The gym is closed, and the weather is too uncomfortable to exercise? You can also lose weight with the right diet. Here are the top best foods for weight loss.
To lose weight, you have to reduce your calorie intake. For this, it is important to know how to organize your diet accordingly by making the right choices. As a general rule, fruits and vegetables are the ultimate slimming foods. They are natural allies in losing weight while staying healthy.
A. Vegetables to lose weight
Other than water and broths, no other food is as low in calories as vegetables. So it is clear that vegetables are the ideal food group for weight loss. You should therefore add the following vegetables to your shopping list now:
1. Avocados
Their potassium, healthy fats, and 3% fiber make avocados the perfect slimming food. By eating this fruit in a salad, avocado is considered a vegetable and greatly increases your nutrient intake. But beware: always consider its high number of calories (three times more than an apple): so don't overdo it!
2. Broccoli
Vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium are some of the micronutrients in broccoli. In addition, it contains only 31 kilocalories per 100 grams for a protein content of 3% and provides fiber. It is also a perfect vegetable to lose weight.
3. Mushrooms
Mushrooms (here classified as vegetables, although mushrooms are separate) are composed of 2.9% protein, low in calories (22 kcal / 100 g). They have a low glycemic index (GI) of 15 (in comparison: glucose holds the maximum value with a GI of 100). Mushrooms, therefore, hardly increase blood sugar levels. They are, therefore, among the best foods for weight loss. With Creamy Mushroom Fit Soup, you get a meal ready in 2 minutes, ideal for weight loss.
4. Fennel
Fennel also has a GI of 15. Since this vegetable contains only 23 kilocalories per 100 grams, fennel is almost as good for weight loss as mushrooms. However, only its protein content is not ideal since it is less than 1.1%.
5. Kale
100 grams of kale contains only 45 calories but 4.3 grams of protein and 4.2 grams of fiber. Plus, kale provides more than twice as much vitamin C as a lemon and contains other important nutrients like potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iodine.
6. Cucumber
Cucumber contains only 13 calories per 100 grams because it is 96% water. Thanks to its high water content and high volume, cucumber also ensures good satiety. It is therefore ideally suited as food for weight loss.
7. Carrots
Carrots are low in calories (38 kcal / 100 g) and high in fiber (2.6%), which is why they provide good satiety. They are also rich in vitamin A and beta-carotene, which is good for the eyes.
8. Salad
Is it really necessary to mention salad as the perfect slimming food? Low in calories and high in fiber, the salad will be your ideal weight loss ally.
9. Celery
Celeriac is 90% water and has a very low energy density (28 kcal / 100 g). So is there better food for weight loss? Yes: the celery stalk, which is 94% water and has only 14 kilocalories per 100 grams!
10. Spinach
Spinach is low in calories (23 kcal / 100g); it has a protein content of 2.7 grams, the fiber content of 2.6 grams with only 0.4 grams of fat, and 0.8 grams of carbohydrate. Spinach also contains thylakoids, vegetable appetite suppressants; this food is designed for weight loss!
11. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are known to be "made entirely of water"; at least those from Holland. This is slightly exaggerated: they have a water content of around 94% and provide an extremely low caloric intake (21 kcal / 100 g). This versatile fruit contains, among other things, vitamin A, beta-carotene, and potassium.
12. The pepper
Peppers are not high in calories. It has a diuretic effect, and it eliminates fats and sugars.
13. The leek
Leek is one of the vegetables with the most diuretic effect. It also prevents water retention and helps promote good digestion
B. Fruits to lose weight
1. Apple
Being an appetite suppressant and less caloric, the apple is an excellent slimming food, especially the green and slightly tart apples.
2. Strawberries
When you're craving something sweet, go for strawberries. Low in calories and considered among the best fat-burning foods, strawberries are rich in antioxidants and nutrients. In addition, this tasty red fruit will satisfy your sweet tooth. Indeed, 100 grams of strawberries only have 33 calories, making strawberries one of the best slimming foods.
3. Pineapple
Pineapple is an undeniable slimming food. It helps in having good digestion and also promotes fat burning. It is also an appetite suppressant and has a draining effect.
4. Pears
The benefits of a pear? The same as the apple. They are even better in terms of dietary fiber!
5. Grapefruit
We cannot talk about slimming fruits without talking about grapefruit. It has been scientifically proven that you can increase your chances of successful dieting by eating half of a grapefruit or 100 milliliters of grapefruit juice before your meal. Why? Because you assimilate fewer calories and get fuller faster. In addition, the bitter substances of the fruit prevent the storage of fat.
6. Watermelon
In terms of calories, watermelon has nothing to envy grapefruit: it contains only 30 kilocalories per 100 grams. In addition, it is 92% water and can clearly be counted among the best low-calorie appetite suppressants.
7. The lemon
Lemon is excellent for burning fat, and it's also low in calories. In addition, it helps to break down fatty acids. Lemon juice is also a detoxifier.
8. Orange
Sweet and juicy, orange facilitates intestinal transit. It's also packed with pectin, a fiber that traps fat and stabilizes blood sugar levels. To top it off, one medium-sized fruit covers almost all of the daily vitamin C requirements.
C. The best slimming dairy products
1. Cream cheese
Regardless of its fat content, cream cheese always has less calories than butter. In other words: prefer cream cheese over butter if you want to save calories and lose weight.
2. Plain yogurt
The nutritional value of low-fat plain yogurt is similar to low-fat cottage cheese: with 40 calories per 100 grams, 4.3% protein, and, in the best case, only 0.1% fat, it's an excellent food for weight loss. In addition, plain yogurt has an ideal calcium supply. You can consume it as it is and as a milk substitute in your muesli or porridge for breakfast and as a base for dressings and sauces.
D. The best starchy foods for weight loss
These are the accompaniments that give us the most satiety. This is because they usually contain a lot of carbohydrates. Although side dishes are not your best allies for weight loss, you shouldn't cut them out completely because of their satiating effect. Here is a list of foods that should go with your steak or tofu:
1. Beans
White beans and kidney beans contain a lot of protein and fiber. They are thus a good accompaniment for those who want to lose weight, even if the latter are not low in calories. On the other hand, green beans obtain good results with a low calorific value; they contain only 31 calories per 100 grams.
2. Brown rice
Rice is often looked down upon for weight loss because it is full of carbohydrates and therefore very high in calories. But if you go for the brown variant instead of the white, you will get a little more protein, but above all, a lot more fiber. Thus, brown rice provides a longer feeling of fullness.
3. Chickpeas
100 grams of dried chickpeas contain around 16 grams of fiber and 19 grams of protein, 44 grams of carbohydrates, and 4.9 grams of fat; a perfect distribution of nutritional values. They also contain calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. And as a bonus, chickpeas offer good satiety thanks to their high fiber content and can be used in different ways, in salads or as an accompaniment to hot dishes. But beware of hummus and falafels: the latter, on the other hand, are very high in fat, so it is advisable not to abuse them to lose weight.
E. The best drinks for weight loss
Drinking a lot is essential, whether for a diet or simply a healthy diet, especially if your meals, as is generally recommended, contain a lot of protein. But at the same time, you can quickly mess up your calorie balance with bad drinks.
1. Coffee
Black coffee contains virtually no calories. But that's not all! As numerous studies suggest, caffeine stimulates blood circulation, which may positively affect fat burning.
2. Water
First of all, water does not contain calories. For that reason alone, it's the standard drink for anyone who wants to adopt a low-calorie diet. However, that's not all: this basic drink can help you lose even more weight! Indeed, drinking a large glass of plain water about 30 minutes before your meal will reduce your appetite. By drinking mainly very cold water, you will burn a few extra calories several times a day: the water must be warmed by your body and thus require a little energy from you.
3. Green tea
First of all, unsweetened green tea consists almost exclusively of water and is therefore virtually calorie-free. But this drink is capable of more: studies suggest that green tea stimulates fat burning. Even 0.34 liters per day should help you lose some weight.