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There is more to losing weight than calorie intake. This isn’t just about how much food you eat or how often you go to the gym. When you eat healthy, natural foods, you benefit more than you do from starving to death, negatively affecting metabolism, causing more fat to be stored.
Weight loss does not only have to do with looking good but also that your body must be healthy so that when you go on a diet you will not suffer from any adverse effects on your body.
The best way to lose weight is with foods that promote weight loss naturally so that you can quickly see results with the right foods and lose weight easily.
Nutrition Plays a Key Role in Losing Weight Quickly. In addition, it will depend on how many calories you take in with each meal because you must have a calorie deficit in order to lose weight.
Also, it must meet certain requirements such as quantity, quality, and proportion.
Natural Weight Loss Foods
The following are some foods that despite being common favorites they can promote health and support natural weight loss as well.
1.Chicken
Chicken is a light, tasty meat that contains 35.2g of protein per 4 oz. (113g) Serving. The protein in the chicken increases the number of calories you burn and also has a satiating effect that helps you feel more satisfied.
In addition to this, chicken is an excellent source of phosphorus, selenium, vitamin B3 and vitamin B6. These nutrients collectively support weight loss by stimulating your metabolism and increasing the rate at which your body burns calories.
Chicken is also low in calories with a 4 oz. Breast packing just 187 calories. This means you can enjoy it as part of any meal and be confident that it won’t add any excess calories to your day.
Another great thing about chicken is it’s extremely versatile. It can be eaten hot or cold as part of numerous meals. Some great ways to eat chicken include:
- Baked, fried or grilled with your favorite vegetables
- As part of a chicken salad
- As part of a chicken omelet
- As part of a chicken casserole or stew
2.Salmon
A 4 oz. Serving of salmon provides you with 12.4g of healthy fats and 31g of protein. Studies have shown that eating healthy fats regularly accelerates the rate at which your body burns fat and also limits the amount of fat that gets stored in your body.
Protein is also an effective fat-burning nutrient that uses up a large number of calories during digestion and helps you keep hunger at bay.
Salmon also contains large amounts of phosphorus, selenium, vitamin B3 and vitamin B12 which enhance your weight loss efforts in two main ways. First, these nutrients allow your body to process food more efficiently and reduce the chances of it getting stored as body fat. Second, these nutrients enhance your metabolism and increase the number of daily calories your body burns.
In addition to its nutritional value, salmon is also a very light option and contains just 244 calories per 4 oz. Serving. This means you can enjoy it guilt-free without worrying about it sabotaging your weight loss goals.
When it comes to eating salmon, there are plenty of options available to you. The list below provides some top salmon serving suggestions:
- Baked, fried or grilled with your favorite vegetables
- As part of a smoked salmon salad
- On a slice of whole grain toast with cream cheese
3.Blueberries
Blueberries have a sweet, refreshing taste and pack plenty of flavors. They contain just 84 calories per cup and are packed full of fiber and manganese. These two nutrients help you burn body fat by boosting your metabolic rate.
In addition to this, the low-calorie count makes them a perfect weight loss food as you can enjoy them in large volumes at a meager calorie cost.
In a study conducted by Texas Woman’s University, mice were 73 percent lower in fat cells when fed three servings of berries a day.
You can enjoy the benefits of eating blueberries, in plenty of options. They taste fantastic on their own and make a perfect snack at any time of the day. However, if you prefer getting a little more creative with your blueberry intake, try the serving suggestions below:
- Blueberries and Greek yogurt
- Mixed berry fruit salads
- Mixed berry smoothies
4.Yogurt
You should be aware that yogurt is a good source of protein and contains probiotics, which are great for digestive health and can assist you in losing weight. Eating more fiber and probiotics plays a role in keeping intestinal bacteria healthy, a good thing for your metabolism.
In a study by the University of Tennessee, researchers found that people were losing 22 percent more weight and 81 percent more abdominal fat while eating about 18 ounces of Greek yogurt a day as opposed to those who weren’t.
Watch out for some flavored yogurts containing added sugars, since they provide extra calories.
5.Chilli Pepper
Chili peppers are the only food source of the natural metabolism-boosting nutrient – capsaicin. This powerful nutrient temporarily increases the calories your body burns after you ingest it.
In addition to this, the hot and spicy nature of chili peppers raises your body’s internal temperature, which results in your body using up extra calories to regulate this temperature increase.
Therefore, by eating chili peppers daily, you can increase the total calories your body burns on a daily basis and accelerate your fat loss efforts.
You can enjoy Chili peppers in many different ways. If you’re a fan of hot and spicy foods, you can eat them raw for a tongue-tingling snack.
However, if you want to enjoy them as part of a meal, check out the list below which contains lots of chili pepper-based meal ideas:
- Add some chili peppers to your salad to give it a kick
- Combine a few chili peppers with your other favorite vegetables for a spicy side dish
- Use finely chopped chili peppers as part of a marinade for your favorite meat, fish or vegetables
6.Almonds
A 1 oz. serving of almonds contains just 161 calories, 13.8g of dietary fats (which stimulate fat burning in the body and limit fat storage) and 5.9g of protein (which gives you a more satiating effect, reduces your appetite and more calories burned).
In addition to this, almonds are an excellent source of manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamin B2 which all support healthy metabolism thus igniting the calorie-burning effect in your body.
Almonds themselves are perfectly portable and if you put a 1 oz. serving in a plastic food bag and carry it with you at all times, you have easy and instant access to a fat-burning snack throughout the day.
They can also be enjoyed in many other ways which are highlighted below:
- Coat almonds in extra virgin olive oil and your favorite herbs and spices, then roast them in the oven for a healthy alternative to chips
- Combine almonds and seeds in a plastic food bag for a multi-textured, crunchy, fat burning snack
- Combine almonds with dried fruits in a plastic bag for a nutrient-packed healthy snack
- Fry chopped almonds in butter and then use them to garnish your favorite fish or meat
7.FlaxSeeds
Flaxseeds are packed full of both healthy fats (with a 1 oz. serving containing 11.8g of healthy fats) and protein (with a 1 oz. serving containing 5.1g of protein).
These two macronutrients collectively enhance your weight loss efforts by suppressing your appetite and increasing the number of calories burned.
In addition to this, flax seeds contain just 150 calories per ounce which means you can easily enjoy a serving each day without worrying about the effect they’ll have on your waistline.
Flaxseeds are also rich in various fat-burning vitamins and minerals including fiber, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and vitamin B1. These nutrients also fire up your metabolism, which increases the total calories daily calories your body burns.
You can add Flaxseeds to your diet in many different ways. If you want to enjoy them on their own, simply place a 1 oz. portion in a plastic food bag, carry it with you, and eat a few flax seeds whenever you feel hungry.
Alternatively, if you want to get more creative with your flaxseed intake, try the serving suggestions below:
- Coat your favorite fish or meat in a mixture of flax seeds, extra virgin olive oil, and your favorite herbs and spices then bake, grill or fry for a crunchy treat
- Combine flax seeds with dried fruits for a sweet and crunchy snack
- Sprinkle a tablespoon of flax seeds on top of your Greek yogurt for a satisfying snack
8.Monkfish
Monkfish contains 84 calories per 4 oz. serving and also packs an impressive 16.4g of protein. The high protein content has a satiating effect and ensures that you burn a high level of calories while the low-calorie count allows you to fill up on monkfish without it adding excess body fat.
In addition to this, monkfish is packed full of phosphorus, selenium, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. These nutrients stimulate the thyroid (which releases metabolism-boosting hormones) and also support your metabolism in other ways to ensure that you burn the maximum amount of fat each day.
Monkfish is very versatile, and the list below highlights some of the best ways to enjoy this tasty fish:
- Baked, fried or grilled with your favorite vegetables
- As part of a casserole or stew
9.Soybeans
A single cup serving of soybeans contains 297 calories along with a notable 15.4g of healthy fats and 28.6g of protein. The healthy fats in soybeans stimulate fat burning in your body and prevent the buildup of body fat while the protein in soybeans increases the number of calories you burn in the process of digestion.
Soybeans are also packed full of fiber, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and potassium. These fat-burning nutrients optimize your metabolism and allow you to burn more calories each day.
Soybeans are extremely flexible vegetables and can be eaten in various ways. The section below contains some top soybean serving suggestions:
- Boiled and served with your favorite fish or meat
- Boiled with vegetable stock and other green vegetables for a tasty soup
- Dry roasted and lightly sprinkled with salt for a tasty snack
- Mixed with other salad vegetables for a light, refreshing meal
10.Watermelon
A cup of watermelon contains just 45 calories making it the perfect snack for satisfying your sweet tooth without adding unwanted body fat. In addition to this, watermelon contains lots of magnesium and potassium which both promote optimal metabolism and increase the calories your body burns through on a daily basis.
Another thing that makes watermelon a fantastic weight-loss food is its high concentration of water. Watermelon is over 90% water which means eating a single cup serving is almost as hydrating as drinking a glass of water.
Staying hydrated supports all the cells and vital organs in your body including the ones involved with fat burning and ensures that your body is in the best possible state for burning fat.
Water also has a satiating effect and helps you feel fuller which means you’ll eat fewer calories and lose more weight as a result.
Watermelon has a light, refreshing taste and can easily be eaten on its own. However, if you want to get creative with your watermelon intake, try the serving suggestions below:
- Add watermelon to your smoothies for a subtle, refreshing taste
- Combine watermelon chunks and Greek yogurt for a sweet, creamy snack
- Combine watermelon with other fruits for a tasty, nutrient-packed snack
Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast, just because you’re building muscle, sharpening your mind, or strengthening your heart when you’re eating healthy foods, you are not only helping to improve your overall health but you’re also making the most of what you eat with your meals.