Are you trying to lose weight while living in the United States? You’re not alone. According to a 2018 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 49.3% of U.S. residents over the age of 20 have tried to lose weight in the past 12 months.
Trying and failing to lose weight multiple times can be a difficult cycle that leaves you feeling defeated. Getting healthy poses an even bigger challenge when you’re not sure what you need to change and why.
You don’t need to buy icky diet food to eat healthily and lose weight. There’s tons of whole, natural foods that taste great while helping you slim your body.
Check out 7 of the best foods for weight loss below to get started.
The 7 Best Foods for Weight Loss (That Also Taste Great!)
Rather than focusing on cutting out unhealthy foods, you should try to incorporate more fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods.
They’ll fill you up so you don’t have those bad cravings. And, eventually, your body will learn to crave healthier foods rather than unhealthy ones.
Here are the 7 best weight loss foods to try today.
1. Avocado
Millennials aren’t the only ones hopping on the avocado train. These delicious, green fruits form the basis of guacamole and taste fantastic smashed on a piece of hot toast. They are also nutritional powerhouses packed full of good fats, fiber, and other nutrients.
Eating avocado makes it easier to manage your weight. Studies show that people who eat avocado regularly have a lower BMI and weigh much less than people who do not. They also had a healthier diet overall and consumed much less sugar when compared to people who don’t.
2. Beans and Other Pulses
Beans, lentils, chickpeas, and green peas all belong to a certain food group called pulses. Pulses boost your weight loss by making you feel fuller when you eat them compared to other foods. This comes from their high fiber and protein content.
High-fiber foods slow down digestion and make it easier for your body to absorb vital nutrients. Proteins cause your brain to release hormones that signal your stomach is full. This makes pulses a great, versatile option for people who want to lose weight, especially vegetarians.
3. Berries
Berries also contain a lot of fiber and, therefore, help slow down digestion and make you feel fuller for longer. Some berries, like elderberries, blackberries, and raspberries, even contain the most fiber out of all other fruits.
Elderberries pack a whopping 10g of fiber per cup while the more popular strawberry only has 3g per cup. Boysenberries, blackberries, loganberries, and raspberries have between 7-8g per cup.
Mix berries into a salad, with yogurt, or eat them on their own for a healthy snack.
4. Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables include foods like cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli. They too contain high levels of fiber and fill you up for a long time thanks to a decent bit of protein as well. Broccoli and cauliflower contain 5g of fiber per cup when cooked while Brussels sprouts have 6g.
Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables are also low in calories, so you can eat a lot of them. Toss them into soups or with pasta, roast them in the oven, or eat them raw with hummus. You can’t go wrong with cruciferous veggies.
5. Whole Eggs
Many people remember the incredible, edible egg campaign that touted the many health benefits of eggs. It wasn’t just a marketing ploy. Whole eggs, meaning both the white and the yolk, offer a ton of nutrition for being so small.
Eggs provide protein and fat, which keeps you feeling full for longer. They also help lower blood sugar levels and decrease the hormone ghrelin, aka the hunger hormone.
Be sure you eat the yolk because that’s where you find most of the nutrients.
6. Nuts
Although nuts contain high amounts of fat, they still belong on this list of the best foods to help lose weight. Nuts in moderate quantities provide a great balance of healthy fats, protein, and fiber. They make an excellent snack since they help keep you full.
Many studies show that eating nuts like almonds can help you lose weight and improve your metabolic health. They also reveal that people who eat nuts are often slimmer and healthier than those who don’t.
Remember, you shouldn’t binge on nuts like you can cruciferous vegetables. They still contain a high amount of calories, so stick to consuming them in moderation.
7. Leafy Greens
Finally, choose dark leafy greens when making salads or topping sandwiches rather than less nutritious leaves like Iceberg lettuce. There are many different kinds of greens with various tastes and textures including spinach, kale, swiss chard, mustards, collards, dandelions, and more.
Leafy greens are one of the best foods for weight loss because they have very few calories, but contain tons of fiber and good carbohydrates. You can bulk up a salad, soup, or pasta with extra greens to make you feel fuller.
Greens also provide many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that help you burn fat.
Get Fitter Faster with a Doctor-Approved Weight Loss Program
So now you should know some of the best foods for weight loss that you need to try. Add them to your grocery list before your next shopping trip.
You don’t need to incorporate them all right away. Just start by using one or two when cooking this week and see how easy it is to start eating healthier!
Still not convinced you can lose weight with these healthy foods alone?
Check out the doctor-approved ChiroThin Weight Loss Program! The program combines a healthy diet with a natural dietary supplement for effective, long-term weight loss.
Find a ChiroThin doctor near you to start losing weight and make a permanent change today!