best foods for weight loss

Ten Foods That Help You Lose Weight

The majority of clients I treat tell me they already know the best foods for weight loss. But when I scratch below the surface I often discover that they actually don’t have as much insight as I had originally thought.

For example, if I were to ask a client ‘what do you think you should be eating to lose weight?’, they often give me a list of foods that are RELATIVELY healthy compared to the rubbish they normally eat – but still not that healthy.

So to clear up the confusion I’ve compiled a list of my own foods that I believe can assist you in your weight loss program. Bear in mind you should always pay attention to how your body reacts to certain foods. For example, some people can’t tolerate oats. If that’s you, don’t force yourself to eat what your body rejects.

ONE: Blueberries

Foods that help you to lose weight

Not only are these little suckers my second favourite fruit (bananas are my favourite), but they contain antioxidants that help protect your body against free radicals and the chronic diseases that rear their heads when you get older. They taste great and go with just about everything.

TWO: Broccoli

Broccoli is an amazing source of phytochemicals including the cancer-fighting indole-3-carbinole. Did you know that the calcium in broccoli is better absorbed by the body than the calcium from milk?

Now, I have a confession – even though I recommend broccoli, I don’t actually like it. (Yuk). But plenty of people do and if you’re one of them, pile it high on your plate. On the other hand if you absolutely hate it, I’m a big believer in listening to your body. If your body really hates it, choose something else.

THREE: Sprouts

Sprouts are one of the most complete and nutritional of all foods on the planet. They’re loaded with vitamins, minerals, proteins, and enzymes. And how about this: sprouts are LIVING foods.

Even after you harvest your sprouts and refrigerate them, they continue to grow slowly and their vitamin content increases. And they are easy to grow too. I grow them (well okay….my husband does….) and we eat them every day. They add ‘oomph’ to a salad without adding calories.

FOUR: Tomatoes

What can I say about the humble tomato? Tomatoes have lots of vitamin C. They also contain vitamin A, potassium and iron. The red pigment contained in tomatoes is called lycopene.

This compound acts as an antioxidant, neutralizing those nasty free radicals that can damage cells in the body. Low in fat….high in the good stuff. We love tomatoes.

FIVE: Oatmeal

If your body can tolerate it, oatmeal is a great source of fibre, as well as one of the only food sources of GLA, an important fatty acid. Use real oats, not instant. It doesn’t take that much longer to cook them up, especially if you soak them overnight.

SIX: Eggs

Eggs are one of nature’s most complete foods and a highly bio-available source of protein. Get the free-range kind which have omega-3 fats, and use them to add to any meal.

For breakfast I steam 8 vegetables with water and a splash of olive oil. After that I add one whole egg (and yes, I do eat the yolk – it’s not a crime!). This is a low fat, high protein breakfast that is really good for you. Try it!

SEVEN: Salmon and Sardines

Yum. These are Two of the best sources of omega-3 fats. Eat them in a salad or cook fresh salmon on the barbie. If you’re not into ‘fishy’ fish then salmon is probably the milder tasting of the two.

EIGHT: Melons

Rockmelon and Honey Dew Melon are very high in water and digest very quickly. They are low in calories and taste sensational. You should eat them by themselves because they digest so much more quickly than other foods.

NINE: Garlic and Onions

The health benefits of eating garlic and onions on a daily basis were well known to our ancestors. They used them to protect the body from illness and to act as an antiseptic for a wide range of infections.

These great tasting (albeit stinky) foods contain chemicals that can protect the body from so many major and minor illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, infections, diabetes and cancer. And they just happen to be great for weight loss, because they are low in calories.

TEN: Water

Okay so water isn’t technically a food. BUT it has no calories and can help you to feel full instead of snacking on the naughties. Not only that, water flushes out impurities in your skin, helping to make your skin look younger. Drink 6 to eight glasses per day but don’t go overboard.

The best foods for weight loss are almost always the simplest. Stay away from packaged foods because they are usually highly processed and contain hidden nasties like fat, sugar and chemicals.

So stock up on the good stuff and the bad stuff will fall off your waistline in no time. If you’d like a little help with weight loss feel free to get in touch via my contact page any time.