The Top 10 Healthy Foods for Weight Loss
If you want to start losing weight in a healthy way, you may wonder which foods are best to eat. Even if you aren’t counting calories or tracking your diet, there are certain healthy foods that can really help your weight loss efforts. The following are the top 10 healthy foods for weight loss, with information on how each can aid in your pursuit of a slimmer body and better health!
1) Beans
Beans are a cheap and healthy alternative to meat.
While they aren’t as calorically dense as meat, they provide plenty of nutritional value and fill fiber.
They’re also high in protein (especially when you opt for beans like black or pinto), an essential nutrient that has been shown to reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness by making you feel satisfied after eating fewer calories—resulting in weight loss over time.
Plus, studies show that men who added more beans to their diets saw a significant reduction in abdominal fat.
Eat them on their own or find creative ways to work them into your meals; just be sure to stay away from canned beans as most have added salt, sugar, and chemicals you don’t want in your body.
2) Oatmeal
Not only is oatmeal inexpensive, quick to cook, and full of fiber, it’s also a great source of tryptophan—one of those good-for-you amino acids that help make serotonin.
Serotonin helps curb your appetite and get rid of cravings, so it might help with weight loss. Some research suggests that oatmeal will even keep you fuller longer than other breakfast foods.
3) Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is an excellent source of protein, unsaturated fats, and several vitamins and minerals.
It’s also one of most widely eaten foods in America.
Peanut butter is also a filling food that’s high in calories, so if you’re watching your weight, go with a reduced-fat variety or add some sliced apple to it to make it more filling without significantly increasing your fat intake.
Research suggests that peanut butter might even help you lose weight over time because it keeps you feeling full between meals.
When choosing a peanut butter for your weight loss diet, try to pick one that has about 100 calories per tablespoon and does not include sugar or other unnecessary additives such as corn syrup.
4) Whole Grains
Research shows that people who eat whole grains tend to be slimmer than those who don’t.
The fiber, fat, and nutrients in whole grains work together to help you feel full, satisfied and energized.
Whole grains include brown rice, oats, and whole-wheat pasta as well as steel-cut oats.
For example 1 cup of cooked brown rice has 230 calories; 1 cup of white rice has 249 calories.
5) Berries
Berries are a sweet treat that is also super healthy.
They're high in fiber, packed with nutrients, and low in calories. Raspberries have less than half a gram of natural sugar per cup, blueberries have 7 grams of fiber per cup, and strawberries have 5 grams of fiber per cup.
All three berries have fewer than 100 calories per cup. Berries make great snacks; try adding them to your cereal or yogurt at breakfast or snack on them plain at lunch or dinner.
A small handful can turn any meal into a sweet treat without derailing your weight loss efforts.
6) Yoghurt
Full of beneficial bacteria, it helps to regulate digestion.
A yogurt is a great option as an afternoon snack or even to have before bed if you’re going to have a lie-in, as it can help reduce cravings.
Avoid flavored yogurts and go for natural varieties instead.
If you’re struggling with your weight, I would avoid drinking full-fat yogurt because it has been shown that it’s harder to lose weight when consuming dairy fat in our diet.
7) Eggs
The Perfect Weight-Loss Breakfast : Some breakfast foods, like cereal and bagels, are marketed as low-calorie options.
But eggs actually win out when it comes to slimming down your waistline. Research published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that dieters who ate eggs for breakfast lost 67 percent more weight than those who had a bagel breakfast with the same number of calories.
What’s more? Eggs are loaded with amino acids, which increase metabolism and promote fat loss.
8) Broccoli
Full of fiber and vitamin C, broccoli is great weight-loss food.
The fiber will keep you full and help reduce your appetite.
One cup of raw broccoli contains about 30 calories, 2 grams of fiber, 86% of vitamin C’s daily value, and 690% folate’s daily value.
Although it isn’t technically a diet food, high-fiber foods like broccoli can help you lose weight because they make you feel full faster—and for longer periods than low-fiber foods do.
Broccoli is one of the best vegetables to add to your healthy weight loss diet.
9) Chicken Breasts
Using meat as a part of your diet plan can help you achieve success with your weight loss goals.
This is because lean meats contain minimal fat, which is more easily burned by your body.
Chicken breasts are a great addition to any weight loss plan, as they are inexpensive and easy to prepare in just about any way you like them.
One serving contains only 170 calories and 2 grams of fat, making it a healthy meal choice option that is sure to help you lose weight.
If chicken breasts aren’t something you usually eat then consider grilling up some chicken or adding breast meat to recipes that call for ground beef such as tacos or hamburgers.
10) Water
Although food is important, water should be your number one priority.
If you want to lose weight, drink at least eight glasses of water per day. Staying hydrated flushes out toxins and helps keep your appetite in check.
For example, drinking a glass of ice-cold water with a slice of lemon has been proven to help burn calories and curb hunger.
The key is to increase your intake without switching all of your normal drinks for water, which can lead to bloating or overhydration.
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