We hear a lot of advice about what not to eat when trying to lose weight, but we hear much less about the foods that are not only compatible with dieting but are also capable of helping to speed it up. The following sixteen foods are fantastic for helping your body to burn fat, which will, in turn, help you to lose weight and gain the slimmer body you desire.
1) Cinnamon:
This particular spice has an intriguing influence on the body’s blood sugar levels. Various studies support the claim that cinnamon’s stabilizing impact on blood sugar helps those who have consumed the spice to feel less hungry for a while. You can put cinnamon into coffee or tea to help with your weight loss plan, and it can also be sprinkled onto yogurt to make the taste more appealing without adding sugar.
2) Green tea:
It is thought that drinking green tea can help you to lose weight because it helps to encourage your body to burn fat around the abdomen. Studies suggest that this is because green tea is rich in a particular kind of phytochemical that has a short but substantial influence on boosting the body’s metabolic rate. To enjoy the weight loss benefits of green tea, have several hot cups a day (because hot drinks take longer to consume, discouraging you from breaking your diet by snacking).
3) Greek Yogurt:
Greek yogurt is preferable to other yogurts because of the vast amount of protein that it contains. As it happens, it actually contains double the amount of protein that can be found in most other kinds of yogurt. When your body digests foods that are rich in protein (as compared to foods that are rich in carbohydrates), it burns substantially more calories in the process. In addition, foods that contain a lot of protein help you to feel fuller for longer, making you less likely to break your diet by reaching for unhealthy foods. If you don’t like the taste of Greek yogurt on its own, try having it with some healthy blueberries.
4) Vinegar:
Vinegar is a great ingredient for salad dressings, and current research tentatively supports the idea that vinegar will aid your body in breaking down the saturated fat (i.e. ‘bad’ fat) you consume. In addition, vinegar has a sharp and interesting taste but is entirely calorie-free.
5) Sweet potatoes:
Sweet potatoes can help discourage the urge to add lots of sour cream, cheese or fatty butter to your potato because sweet potatoes are full of natural and healthy flavor. This reduces your overall calorie intake for the day, while also giving you plenty of vitamin C and fiber.
6) Spicy peppers:
Spicy chili peppers help you to lose weight because they contain capsaicin, a compound that helps to reduce appetite levels while also slightly boosting the body’s metabolism (making the body burn more calories more quickly). Habanero peppers are particularly rich in capsaicin.
7) Quinoa:
Quinoa is a whole grain that contains lots of fiber as well as protein. Your body will burn plenty of calories trying to digest the protein, and in the meantime, you will feel fuller for longer (which, as we discussed above, will help you avoid snacking on unhealthy things like chips and candy bars). Quinoa is also good for the body more generally, as it contains lots of vitamin E and iron. You can cook quinoa in much the same way as you cook rice, and it tastes good combined with chicken, mixed vegetables or nuts.
8. Eggland’s Best Eggs:
If you eat breakfast and make sure that it is high in protein, you will not crave food as quickly as those who opt to skip breakfast or eat something like a bagel. Eggs are a great choice here because one egg contains less than a hundred calories alongside plenty of protein.
9) Grapefruits:
Grapefruits contain very few calories but are very good at making you feel full and satisfied for quite long periods of time. They contain lots of fiber, which keeps your digestive system busy (burning calories) and also helps to keep your digestive system healthy at the same time. Grapefruit juice is delicious, and if you drink some before your main meal then it can discourage you from eating over-sized portions at meal times.
10) Watermelons:
Unsurprisingly, watermelons contain a lot of water. This high liquid content can help you feel fuller and discourage you from eating too much. Watermelons also contain very little calories, and so they are a perfect snack for dieters.
11) Raw vegetables:
Raw vegetables take a while to eat, and the crunching helps dieters to satisfy their craving for food (without putting too many calories into their bodies). The fact that vegetables contain lots of water also helps you to feel full. Try dipping raw carrots into low-fat hummus or salsa.
12) Oatmeal:
Oatmeal is an ideal breakfast food or snack because it is full of water and fiber (making it very filling and satisfying to eat). It is also hot, which means it takes longer to eat and burns more calories while you eat it. Make your own oatmeal instead of buying a pre-made one that is probably rich in sugar. It is also a great idea to add cinnamon to your oatmeal (rather than sugar).
13) Berries:
Raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries are all high in fiber content and in water content, so they keep your digestive system busy burning calories and also help you feel fuller for longer. They also help to discourage dieters from eating sweet but unhealthy snacks, because berries are naturally sweet without being very sugary.
14) Broth:
Broth is an excellent lunch choice for those who are trying to lose weight. The fact that it is full of water means that you feel very full after eating it, so you will be less likely to eat little unhealthy things throughout the rest of the day. It is also low in calories and can be deliciously paired with protein-rich food like chicken.
15) Coffee:
Although too much coffee is bad for you, one coffee will help to boost your metabolism (thereby helping you burn calories and lose weight). However, this is only a good idea for dieters who can enjoy their coffee relatively unembellished. Many coffee shop coffees are full of sugar and also use full-fat milk. If you want to drink coffee to help encourage your weight loss, add no more than a dash of skimmed milk.
16) Salads:
Provided you refrain from adding fatty dressings, salads are a great choice for dieters. The high amount of water found in lettuce helps you to feel full and satisfied in spite of the lack of calories, and you can add lots of healthy vegetables or lean meat.
Although the above foods will certainly help you in your quest to lose weight, substantial weight loss can only occur when you combine diet changes with regular exercise. In particular, you will lose weight much more quickly and effectively if you start cycling, running or swimming. However, if a few months pass and you are not losing any weight in spite of your healthy diet and exercise routine, speak to your doctor in case you have an underlying health condition.
Related Articles By Cathe:
Do Low-Carb Diets Boost Resting Metabolic Rate?
Do Low-Fat Diets Impede Weight Loss?
6 Reasons Dieting Doesn’t Work and What Does
Truth or Myth: Eating Breakfast is Important for Weight Loss
