Eating healthy foods, exercising and watching your weight might seem like enough to get you where you want to be, but sometimes it’s not quite enough. If you’re trying to lose weight but your hard work isn’t paying off the way you want it to, consider adding these nine foods to your diet. Not only will they help you lose weight, but they’ll also make sure that you do so in a healthy way that won’t leave you feeling deprived or sluggish. Read on to find out more about the top nine foods that can help you lose weight effortlessly!
1) Chewing Your Food Well Helps You Eat Less
Many people don’t realize that eating slowly and chewing each bite well can make a big difference in weight loss. When you chew food well, your brain has more time to register that you’re full and satisfied before you swallow it. And since your body takes a while to digest what you eat, slowing down while eating helps prevent overeating as well. Chewing slower also gives your body more time to communicate with your brain about when it is feeling full—which makes you less likely to over-consume calories at any one meal or snack session.
2) Drinking Water Before Meals Fills You Up
Drinking a glass of water before a meal can actually be incredibly helpful when it comes to weight loss. According to Health, it signals to your body that you’re full and more likely not to overeat. People tend to forget that their bodies need water just as much as they need food. When you drink too little water, you’re more likely to feel hungry when there isn’t enough fluid in your body for it function properly. Drinking water before meals is a simple way to trick yourself into feeling fuller faster, so make sure you start doing it today!
3) Bananas Have Fiber, Vitamins And Minerals
Bananas contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber has been shown to help lower cholesterol and insulin levels, while insoluble fiber helps prevent constipation by helping water to move more easily through your digestive tract. Furthermore, bananas are packed with vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, magnesium, potassium and manganese. They also have a respectable amount of protein—about half of what you need each day—as well as a healthy dose of essential vitamins such as folate, riboflavin, niacin and thiamine. And did we mention they're also delicious? Enjoy one or two every day for best results!
4) Quinoa is a gluten-free grain
Quinoa is a great weight-loss option because it’s loaded with fiber and protein, which can help fill you up faster than other carbohydrates, and it has a low glycemic index. It also contains more calcium than most other grains. Quinoa is also naturally gluten-free, so it’s one of only three grains that are safe for people with celiac disease (wheat and barley are the others). If you have never tried quinoa before, use caution; some people experience digestive distress when they eat it due to its healthy dose of fiber. But there’s no need to fear!
5) Green tea boosts metabolism
Like coffee, green tea is rich in antioxidants and also helps boost metabolism. One study from Japan found that subjects who consumed either a single dose of green tea or coffee immediately before exercise saw their metabolism increase by about 4 percent for 90 minutes afterwards. If you can't stand plain old green tea, you can always try one of many creative varieties, such as lemon or cucumber mint — just be sure to keep your daily quaffs to less than 400 calories. A study published in The Journal of Nutrition found that white tea may also be helpful for losing weight and belly fat. Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine had healthy men drink 6-gram servings of white tea daily for 12 weeks; they lost twice as much weight compared with a placebo group.
6) Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory spice
One of these ingredients is turmeric, a powerful anti-inflammatory. Curcumin, which is responsible for turmeric’s yellow hue, prevents damage caused by free radicals and heals damaged cells. An overabundance of free radicals can cause chronic inflammation, which increases your risk for heart disease and other health issues. Luckily, curcumin decreases inflammation that causes weight gain or stops you from losing weight—in other words it’s like a preventative measure against illness.
7) Raw almonds contain magnesium and other nutrients
Raw almonds are a great snack for maintaining energy levels. They also contain magnesium, calcium, potassium and other nutrients that help you stay healthy and feel full. So grab a handful of raw almonds in between meals or when you’re feeling peckish. It’s an easy way to incorporate more almonds into your diet.
8) Olive oil has mono-unsaturated fats that help your body absorb nutrients from other foods more easily
It's no secret that it’s good for you, but it’s also an incredibly versatile ingredient. One of my favorite ways to use olive oil is in salad dressings and marinades. One study found that when people used olive oil on salads, they consumed fewer calories overall than when they used other oils like sunflower or canola. Now, if only I could convince my husband that vinaigrette goes well with sweet potatoes too!
9) Coconut oil contains medium chain triglycerides that increase your metabolism
Coconut oil contains medium chain triglycerides that increase your metabolism. Most of coconut oil is a mix of short and long-chain triglycerides, but a small part is comprised of medium chain triglycerides or MCTs. MCTs are an important component in weight loss because they are more readily digested than other types of fat and require less energy (read: calories) for your body to metabolize them. It’s believed that MCTs can aid in weight loss by providing satiety or fullness faster than normal fats, preventing you from snacking on fattening treats throughout the day. When paired with regular exercise, coconut oil can speed up weight loss results – even without controlling calorie intake!
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