With some foods, the more you eat, the more you’ll tend to gain weight.
But there are other foods that actually help you lose weight or prevent weight gain in the first place. Stuff your belly with these, eat as much as you want, and your health and weight can improve instead of storing fat.
Foods That Are Low In Fat
Make yourself a salad with lots of leafy greens, but be careful with the dressing. While a salad can be a very healthy meal, too much of the wrong dressing can quickly turn it into a high-fat, high-calorie meal. Kinds of vinegar and oils are healthy in moderation, but avoid anything that’s creamy or has a lot of sugar.
Fruits and vegetables tend to be very low in fat, which means you are unlikely to gain weight even if you eat a lot of them. But when you smother them in butter, cream, or other high-fat toppings, they can quickly become unhealthy.
Foods That Stimulate Your Metabolism
High-protein meals are a bit harder for your body to digest. This means that your metabolism will need to work harder to break down the food, and you’ll burn more calories.
This includes not just meats like chicken, fish, and beef but also beans, lentils, tofu, and other plant-based protein sources.
Another tasty option for stimulating your metabolism is hot peppers. The capsaicin (the stuff that makes peppers spicy) has been shown to increase energy expenditure and have anti-obesity effects.
Filling Foods That Are Low In Calories
Some foods are so filling that you can eat a lot without consuming many calories.
Think of the size of your stomach. It’s very satisfying to have a meal that fills that volume up. When you fill it up with calorie-dense foods like bacon cheeseburgers, potato chips, and pastries, you will be taking in a lot of calories.
Compare that to filling up on broccoli, apples, or other fruits and vegetables. That same size of food will still give you the satisfying feeling of a full stomach but with substantially fewer calories.
Foods That Help You Eat Less
Some foods help you feel full for longer, so you’ll be less likely to overeat later in the day.
For this, you’ll want meals that are high in fiber and high in protein. The best options are beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. A meal full of these foods will help keep your unhealthy cravings away and help you stay on track with your weight-loss goals.
Water is another excellent option for helping you feel full and satiated. It’s calorie-free and will help keep your stomach from growling for more food. Drink a full glass of water first thing in the morning before eating and throughout the day whenever you feel hungry.
With these principles in mind, you can start to fill your plate with delicious, nutritious, and satisfying foods that will help you lose weight instead of gaining it.
