Super Foods For Super Weight Loss

Experts say there are two basic categories of foods that can be considered “keeping it off superfoods”. These are fruits and vegetables because they fill your tummy without piling on the calories. And just what is the nutrient that gives fruits and vegetables that staying power?

In a word – Fiber. So, if fruits and vegetables are the “keeping-it-off superfood groups,” fiber may well be the “keeping-it-off super-nutrient.”

Protein is another super-nutrient. It’s becoming more scientifically accepted that protein may help to curb appetite. Protein also offers staying power, and can slightly boost your metabolism in the process. But it’s imperative that you choose your proteins wisely, because like all other foods, if you’re eating more than your body needs, it’ll show up on the scale as a gain, instead of a loss.

The following superfoods are smart, low-calorie choices that will benefit your weight loss efforts:

Green Tea – Researchers suspect that the catechins (helpful phytochemicals) in green tea may trigger weight loss by stimulating the body to burn calories and mildly decrease body fat. So indulge in either a hot cup or a nice tall iced glass of green tea.

Broth or Tomato-Based Soup – Soups can help reduce hunger before meals and increase your feeling of fullness. Just be sure to make your soups from stock instead of boullion, which is very high in sodium.

Low-Calorie Green Salads – Having a low-calorie salad, which is not defined as one that’s loaded with croutons, high fat dressings, and cheese, as a first course, can help you feel full, thereby reducing how much you eat with your main course. By wisely choosing what you put in your salad, and its high fiber content, can be the key to helping you fight cravings later in the day.

Yogurt – Including yogurt as part of a healthy diet may help promote weight loss. Choose a light yogurt and you may be able to fight off hunger pangs form the combination of protein and carbohydrates in yogurt.

Beans – A great combination of fiber and protein, beans help you feel full longer, which means they can work to curb your appetite between meals.

Water – Water is your body’s lifeblood, and you should be drinking it throughout your day. It’s a great no-calorie beverage, and you can get it by drinking unsweetened tea, flavored unsweetened mineral water, regular water with lime or lemon, or even fomr water-dense fruits and vegetables such as cucumbers. In addition to helping flush toxins from your body, water can also help you feel full. So when those hunger pangs strike, try drinking a glass of water first before grabbing a high-calorie snack loaded with fat and sugar.

High-Fiber, Whole-Grain Cereal – Whole grains in general help boost fiber and the nutritional value of your meal. One of the easiest ways to give your daily diet a whole-grain boost is to have a bowl of higher-fiber, whole-grain cereal as breakfast or as a snack.