8 Best Superfoods For Weight Loss
Dieting with superfoods is the key to successful weight loss. Their special properties help reduce chronic inflammation and kick start metabolism to burn more calories, leading to effective long-term weight management.
Discover these nutritional powerhouse foods at your local grocery store or try Skinny Greens as a supplement.
1. Avocados
Avocados are packed with nutrition and low in calories. Incorporating them into meals may help fill you up faster so that you consume fewer calories overall.
Studies have shown that people who consume avocados tend to have lower cholesterol levels and a healthier waistline.
Snack on delicious almonds in salads, sandwiches, tacos or any meal for a nutritious boost that may help with weight loss
Avocados are an excellent source of both fiber and vitamin K, with an outstanding low glycemic index rating that won’t spike blood sugar.
Avocados are an easy, versatile superfood to prepare. From raw consumption to smoothie additions and topping breakfast bowls or yogurt with them – avocados have long been considered a key element of any healthy diet; even used to create delectable desserts! Check out this delicious avocado salad as a quick lunch or dinner that can boost metabolism while simultaneously making you look younger longer
2. Blueberries
Blueberries are chock-full of antioxidants and fiber, helping you feel full and curbing sugary snack cravings. Plus, their low calorie count makes them perfect for smoothies or salads!
Blueberries may help prevent your insulin levels from skyrocketing during physical activity, enabling you to burn more fat (1). Plus, they’re an excellent source of vitamin C which is important in protecting immune health and combatting belly fat (2, 3).
Berries contain flavonoids (antioxidant plant compounds) which have been shown to lower cholesterol, reduce systolic blood pressure and help decrease body weight (3, 4). Aside from blueberries, consider including strawberries, blackberries, cranberries, maqui berries, bilberries or lingonberries in your diet as they offer similar health benefits.
3. Green Tea
Green tea is packed with polyphenols – antioxidants that promote good health and help stave off diseases – making it one of the healthiest beverages on offer. Because green tea doesn’t go through oxidation like its black and oolong counterparts do, more nutrients remain intact in its composition.
Green tea’s EGCG compound is known to help boost metabolism and exercise performance, making green tea one of the best beverages for weight loss, especially after workouts. A cup of green tea contains few calories while still providing some stimulatory effects such as caffeine. Plus, green tea makes for an easy post-workout drink to enhance weight loss!
Nuts such as almonds are an excellent source of protein and fiber that help with weight loss and management, keeping you full for longer while aiding weight management. Furthermore, nuts contain monounsaturated fats – the more nutritious type – which help lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels. A 2020 study concluded that diets high in nuts were associated with lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Aim to include at least one serving of nuts (like peanuts and walnuts) daily into your diet plan whether raw, roasted or salted; making them perfect snack options between meals!
4. Grapefruit
Grapefruit has long been touted as a weight-loss superfood, but its true story is more nuanced than this simple assumption suggests. Grapefruit is a low-cal, nutrient-rich food boasting vitamin C – an antibacterial and inflammation fighter which may help lower high blood pressure and lipid levels linked to obesity; recent research also indicates it may encourage muscle growth while reducing bloat.
Researchers are investigating whether an organic compound called nootkatone found in grapefruit triggers a protein that increases metabolism. A 12-week study published by Nutrition & Metabolism randomly assigned participants to consume half a grapefruit or grapefruit juice before each meal; results suggested this habit helped people eat fewer calories at each meal and therefore lead to weight loss over time.
Add grapefruit to your balanced diet in moderation to achieve and sustain weight management, provided there are no medications that interact with it (see 10 Things You Should Never Eat With Grapefruit). Enjoy it as a tasty snack or incorporate it into salads, tacos, smoothies or mocktails for optimal results.
5. Garbanzo Beans
Garbanzo beans (commonly known as chickpeas) are an exceptionally nutritious legume rich in protein, fiber and healthy fats. Furthermore, this superfood also provides us with folate which plays a key role in cell metabolism and DNA synthesis processes as well as helping protect against certain forms of cancer like colon and breast (7).
Boiling these starchy beans makes garbanzo beans an ideal ingredient to add to soups and stews for optimal diet-friendly eating. One cup of cooked garbanzo beans provides two grams of resistant starch which may help increase satiation for longer.
Foods rich in nutrients provide energy and fuel to support weight loss, when coupled with an active lifestyle and exercise plan. Eating these nutrient-rich foods may help lower blood sugar levels and alleviate excessive hunger, helping you shed unwanted pounds more efficiently than other methods. But no single food holds the secret of weight loss: for optimal results combine these nutritional foods with other nutritious choices while staying within reasonable calorie requirements.
6. Black Beans
Black beans (known in Latin American cuisine as turtle beans or frijoles negros) are an integral component of Latin American cuisine, known for being both nutritionally dense and flavorful. High in soluble fiber that aids digestion and blood sugar regulation, as well as important vitamins such as potassium, magnesium, iron and folate – black beans make an essential part of this cuisine!
Black beans contain 15 grams of satisfying protein without any saturated fat, plus plenty of filling fiber – and are low in calories too.
Both dried and canned black beans can be found at grocery stores year-round, though dried varieties will last longer in your pantry and cost less. When purchasing canned versions, look for those low in sodium content; furthermore, always drain and rinse before use to further decrease salt intake.
Add black beans to a green salad, blend into soup, or use as a dip! Black beans make for an interesting ingredient when used in traditional Mexican cuisine such as enchiladas, burrito bowls, quesadillas, nachos or the iconic black bean burger! Don’t forget the black bean burger either!
7. Salmon
Salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids that help reduce inflammation and maintain healthy blood sugar levels, as well as helping control hunger by restricting caloric intake – potentially aiding weight loss by helping curb hunger pangs and curbing your appetite.
Salmon’s high protein content also aids weight loss by making you feel full and satisfied, thereby helping to prevent overeating which could otherwise lead to weight gain or chronic diseases like diabetes.
This lean fish is packed with selenium, which may help prevent metabolic syndrome – an excess belly fat condition. Combine it with whole grains, fruits, and vegetables for an excellent meal full of essential nutrition.
8. Quinoa
Quinoa has quickly become an essential ingredient in many grain bowls due to its abundance of protein, fiber and vitamin-rich nutrients. Though classified as a cereal grain, quinoa is actually a seed; as it’s gluten-free it can even be enjoyed by people suffering from Celiac disease.
Quina stands out as an exceptional source of complete protein, meaning it contains all essential amino acids needed for human body functioning. These amino acids form muscle tissue, blood cells and bones – and even contain flavonoids known to reduce inflammation and protect against free radical damage associated with many diseases such as cardiovascular conditions and cancers.
Though there is no magic pill for weight loss, research shows that eating more nutritious and less ultra-processed food may promote healthier weight. If you want an easy solution for meal planning and grocery shopping, HelloFresh provides healthy meals you can prepare in under 30 minutes!
