We all know that in order to lose weight we need to be eating a healthy and balanced diet. The eradication of junk food such as pies, crisps, chips, cakes, sweets, burgers, pizzas and kebabs is needed in order to make our diet healthier. We also need to cut out soft drinks and alcohol and increase the amount of water that we drink each day. So whilst we all know these foods are bad because they contain fat and sugar, and we know that we need to eat healthily to lose weight, the question So what should I be eating? is not always fully answered to help us start on our new lifestyle.
It is recommended that you increase your intake of food that contains fibre. Fibre helps you to feel fuller after a meal and thus decreases the urge to snack on junk foods. Fibre is also known to help individuals eat less due to the fact that they make you feel so full up. You will find that foods such as bread, nuts, some vegetables, wholemeal pasta, beans, lentils and brown rice are foods that have a high fibre content.
Some of the other best foods to help lose weight are those that have a high water content. It is a common misconception that consuming too much water actually makes you put on weight. In fact, the opposite is true. Your body needs a lot of water, without which it becomes dehydrated. Increasing foods that have high water content adds to the amount of water in the body and helps lose excess weight. Foods that have a lot of water also contain fewer calories as the water displaces them. Examples of healthy foods with a high water content include oatmeal, fruit, vegetables, yoghurt and broth based soups.
Reducing your sodium (salt) intake is also important to win the battle against weight. Indeed, salt can actually cause a little water retention in individuals, thus adding to the weight in the body. Not only this, too much sodium can contribute to a range of illnesses and diseases such as strokes and heart disease. The recommended daily sodium intake for an adult is just 6 grams. Most fresh fruit and vegetables generally have low levels of sodium and so should be chosen over foods with a high sodium content. Other foods low in sodium include wholemeal bread, oatmeal, dried pulses and beans, rice, pasta and dairy products. This low salt makes these good foods to help lose weight. It is always best to read the label which should give you an indication of how much salt the product contains – and be aware that labels may refer to salt as sodium, so remember to check this too.
More of the best foods to help lose weight are those that are naturally dense in nutrients. Nutrient-dense foods are generally low in energy so you can eat more of it but “ingest “ less energy (the negative energy effect), which is a way of helping the body to lose weight. Some foods that are also a good source of minerals and vitamins also contain antioxidants which are great for keeping the body healthy and free from diseases such as cancer. Examples of foods that are nutrient-dense include pineapples, blueberries, eggs, seaweed, soya products, Brazil nuts, peas, herbs and beans so they are excellent foods to help lose weight.
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