You may want to lose weight, but the thought of suffering through a diet deters you time and again. Fortunately, there are foods that can help you lose weight fast by eating smarter. Losing weight is more than a matter of how much you eat. Choosing the right kinds of food can help you lose weight by boosting your metabolism, suppressing your appetite, reducing cravings and appeasing your desires to splurge with high calorie alternatives.
Salads
Salads are a mainstay of weight watchers, and for good reason. Bursting with fiber, vitamins and nutrients, salads are low in calories and high in flavor. They require effort to make and ingest, which helps to satiate the psychological need to consume. Make your salad a celebration of nature's imagination. Start with your greens, like spinach or romaine lettuce, then raid the vegetable bin and start adding color to your salad. Add red, green, orange or yellow peppers, carrots, onion, cabbage and tomatoes. These veggies spike your creation with vitamins A and C, phytonutrients and lycopene. Toss in some almonds or other nuts to add crunch and protein. Pull out the stops and add fruit like raisins or grapes for vitamins, sweetness, texture and some juicy pops while you chew. Spritz with a low calorie dressing, and let your mouth-party begin.
Green Tea
Green tea contains caffeine, which suppresses your appetite while it boosts your metabolism. As a result you eat less, burn more calories and lose weight. For example, a 2008 controlled experiment published in Physiological Behavior fed subjects identical diets over a 12-week study period. Half the subjects drank several cups of tea each day, and half didn't. The study, summarized by The National Institutes of Health, found increased metabolism and weight loss in the experimental subjects who drank green tea compared to the non-tea drinking subjects.
Turkey
Don't save this protein-rich meat just for the holidays. Turkey builds lean muscle and raises your metabolism, burning off calories, according to EcoSalon. It takes a long time to digest, and as a result stabilizes blood sugar and staves off your appetite. Turkey's protein boosts your energy, but because it contains tryptophan it can calm your mood and minimize emotional eating.
Yogurt
Low-fat yogurt provides high levels of protein, stabilizing blood sugar and reducing your appetite. It also contains pro-biotic bacteria, which aids in the regulation of your digestive tract. Additionally, yogurt contains lots of calcium, which is important for regulating your appetite, according to Medical News Today.
Apples
Antioxidants in apples may prevent metabolic syndrome, a condition that contributes to thickening of the waist, according to WSBTV. The pectin in apple limits fat absorption by cells, and the fiber suppresses appetite. Eat an apple 30 minutes before a meal to help feel full and eat less.
Grapefruit
Grapefruit and other citrus fruits lower your insulin levels, which reduces your appetite. Rich in vitamin C and fiber, grapefruit requires your body to expend calories in order to digest it.
Vegetables
Complex carbohydrates in vegetables slow digestion and stabilize your blood sugar, reducing your appetite and food cravings. Brimming with nutrients and vitamins, vegetables fill you up without adding unnecessary calories. Fill your plate with veggies and eat guilt-free.
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