People often ask me what are good diet foods for weight loss. I’m always happy to answer this question because to me your body and your health should be a top priority, and one very important thing to ensure you take the best care of both is to include top-quality nutritious foods to ensure you get everything you need from the foods you eat.
My recommendation would be to build your meals around these foods because they are the ones that are really good for you.
Although the possible variety is your food choices is nearly infinite, and there are many more great nutritious weight loss foods, here is my top 10 list in no particular order:
These are the foods you can’t go wrong with and the ones you’ll keep coming back to time after time.
1. Nuts
Nuts are a great way to hold off hunger as well as providing you with a good amount of fiber, protein & healthy Omega-3s fats to help you burn fat faster. You should avoid the roasted & salted variety, instead stick to raw & organic nuts. Walnuts and almonds are great choices, but my particular favourites are Brazil Nuts which are rich in selenium and selenium is needed by your body to make thyroid hormones that are responsible for keeping your metabolism high. As a mid afternoon snack I enjoy a handful of nuts with perhaps a piece of fruit, and I always sprinkle nuts over my salad, which really adds not just some crunch but great flavour.
2. Green fibrous vegetables
Green Fibrous Vegetables are the healthiest addition to your diet if you are looking for weight loss and they fill you full of nutrients. Vegetables are low in calories and high in fiber as well as vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. The fiber in vegetables passes through your body intact, which keeps you full hours after eating. Include plenty of vegetables in your daily diet because with so few calories and carbohydrate not only can you enjoy them, but they will definitely help you lose weight. My favourites include Alfalfa Sprouts, Asparagus, Bean Sprouts, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflower and Celery.
3. Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes have a high amount of dietary fiber. As I’ve already mentioned Dietary fiber keeps you feeling full for a long period of time. Sweet potatoes contain almost twice as much fiber as other types of potatoes. Contributing close to 7 grams of fiber per serving. Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin A and a good source of potassium and vitamin C, B6, riboflavin, copper, pantothetic acid and folic acid. I was surprised just how good they taste so for those of you that have never tried them give them a go, you’ll be happy you did. Flavourful, all-natural, low in calories, and packed with nutrients and antioxidants so get them in to your diet
4. Oatmeal
My day starts with what’s the most important meal of the day and that’s my breakfast. My first choice is porridge. For all you looking to lose weight, starting your day with this is a great idea. Oatmeal has a great balance between carbohydrates, protein and good fat, with its low glycemic index, it is a very slowly releasing carbohydrate which is definetely what you’re looking for when you want to lose weight. Oatmeal is the perfect meal to start your day because it boosts your energy and has plenty of fiber to keep you full and satisfied. Oatmeal breaks down slowly in the stomach, giving you long-lasting energy. It is also full of water-soluble fibers, which play a crucial role in making you feel full over a longer period of time. For some extra taste throw on some blueberries and raspberries.
5. Berries
Well I’ve suggested you add them to your oatmeal, but they’re great for snacking. These delicious fruits are packed with antioxidants that fight against heart disease, cancer, and a multitude of other ailments. Berries are a terrific source of fiber, another key factor in weight control. Berries are among the best fruits on the planet. Not only do they taste great, but they are densely packed with a variety of potent phytochemcials that can do wonders to normalize and improve health. So high in fiber and relatively low in sugar, berries are a great choice to help you stick to your weight-loss plan. My favourite choice is blackberries, I will often have a bowl of these for my mid afternoon snack.
6. Beans
For anyone looking for weight loss help, look no further! The health benefits of adding beans to your diet are remarkable. Both beans and meat have equivalent …My mum would be proud of me because she always urged me to eat green beans. The most nutrient-packed beans are: black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, lima beans and navy beans. Then again, all beans promote improved personal health and should be taken into consideration when trying to lose weight. Beans not only deliver fiber and antioxidants, they give a lot of it. Beans are protein-packed and at the same time, beans are full of complex carbohydrates.
7. Wholegrain Products
Whole grains include foods such as wholegrain cereals, wholemeal bread, brown rice and wholewheat pasta. Wholegrains contain the ‘whole’ grain, including the nutrient-rich germ, the energy-providing endosperm and the fibre-rich bran layer. Eating more whole grains is an easy way to add a layer of “health insurance” to your life. Whole grains are packed with nutrients including protein, fiber, B vitamins, antioxidants, and trace minerals (iron, zinc, copper, and magnesium). A diet rich in whole grains has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and some forms of cancer.
8. Egg Whites
I’m a great believer in getting protein into your diet particularly if you’re looking to lose weight. With zero fat, egg whites are as lean as lean proteins get. Eggs are a super-high quality protein. You see once you take away the yolk, the yellowy bit, you get rid of the high fat and calorie content. Feature egg whites for breakfast. Eat six in an omelette or scrambled, and you’ll have a filling main course that only contains 102 calories
9. Fish
Another great, healthy protein source is fish. Most fish are very low in fat and high in protein. Fish has always been popular as a diet food because it is high in protein and low in fat and calories. Fish is an excellent protein for weight loss because it is very lean and has an excellent ratio of good fats. Fish should be a staple of any weight control or weight loss program. Consume fatty or oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring, tuna and trout. It may seem counter-intuitive to look for fatty fish since one of the benefits of eating fish is that it is a lean source of protein. Fatty fish, however, are rich in omega-3 fatty acids without being high in calories. Fatty fish may be able to help you lose weight by lowering the levels of a protein known as leptin, which can help control your appetite.
10. Water
Please don’t feel short changed by my final choice. The truth is anyone looking to lose weight has to be drinking water, and lots of it. Water is an essential nutrient your body needs to use to burn body fat! That’s why drinking water to lose weight is an important consideration in your weight loss program. We are made up of 55-75% water – that’s a lot of water! We need all of it for chemical reactions in physiological processes to burn fat and calories. It’s also used to transfer by-products of waste (from fat breakdown) away and out of our bodies. In some cases, when you’re dehydrated and there isn’t enough water to dilute the body’s waste products, kidney stones may form. The liver then has to step in to help the kidney. This taxes the liver causing it to perform poorly for its other functions. This is really bad for weight loss because one of the major functions of the liver is to burn fat.
So here is my advice for you today. Instead of going on some crazy fad diet which you won’t stick with for long, just make some healthy changes to your diet. Instead of trying to make sweeping changes, add these healthy choices to your daily food list.
The key to weight loss is to make small, positive steps and everyone of these food items is going to be an excellent choice for you.
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