According to the American Heart Association, being overweight has a profound effect on our health. Losing weight is not easy for many people, especially for those who enjoy food. For many people, as soon as the word "diet" is said, they get hungry and start eating. The secret to losing weight and eating right is to be sure to use the right foods to suppress your appetite. Losing weight does not mean starving yourself, in fact, eating certain foods can make you feel satisfied and full while acting as appetite suppressants.
Apples
According to Bernard Jensen author of "Foods that Heal", apples are filled with soluble fiber and pectin, which can give you the feeling of being full. Apples can help regulate your glucose and also boost your energy level, which can be a plus if you have an exercise plan. An apple keeps you full and gives you energy. This tasty fruit is low on calories and fat and has other health benefits.
Salad
Dr. Howard M. Shapiro, weight loss expert and author, suggests that eating lettuce, cabbage, celery, cucumbers and other green leafy vegetables can fill you up without filling you out. Consuming a large bowl of salad before a meal can fill you up and, therefore, you will eat less. This is because the salad contains fiber, which will suppress your appetite. Lemon, balsamic vinegar and salsa are good healthy alternatives to salad dressings.
Oatmeal
According to Sheldon Margen author of "Wellness Encyclopedia of Food and Nutrition", oatmeal is rich in fiber and fills you up fast and for longer periods of time. The carbohydrates in oatmeal take much longer to burn; therefore, helping keep you from feeling feel hungry. Oatmeal is rather low on the glycemic index but is not low on nutritional value. Because oatmeal is such a slow-burning carbohydrate, it can suppress the hunger hormone ghrelin. A bowl of oatmeal each day has many healthy advantages including being a good appetite suppressant.
Green Tea
Besides water, tea is one of the most consumed beverages there is, according to Nadine Taylor the author of the book "Green Tea". Hunger pangs and the desire to snack can be reduced by drinking tea. Green tea is a good appetite suppressant because it releases certain hormones which are in charge of restricting food cravings.
References
- Foods That Heal; Bernard Jensen; 1988
- Green Tea; Nadine Taylor; 1998
- Wellness Encyclopedia of Food & Nutrition; Sheldon Margen; 2002
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