Essential Foods for Weight Loss

Many people today are becoming more and more conscious about their physical appearance that they engage into any activity that will help them achieve an ideal weight. If you are one of them, then it is about time you consider changing your lifestyle into a better one. You have to open your mind to the concept of changing your poor eating habits and saying hello to a complete and well-balanced diet. And of course, do not disregard the idea of incorporating exercise because both working out and eating right make a perfect combination in maintaining good health.  

When it comes to losing weight, the first thing to do is to have a plan of action on how to get started with your weight loss program. A crash diet may be suitable for you, but when you start to eat the normal way again, your body stores everything that it gets to be able to replace what was lost while you were starving yourself. And so, here is a list of essential foods for weight loss that you can eat, without having to feel any guilt.

Generally speaking, our metabolic rate is the highest in the daytime, so take advantage of it and put on the good stuff from morning till afternoon. After that, lessen the pace of your eating as the dusk approaches, because the metabolism reduces during nighttime. There are many options to select from, and all of them work great if you want to lose weight the healthy way.

Seafood

Fish such as trout, tuna, anchovies, mackerel, sable fish, sardines, herring and the Alaskan salmon are rich in Omega-3 fats, which are effective in preventing weight gain. Up to three servings of seafood every week will help reduce the cholesterol level as well, because these fish are loaded with monounsaturated fats. They give additional benefits to lessen the risks of memory loss, arthritis and heart disease.

Hot and Spicy Foods

Chili powder, cayenne and chili peppers are examples of hot and spicy foods, which are effective calorie burners. They are good sources of fiber, phytonutrients and anti-inflammatory antioxidants. However, if you enjoy spicy Asian curries, avoid gorging on them, as they are typically too oily, which will not be helpful to your diet plan.

Nuts and Seeds

While nuts and seeds are loaded with calories, they are good to eat because they have anti-inflammatory fats. Cashew nuts, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, flaxseed, sesame seeds, filberts and walnuts are great snack substitutes for junk foods. Flaxseed in particular, has various other health benefits, aside from addressing the weight gain.

Vegetable Treats

If you are serious in losing weight, make sure that you do not compromise on important nutritional requirements. You need to eat vegetables such as mustard, turnip, collard, spinach, kale,beet, pumpkin, chard, sweet potatoes and many others. They all work well for your body. Moreover, bell peppers, lettuce, brussel sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, spirulina and eggplant contain a high amount of anti-oxidants that can help you achieve your goal. Herbs such as oregano, rosemary, parsley, basil, mint and thyme are beneficial for the overall health as well as for weight maintenance.

Fruits

Kiwifruits, cherries, apples, oranges, grapefruits, cranberries, blueberries, prunes, pears, peaches and plums contain phytonutrients which are great in fighting obesity. These fruits are fiber rich that helps in fast digestion. They also have anti-inflammatory antioxidants in them. Fruits such as noni, acai berry, mangosteen and goji berries can do wonders for your diet program and also improve your overall health. For those weight watchers, coconuts, avocados and olives are effective fruits as they contain anti-adiposity fats.

Low Fat Dairy Products

Low fat probiotic milk, yogurt and kefir are excellent choices to acquire essential nutritional requirements while you are on the road to weight gain management. Probiotic low fat foods have nutraceuticals, and thus effective for weight loss.

Healthy Carbs

There are lots of people who completely avoid carbs, thinking that it only contributes in their weight gain. However, it is not necessary to remove carbs from your daily eating plan. Here are some carbs that are not just beneficial to the immune system, but also in shedding some pounds:

• Baked Potatoes – These are excellent sources of good carbs for your system. A regular sized potato contains about 50 grams of carbs, which are zero fat.
• Pasta – Spaghetti, rigatoni, angel hair and ziti are great sources of energy. Pastas are low in fat but be sure to stay away from manicotti and lasagna because they are loaded with fattening cheese.
• Legumes and Beans – These are believed to be healthy sources of carbohydrates. The carbs in them are slowly digested, which helps prevent blood sugar levels from increasing.
  

With the consumption of these essential foods for weight loss, you will soon witness a big change in your body, which in turn will inspire you to lead a healthier diet and lifestyle. Learn more about getting fit and living healthily by visiting Essential Health Foods Facebook page.