Clearly, exercise and other healthy lifestyle habits help you lose weight. Unless you eat the right foods, however, your diet efforts may go for naught. According to a study published by the American Institute for Cancer Research, nearly 25 percent of calories consumed by Americans comes from junk food. Even if you don't eat junk food frequently, you still might not be consuming the right foods. Although dieting is based more on discipline and knowledge than on divine intervention, several items can be classified as "miracle diet foods."
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a stellar food for dieters for several reasons. It's low in fat, calories and sugar. Oatmeal is full of complex carbohydrates, which fuel your body's energy levels longer than foods with simple or no carbs and keep you feeling full for longer. In a sense, oatmeal is a miracle breakfast food -- few breakfast meals are as light and filling. By eating a complex-carb breakfast, you give your metabolism an early start on burning calories.
Lean Meats and Other High-Protein Foods
Low-fat chicken, turkey and red meat are excellent sources of protein, especially when they are low in sodium. Nuts and fish, such as tuna, are also good protein sources. Protein helps build muscle, which is vital if you're exercising or lifting weights along with your diet efforts. An Arizona State University study found that although short-term results of low-fat diets, featuring either high or low levels of protein, were similar, high-protein dieters were more successful over time because they were less hungry.
Water
In terms of miracle diet drinks, it gets no better than water, which flushes toxins from your body and contains no calories, fat or sodium. Additionally, water can be an effective appetite reducer. A study funded by the Institute for Public Health and Water Research concluded that participants who drank two cups of water before meals consumed between 75 and 90 calories less per meal than those who did not drink water. They also lost 5 lbs. more on average.
Foods That You Like
A 2009 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that the most important factor in any diet is that you plan to eat foods that you'll realistically continue to eat over the long haul. Although popular low-carb and low-fat diets may work for you in the short-term, they may lose steam once you tire of the foods they allow. This doesn't mean that you'll lose weight by eating your favorite pizza every day. You should find a variety of light foods you'll be able to eat long-term without tiring of them and crashing and burning on your diet.
References
- American Heart Association: American Heart Association Comments on Weight Loss Study Comparing Low Carbohydrate/High Protein, Mediterranean Style and Low-Fat Diets
- Harvard School of Public Health: The Nutrition Source: The Best Diet Is the One You'll Follow
- Purdue University: Higher-Protein Diets Support Weight Loss, But May Lower Bone Density in Postmenopausal Women
- The Journal of Nutrition: High-Protein, Low-Fat Diets Are Effective for Weight Loss and Favorably Alter Biomarkers in Healthy Adults
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