoke to report steadier moods, fewer body aches and lower cholesterol. “It’s like discovering a hidden superpower that stabilizes your energy, mood and brain function,” says Sisson. Read on to discover the strategies that will transform your health. Coconut cream prods the thyroid to increase the production of hormones that boost metabolism by 50 percent— and it’s delicious in coffee or smoothies in place of milk.

In a Mason jar, combine 1 can of full-fat coconut milk, 1 Tbs. of vanilla extract and 4 drops of liquid stevia; seal and shake. Munching on Parmesan chips instead of crackers delivers a bevy of healthy fats and butyric acid, a compound that promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut so weight loss is even more effortless.

Bake generous tablespoons of Parmesan cheese on parchment paper at 400°F for 3 to 5 minutes or until crisp. Avocado can be used in place of processed oils in desserts like cakes, cookies and pudding, infusing treats with healthy fatty acids shown to increase belly-fat burn by 20 percent.

Blend half an avocado, 1⁄2 cup of coconut milk, 1 Tbs. of cocoa powder and 1 Tbs. of chia seeds. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.