10 Foods That Will Help You Lose Weight

Finding a balance between regulating your diet so that you can shed unwanted pounds, and still being able to eat foods that are satisfying and actually taste good, can be quite challenging if you don’t know where to start.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation when it comes to advice with food and weight loss. Large companies often advertise products that are labeled ‘fat-free’ or ‘low fat’. But, in reality, those products are often highly processed and packed full of sugar.

Fats are high in calories, but that doesn’t mean you should cut them completely from your diet. In fact ‘good fats’ are essential for numerous health reasons, such as cell growth, hormone production and making the absorption of some vitamins (A, D, E & K) possible. Good fats are also an excellent energy source, that leaves you feeling satiated for an extended period of time. But if you are trying to lose weight, aim to consume good fats in moderation.

FOODS TO AVOID

The most important foods to avoid are simple carbohydrates. This is because these foods quickly raise your blood sugar, which in turn leads to an increase in insulin production. Insulin works as a fat storage hormone and the more insulin you have circulating, the more carbs get converted into fat and stored in your body.

Examples of simple carbs include:

• Most bread (especially white bread)
• Pastas
• Pastries
• Sweets
• Soft drink
• Fruit juices (fruit juices are often full of fructose sugars and often have none of the fiber of whole fruits)

Other foods to try and avoid include processed meats, or fatty cuts of meat such as lamb, or duck, as well as the less healthy, full-fat dairy products such as creams and cheeses.

RELATED POST: HOW TO REDUCE YOUR APPETITE

DAILY CALORIES

The simple fact is that if you consume more calories than you expend in a day, your body will end up storing that unused energy, as fat, for later use. If you don’t know how many calories your body needs, have a read of this blog post on how to calculate your daily calorie intake.

Also, if you want to slim down while eating healthy, you can try out my FREE 7 Day Meal Plan. It’s free of processed sugar, dairy and gluten and you can download it below :)

FOODS FOR WEIGHT LOSS – WHAT SHOULD YOU EAT?

There are loads of delicious foods that will not only help you avoid weight gain, they will also help you achieve your weight loss goals!

Here are 10 excellent food choices you should consider having in your diet to help you lose weight.

CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES

Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage are excellent sources of fiber and nutrients, and they also contain decent amounts of protein. These help to satisfy your hunger and provide long-lasting energy.

CHILI PEPPERS

Chillis actually raise the temperature of your body which boosts your metabolism and helps you burn more fat.

OATS

Oats are packed full of beta-glucans, which is a soluble fiber that supports metabolic health and keeps you feeling satiated.

QUINOA

Quinoa is packed full of protein and fiber and ranks very low on the glycemic index, meaning you will feel fuller for longer and benefit from slow release energy.

Note – If you haven’t worked it out by now, fiber plays a HUGE role in keeping you full and thus preventing you from overeating.

GRAPEFRUIT

Grapefruits are not only nutritious, but they also help reduce insulin resistance, which works to regulate your metabolism.

CHIA SEEDS

Chia seeds are rich in fiber, which supports a healthy digestive system and keeps you full.  Also chia seeds can absorb up to 12 times their weight in water, which means you feel full and satisfied with fewer calories.

COTTAGE CHEESE

Cottage cheese has LOTS of protein and contains very little fat or carbohydrates, which makes it an excellent weight loss food choice.

CHICKEN BREAST

Chicken breast is high in protein and low in fat!

SALMON

Salmon is packed full of omega 3 fatty acids. This means it will help keep you feeling fuller for longer and provide you with the protein and good fats your body needs. Also, salmon is a good source of iodine, which is necessary for the healthy function of your thyroid gland (and hence your metabolism).

EGGS

Eggs are incredibly nutrient dense and are an excellent source of protein. Egg whites are fat-free and contain most of the protein. However, egg yolk contains numerous essential nutrients, including good fats, that will help you feel fuller for longer, so don’t discard all of them!

BONUS – METABOLISM BOOSTING FOODS

Foods that are rich in iron, zinc, and selenium, all work to support the function of your thyroid gland, which is responsible for regulating your metabolism. If your thyroid is not functioning properly, this can have a huge impact on your weight loss.

SPICES

Some spices, such as ginger, cinnamon, and chili powder all increase your fat burning efficiency by raising your temperature and stimulating your metabolism, making you more efficient at turning stored fat into viable energy.

GREEN TEA

Green tea is another metabolism stimulator, as it is a natural and healthy source of caffeine. This means it will also give you a great energy kick when you need one!