10 Foods You Should Be Eating If You’re Trying To Lose Weight

#1

It’s never too late to start changing the way you eat. I’m not talking about subjecting yourself to fad diets or anything that promises X results by X date, I mean filling your body with foods proven to increase your lifespan and the durability of your body and mind. Eating natural foods that aren’t processed beyond recognition is one step towards a healthier mind and body. It’s as simple as adding these to your diet:

1.Healthy fats,

2.Fiber,

3.Fruits and vegetables.

Here are the best foods to try if you’re trying to lose weight. Before you make any drastic changes to your lifestyle and diet, please consult a health professional first.

#2 Mushrooms

Mushrooms meaty flavor and texture make them great additions to ground meat dishes such as hamburgers, meatloaf, meatballs, or the like," Zeratsky says. Because they hold up to cooking, mushrooms can even serve as beef substitutes for vegans and vegetarians. Research has even found subbing out meat with mushrooms for one meal a day can prompt significant weight loss because you're consuming less fat and fewer calories. "They add flavor and moisture as well as fiber—stretching recipes to make them more economic, lower in calories, and more nutritious," she adds.

#3 Water

Studies from Stanford Prevention Research Center suggest that water helps promote weight loss in two ways. First, drinking more water—at least 4 cups per day—was linked to a 5-pound weight loss over the course of a year. According to the researchers, this amount of water increases the amount of energy or calories your body burns. Second, substituting water for sugary drinks—sodas, sports drinks, flavored drinks, and sweetened milks, coffees, and teas—resulted in even more weight loss. The exact number of pounds lost depended on how many sugary drinks were consumed in the first place, and how many were replaced with water.

Still don’t think you can give up your sodas and mochaccinos? Then consider this: It’s been shown that when people consume a certain amount of calories, they’re more hungry and more likely to overeat at their next meal when those calories are in liquid rather than in solid form.

#4 Low-Calorie Desserts

OK, so this isn't exactly a "health food," but we welcome the news that it may be easier to stick to your diet if it includes a little sweet treat. According to a new study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, banning sugary foods could lead to overeating.

One reason may be that removing access to sweet foods stimulates the release of a molecule in your brain called corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), produced when you're afraid, anxious or stressed, says Pietro Cottone, Ph.D., lead study author. And increased stress levels may lower your motivation to eat more nutritious foods, making it more likely that you'll binge on junk food

#5 Spinach

Tender and flavorful, this leafy green is rich in iron, folic acid, and vitamin K. It also contains disease-fighting antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin C, as well as the phytochemical lutein, which protects eyes against age-related macular degeneration. Use as a substitute for lettuce in salad, lightly sauté with shredded carrot, sliced mushrooms, and garlic for a savory omelet filling, or try this simple Seasoned Spinach recipe for a quick and nutritious side dish.

#6 Whole Eggs

Once feared for being high in cholesterol, whole eggs have been making a comeback.

New studies show that they don’t adversely affect blood cholesterol and don’t cause heart attacks.What’s more… they are among the best foods you can eat if you need to lose weight.

They’re high in protein, healthy fats, and can make you feel full with a very low amount of calories.

One study of 30 overweight women showed that eating eggs for breakfast, instead of bagels, increased satiety and made them eat less for the next 36 hours.

Another 8-week study found that eggs for breakfast increased weight loss on a calorie restricted diet compared to bagels.

Eggs are also incredibly nutrient dense and can help you get all the nutrients you need on a calorie restricted diet. Almost all the nutrients are found in the yolks.

#7 Pre-frozen leftovers

Just double up on ingredients the next time you cook dinner, then cool and toss leftovers in a microwave-safe container to keep in your freezer for one to six months depending on what you're cooking. Or stock your freezer with frozen veggies and your protein of choice (like chicken breast tenders, which cook faster than full breasts, or veggie burgers) to whip up a meal in the same amount of time it takes to cook a premade microwave dinner.

#8 Hummus and Veggies

The Middle Eastern chickpea spread is an easy, protein-rich snack that fights hunger and balances blood sugar levels — and a little goes a long way. Baked pita chips aren't the worst thing you can eat, but substituting some veggies can make a bigger impact than you think. "Hummus boosts energy because it contains iron, and red bell pepper slices are high in vitamin C, which helps to utilize and absorb the iron from the hummus," says holistic nutritionist Peggy Kotsopoulos, author of Must Have Been Something I Ate. Follow her easy recipe for plain hummus by throwing 1 can of chickpeas in a blender with a dash of ground cumin, sea salt, extra virgin olive oil, and splash of lemon juice. Keep a few batches in the freezer so all you have to do is thaw.

#9 Yoghurt

Natural yoghurt contains probiotics that ease the digestion and keeps your stomach happy. But don't go for low-fat yoghurt as it has enhanced quantity of sugar

#10 Almonds

Almonds are the best weight loss stimulants. So if you are trying to lose weight, eat at least 4-5 soaked almond in the morning

#11 Fruits

Most health experts agree that fruit is healthy.Numerous population studies have shown that people who eat the most fruit (and vegetables) tend to be healthier than people who don’t.Of course… correlation does not equal causation, so those studies don’t prove anything, but fruit do have properties that make them weight loss friendly.

Even though they contain sugar, they have a low energy density and take a while to chew. Plus, the fiber helps prevent the sugar from being released too quickly into the bloodstream.The only people who may want to avoid or minimize fruit are those who are on a very low-carb, ketogenic diet, or have some sort of intolerance to fructose.For the rest of us, fruits can be an effective (and delicious) addition to a weight loss diet.