12 Powerful Natural Weight Loss Foods: Burn Your Extra Fat
Being healthy and achieving the ideal weight seems to be a never ending mission for most people. It seems to be more taxing for those who are overweight than for those who are underweight. Those who weigh more exert tremendous effort to rid themselves of the cellulite and the flabs that they have earned through years of overeating, overindulgence, and unhealthy living.
However, losing weight can be surprisingly difficult. In fact, national health surveys show Americans in general are getting fatter. Sure, regular runners should be ahead of the pack, but many are still losing the weight gain war. Here are the 12 natural foods that I always, always have in my house. They are all natural, healthy and nutritious, and they’re all really cheap and easy to find too!
The 12 Best Weight Loss Foods
These accelerated weight loss methods are achieved by combining workout with exercise routines formulated by health experts and personal trainers. If you are determined to follow one of these systems, then you should consider the following 12 best weight loss foods as well:
1. Raw Fruits and Vegetables:
You’ll not only maintain your weight much easier if you eat more RAW fruits and veggies but you’ll also lose weight much faster on a weight loss plan eating more RAW fruits and veggies and here’s another quick fact…
Your body burns 16% more calories after you eat a meal that’s mostly fruits & vegetables than if you ate a meal without any fruits or vegetables plus…
Fruits & vegetables high in vitamin C like Oranges, lemons & pineapples liquefy (or burn off) body fat so the fat can be easily flushed out of your body and you need to eat RAW fruits and vegetables because…
2. Oatmeal:
Oatmeal is a very high source of soluble fiber that digests slowly, curbing your hunger and cravings for hours. It stabilizes blood sugar levels, unclogs arteries, and lowers risk of colon cancer.
It is best to avoid the flavored and sweetened oatmeal as they have added sugar and chemicals. Go for plain oatmeal with low fat milk and blueberries or your favorite fruit for a power breakfast. It’s inexpensive and you can buy it in bulk.
3. Apple:
Apples that are sprayed with pesticides are not safe to eat with the peel on. Organic apples should be included in your diet if you want effective weight loss because you could eat the peel. The peel of the apple is where most of the ascorbic acid, iron, and magnesium are found. The peel is also rich in fiber so you just have to eat it as well.
4. Chili Peppers:
Cayenne Pepper Fruit is a member of the plant genus “capsicum” (cap-sih-kum), a term that comes from the Greek word kapto, which means “to bite”. All peppers contain compounds called capsaicinoids. This is especially true of cayenne peppers, which derive their spicy heat, as well as extraordinary anti-inflammatory, analgesic, heart-healthy effects, from very high levels of capsaicinoids, the most common form of which is capsaicin.
5. Yogurt:
Studies have shown that yogurt aids in burning fat and increasing weight loss. It’s a great low fat source of calcium and protein, both of which are important for maintaining a high metabolism. Calcium reduces fat storage and boosts your metabolism, while protein maintains and protects lean muscle tissue.
Try to choose plain yogurt the flavored ones contain high amounts of sugar and additives. Alternatively, homemade yogurt is a healthy and economical way to add fresh yogurt to your life every day.
Yogurt can also be used as a substitute for mayonnaise or sour cream in dips and salad dressing recipes. If plain yogurt isn’t your thing, mix in fruits and nuts or use it in smoothies.
6. Almonds:
These filling, snackable bites can help keep your blood sugar steady. A study from the University of Toronto found that people who ate almonds with white bread didn’t experience the same blood sugar surges as those who ate just the slice. And the higher blood sugar levels rise, the lower they fall that dip leads to hunger, causing people to overeat. Plus, blood sugar changes cause the body to make insulin, which can increase abdominal fat. Eat almonds on their own, or in almond-butter form.
7. Fish:
Eat more fish like Salmon, Tuna, and Sardines to make your body more sensitive to a fat-burning hormone called Leptin (Leptin means “thin” in Greek). Leptin suppresses your appetite and Leptin determines whether you store the calories you eat as fat or if you burn the calories you eat for energy.
8. Wheatgrass:
Before World War II, drug stores throughout the country (especially in the grain-belt states of the Midwest) sold tablets of dried wheat or barley grass as a kind of primitive vitamin supplement. Today, young wheat and barley grasses are dried and powdered to make dietary supplements. The health benefits of this “Super Greens Food” are too numerous to list all of them.
9. Eggs:
This food item is an ideal source of protein that makes the person take in fewer calories the entire day. Studies show that if you eat two whole eggs in the morning, you tend to sustain that feeling of fullness longer than if you eat pastry, bread, or meat. This enables you to snack less making you take in lesser calories. Free range eggs are better and more nutritious than commercially-produced ones.
10. Blueberries:
Blueberries contain a powerful antioxidant named Anthocyanin that may promote weight loss by reducing abdominal fat. It has also been shown that consuming blueberries actually reduces your food cravings.
I like to add fresh or frozen blueberries to low fat muffins, cereal and yogurt. I also blend them into smoothies, and they also make a good snack for evenings watching TV.
11. Grapefruit:
I’m sure you’ve heard of the grapefruit diet? Well it turns out there might be something to it. Grapefruit contains fat burning enzymes that are responsible for reducing insulin levels and encouraging weight loss.
Grapefruit is low in calories and high in antioxidant vitamin C and potassium. It also contains bioflavonoids and other plant chemicals that protect against cancer and heart disease. You can eat grapefruit alone or toss it on salads.
12. Cauliflower:
Cauliflower is also a vitamin C standout: Just 1/2 cup nets you 36 percent of your daily needs. Plus, this cruciferous veggie is a proven cancer fighter it’s been linked to a lower risk of colorectal, lung and stomach cancers. And like almost all veggies, cauliflower is low in calories while still offering filling fiber.
This veggie is also super versatile and can make a great replacement for heavier foods. Try cauliflower roasted until crispy as a side dish to burgers or sandwiches, mashed up with a little trans fat free margarine to mimic mashed potatoes, or pureed and added to soups instead of cream.