Superfoods
Wouldn’t it be great if there were foods available today that could magically help us lose those unwanted extra pounds? Well although there is no magic bullet that can replace a clean diet and exercise there are some superfoods that can definitely help you on your weight loss journey. Here are some of my favourites that are healthy, delicious and super easy to get hold of.
Black Beans
Black beans are full of protein and high in fiber. Only one cup of black beans has around 15 grams of protein. Including protein in your diet has been shown to level out your blood sugar, which prevents cravings and keeps you full for longer. This often results in an overall reduction in total calories consumed during the day.
One cup of black beans also gets you around 15 grams of fiber which is about 3 table spoons. Because of their high fiber, black beans don’t spike insulin levels such as some grains and carbs and is great for a healthy metabolism. The biggest growers of black beans are Brazil and India and they make up a big part of Brazilians diet. If you’re going for canned black beans try to pick a brand without added salt or make sure you rinse them after opening the can.`
Kale
This funny looking lettuce like vegetable not only taste great, but it is packed full of good stuff. Quickly gaining in popularity, kale contains very little calories for nutritional benefit you get. Kale is high in fiber, iron, vitamin k, vitamin c, and even calcium. And what’s best of all is that it contains sulforaphane which is a cancer fighting ingredient. What many people don’t know is that kale can come in two different colours, green and red. I love using kale as my lettuce in salads, in my scrambled eggs, or fried rice. Taste great cooked or raw.
Goji Berries
A Himalayan berry, goji berries are fast becoming popular as they are just so good for us. They contain 18 amino acids, they are a good source of protein and low in calories. They are super low glycemic index (GI) (even lower then apples or oranges) and by weight, they contain over 20% fiber which will help you keep full for a long period of time. They have also been found to help with treating diabetes, cancer, fever, and hypertension among other things. I love to add goji berries in salads, adding them to my trail mix, or even just eating them plain as a snack between meals.
Wild Salmon
Not only is wild salmon great for us, but it also tastes great (best tasting fish in my opinion!) Salmon is high in Omega 3 fatty acids, which can help build muscle and lose fat. Salmon is a very lean (leaner then red meat) source of protein, which keeps us feeling full for longer. Wild salmon is always a better option than farmed salmon. Farmed salmon are fed antibiotics and other nasties to help the spread of disease in the small and packed pools of salmon. Farmed salmon meat is also coloured to look more like wild salmon. Freshness tip, try to pick pieces of salmon with the stripes in the meat close together. This generally means that the fish is fresh.
Grapefruit
I’m not talking about the grapefruit juice from concentrate that you buy in stores; I am talking about full round grapefruits and ruby grapefruits. Try having half a grapefruit before each meal or at least before breakfast. If you find it just too bitter, try adding only a little (!) raw sugar to boost the taste. Eating grapefruit can help you lose weight as they help reduce insulin levels (process of which your body converts calories into energy rather than fat). Grapefruits are antioxidant rich and have lots of vitamin C and vitamin A.
What’s your favourite superfood to help you lose weight? Let us know and post it in the comments below.
Author Bio
Charlotte is passionate about helping people lose weight and keep it off. Currently studying to be a health coach at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and owner of the site – http://topratedweightlossshakes.com
Here at Selfweightloss, we show you how to lose weight and maintain a healthier lifestyle with tips and articles on Weight Loss, Fitness, Diet, Nutrition and Food, updated daily by our community of authors and editors.
