Taking A Look At Best Foods For Dieting
Snacking all day long isn’t as taboo as it used to be due to current research findings that continuous eating keeps our metabolism up, cravings down and the body in optimal condition. While fast foods seem to be the quickest snacks, a home-packed lunch full of healthy snack foods only takes ten minutes to prepare. Naturally, the best foods fill our body with much-needed nutrients, regulate body processes, fight diseases and help us reach our healthy weight all at once.
Grapefruit is one of the best foods for breakfast or lunch snacks, according to the Nutrition and Metabolic Research Center and Scripps Clinic. Eating just half a grapefruit before each meal (or drinking a serving of grapefruit juice three times a day) helped dieters lose more than three pounds over 12 weeks. The phytochemicals in grapefruits reduced insulin levels and forced the body to convert calories into energy instead of fat, the center found. Also, adding a high-fiber cereal will cut cravings and deliver a healthy diet dose of nutrients that promote heart health, bone health and mental health.
For lunch, the best, healthy foods can be typical or slightly surprising. Salad is an obvious choice for eating healthy, as it is low in calories, not to mention high in vitamin C, E, folic acid, lycopene and disease-fighting carotenoids. In a Penn State study of 42 women, not surprisingly those who ate a big low-cal salad ate 12% less pasta afterward. Many diets also say that beans are excellent for weight loss, appetite suppression, keeping blood sugar stable and lowering cholesterol. Chicken noodle soup and tofu are other less-noted appetite suppressors. Hot red pepper is an item you may not routinely think of in weight loss but a Japanese study found that the ingredient capsaicin helps to suppress the appetite and increase metabolic rates.
Condiments aren’t usually considered the best foods but it’s important to factor-in cooking oils and accoutrements wisely when dieting. As you may have heard, extra virgin olive oil is preferable to butter, yet why? Olive oil as a bread dip, salad dressing base or for sautéing helps you burn calories and boost your metabolism, while delivering omega fatty acids. Vinegar helps regulate sugar levels, slows the passage of food from the stomach into the intestines and allows you to feel fuller longer. By adding “superfoods” to your daily agenda, you’ll be on your way to a healthy diet in no time.