Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have
to survive on a diet of celery, salad, and boiled chicken breast,
feeling “hangry” all the time if you intend to lose weight. As a matter
of fact, being full and enjoying nutritious, filling meals will really
help you combat all those junk food cravings and stay healthy without
putting on any weight. In this article, we’ll list 14 nutritious foods
you can eat as much as you want without feeling guilty or afraid that
you’ll gain weight, and some of these will surely surprise you.
1. Chickpeas (and other legumes)
What makes food promote weight loss?
Some might say that a low-calorie count determines that, but that's not
the best way of looking at it, as even a very small piece of candy or
chocolate can be quite low in calories, but eating that will not make it
beneficial for weight loss at all. The key is in the energy density, or
how many calories there are in a product compared to its weight. By
choosing foods that have a lower energy density, you'll be able to eat
plenty of nutritious food and lose weight.
One group of such foods are legumes, and especially chickpeas, which
will not only fill you up and keep you full thanks to their high fiber
and protein content but they also have a low-calorie count per gram. The
hearty and filling legumes are a must-have weight loss and maintenance
companion, especially if you don't cook them with too much oil.
Related Article: The 10 Healthiest Beans and Other Legumes
2. Boiled potatoes
Speaking of filling foods that are good for
weight loss, boiled potatoes have also somehow made the list. You might
find this surprising since potatoes are so carb-heavy, but it turns out
that eating potatoes boiled can actually promote weight loss rather
than prevent it.
This is because boiled potatoes, especially cold ones, contain a type of
starch called resistant starch, which acts like soluble fiber in your
gut and makes you feel full for a long time. Apart from that, resistant
starches have been found to contain half the calories of regular starch
in one gram, so by boiling your potatoes instead of frying them, you're
ultimately both lowering your daily caloric intake and preventing
overeating, all because potatoes are so filling.
3. Fish
Chicken and turkey breast are the most
common recommendations for animal protein that won't cause weight gain,
especially since they're so easily accessible and relatively affordable.
However, limiting yourself to those options can be boring, and an
excellent alternative to add to your rotation is fish.
Any fish will do, and luckily, there are so many fish varieties to
choose from. Interestingly, one study even found that people who eat
fish typically consume fewer calories by 11% than those who eat beef.
Also, fish contains those famous omega-3 fats, which, apart from fueling
your brain and making you healthier, were also proven to decrease the
appetite in those who are overweight.
4. Berries
Berries are not the most filling foods out
there, but they are quite low in calories, so they make an excellent
snack for those who like to watch their weight. The best thing about
berries that all of them are very high in antioxidants, which makes them
not only a tasty but also a very healthy snack. Apart from that,
berries come in a huge variety - blueberries, raspberries, strawberries,
cranberries, just to name a few, so it's impossible to get bored of
them.
5. Zucchini and eggplants
Both zucchini and eggplants have a very low
energy density and caloric count - 17 calories in a portion of
zucchini, and 25 in a portion of eggplants (when cooked without oil). At
the same time, both veggies are so very versatile in terms of the ways
you can eat them and quite affordable, so you can really make them a
reliable staple food that won't make you gain weight or break the bank.
6. Eggs
Yet another excellent protein source is
eggs. Contrary to popular belief, eating egg whites alone isn't better
for weight loss and muscle gain because about half of an egg's protein
content is in the yolk, as we discussed previously in an article about
popular egg myths. Instead, eat the entire egg and don't waste the yolk.
Eggs are quite beneficial for weight loss and maintenance because they
are quite filling as well, with studies showing that eating eggs for
breakfast can promote weight loss and improve the Body Mass Index (BMI)
in the long term compared with bagels.
7. Citrus fruit
Like berries, citrus fruit are a wonderful
snack because they are very low in calories and high in vitamins.
Compared to berries, however, citrus fruit may actually be a little bit
more filling, since they contain more fiber and a low dose of pectin, a
chemical capable of slowing down digestion and making you feel fuller.
There is also some scientific evidence suggesting that grapefruit, in
particular, is beneficial for weight loss, so if you like the bitter
taste of the fruit and are currently on a weight loss journey, it's a
great match for you.
8. Broth
If you want to learn only one lesson from
this article, let it be "eat more soups". Not only are they primarily
made of water, making them very low in calories per volume, they're also
more filling than you'd expect, with several studies showing that
people who eat soup often stay fuller for longer, consume fewer calories
and are more likely to maintain their perfect weight.
One study even found that participants ended up consuming 20% fewer
calories during a meal that included vegetable soup and a normal lunch
meal than the controls who only ate only the lunch meal, so if you want
to stay fuller and consume fewer calories, try having broth or a
broth-based soup before an actual meal.
It's best to opt-out of cream-based soups if your goal is weight loss,
however, as the fats in the cream can increase your calorie intake.
9. Cauliflower(and other cruciferous vegetables)
Welcome the group of vegetables that are
your best friend if you're losing weight, but also if you're trying to
eat healthily. Cruciferous vegetables, which include cauliflower,
cabbage, kale, and broccoli, just to name a few, are all packed with
antioxidants and very high quantities of fiber while simultaneously
being among the least calorie-dense foods out there.
A definite bonus is that you can also use these vegetables in a huge
variety of ways - in soups, salads, curries, smoothies, and just as a
healthy snack, you name it.
10. Cottage cheese
Most dairy products are quite high in fats,
which significantly increases their energy density, but cottage cheese
is the one exception because it's very high in proteins, but quite low
in fat. Apart from that, cottage cheese is effective at satiating for a
long time, with one study even concluding that it's just as filling as
eggs when eaten for breakfast. No wonder so many bodybuilders and people
who want to build lean muscle mass typically eat so much cottage
cheese.
11. Apples
The humble apple has been the go-to snack
for centuries, if not millennia for good reason, and even if you're
trying to limit your caloric intake, eating apples is an excellent
choice. First, apples are primarily made of water, so they're quite a
low-calorie snack, and like citrus fruit, they contain pectin, which is
known to reduce one's appetite and food cravings.
Also, remember that eating fruits whole rather than juicing them or
blending them into a smoothie is more beneficial for your teeth and long
term health, as well as for a more prolonged feeling of fullness, so
try to eat apples, as well as any other fruit whole or cut up into
pieces.
12. Mushrooms
The texture of mushrooms is very
reminiscent of meat, and so it comes as no surprise that they are quite
filling. Apart from that, certain mushrooms are very high in protein,
and all mushrooms are an excellent source of fiber. Portobello
mushrooms, in particular, were suggested to be beneficial for weight
loss thanks to their ability to regulate blood glucose levels, which can
reduce the food cravings one experiences and, as a result, regulate
one's appetite.
13. Popcorn
Let's face the hard truth - fruits and
veggies can't always make our snack cravings go away. Sometimes, we need
something crunchy and salty, especially on a movie night. If this
resonates with you, feel free to indulge in some popcorn from time to
time. Even though most popcorn varieties are a bit too salty or buttery,
they will still be much better for you than a bag of chips or other
snacks - a fact that was proven scientifically.
This is because popcorn is a whole grain and contains a lot of nutrients
and fiber. Also, it's quite large and takes up a lot of space in your
stomach, which can ultimately be good because you won't be able to eat
too many calories worth of it and will stay full for a while after
eating popcorn.
14. Shirataki Noodles
As surprising as it may sound, even noodles
can benefit your weight, if you know which ones to choose, that is.
Most pasta and noodle varieties are made of wheat or rice flour, which,
as tasty as they may be, are quite bad for your waistline. However, a
traditional Japanese noodle called "shirataki" is an exception, as these
thin, translucent noodles are made from the konjac yam.
These noodles are 97% water, and 3% glucomannan, a type of soluble fiber
that has weight loss and other impressive health benefits. Apart from
being a very filling and essentially a zero-calorie food, these noodles
also improve your gut health while simultaneously making you feel less
hungry, as pointed out in several studies on glucomannan.
One such study even found that daily glucomannan supplementation
resulted in a 2.5 kg (5.5 pounds) weight loss in obese individuals in
just 8 weeks, without any other diet or exercise habit changes, which is
truly impressive!
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