When you are trying to lose weight, how and what you eat plays a big role in attaining your goal. It is difficult to shed off extra pounds. But knowing which foods you should include in your diet helps you lose weight the natural way.
Eating the right foods at the right amount burns calories and quell your cravings. Here's a list of 6 foods to help you in your diet:
1. Apple
Antioxidants in apples help prevent an "apple shape" belly or excess fat around the midsection, a condition otherwise known as metabolic syndrome. They are also great as low calorie snacks.
2. Oats
Eating oats for breakfast is a much healthier choice than bacon and eggs. The best oats are the steel-cut and rolled varieties. These are minimally processed oats and contain up to 5 grams of fibre per serving. Instant oat meal, on the other hand, has 3-4 grams per serving.
You can also use approximately a cup of oats instead of breadcrumbs when preparing meatloaf. This recipe works great for turkey and oatmeal meatballs.
3. Blueberries
Berries are a delight to eat, ideal as afternoon snacks. The healthiest berries are those with a blue hue. Of all the most commonly consumed fruits, blueberries have the highest antioxidant level. Additionally, a cup of blueberries packs 3.6 grams of fibre.
They also taste great with cereal. Instead of having a hefty bowl of fruit-topped cereal, fill your bowl with blueberries. Sprinkle cereal on top, add yogurt or milk, and enjoy.
4. Wild salmon
The Omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon improve insulin sensitivity which shrinks your waist and helps build and strengthen muscle. More muscles means your body burns more calories. Wild salmon also contains fewer pollutants and helps keep your heart in good condition.
5. Avocado
Although an avocado contains 29 grams of fat, it actually helps you get rid of excess weight. The monounsaturated fat it contains is good for your heart and curbs your cravings, making it one of the top foods to eat when on a diet.
It also works great as an alternative to mayonnaise when you make a sandwich. It has a high calorie level, so be mindful with how much you eat.
6. Yogurt
Plain yogurt is often recommended by nutritionists and dieticians. Yogurt contains carbs, protein and fat. It helps maintain your blood sugar levels and increases satiety. When preparing potato or chicken salad, use low-fat plain yogurt instead of mayo.
A small amount of yogurt with a bit of lemon juice also tastes great with baked potato. It saves you 4.7 grams of fat per tablespoon. Go for Greek yogurt since it packs more protein than other varieties.
