Foods that fight the flab

You are what you eat, they say. Truer words have never been spoken. Research shows a direct link between food habits and fitness. Staying away from junk food and eating right does not necessarily always help. If you are on diet to lose weight, you have to incorporate foods that fight the flab.

So what should you eat to speed up your weight loss? If you have been on the lookout for information on what to eat while on a diet, then look no more. The Week is here to give you just that.[break]

Each of the foods mentioned here is high on the nutrition quotient but comes with very less calories. What more could a dieter ask for, right?

Olive oil

Did you know that people who switch to olive oil not only cut down on their cholesterol consumption but also find it easier to say no to junk food? Olive oil is a healthy fat, and addition of healthy fats in your diet reduce your cravings for fat and it will be easier to cut down on junk food. Don’t just limit olive oil for cooking purposes but add a dash of it to your salads as well.

Almonds and walnuts

These are another source of healthy fats and fiber. Fiber makes you feel full for a longer period of time and keep you from binging. Have a handful of nuts first thing in the morning or as a midday snack.

Veggies

Green vegetables, like spinach, lettuce etc are a rich source of fiber and keep you satiated over longer periods of time. Orange and yellow colored veggies like pumpkin and squash are rich in carotenoids and Vitamin A which are good antioxidants. Have at least five to six servings of vegetables daily.

Whole grains

Oats, whole wheat, brown rice, rye etc are rich in zinc and vitamin B which not only boost your immunity system but the fiber content of these whole grains keep the hunger pangs at bay. Replace your regular rice with brown rice and see the difference in two weeks.

Green tea

Green tea is a great fat buster. It also has powerful antioxidants. It has also been known to help lower cholesterol levels and improve the ratio of good and bad cholesterol. Have three to four cups of green tea for easy weight loss.

Eggs

This breakfast food is also one of the best fat burning foods as it has the capability to emulsify fat which will be easier to break down and used up as energy by the body. Have eggs for breakfast – boiled, poached or an omelet, the choice is yours.

Tomatoes

When eaten raw, tomatoes have a great fat burning potential. It is very easy to add this fat burning food to your daily diet as i can be added as a garnish to almost any dish, or it can be eaten raw as salads.

Apples

Apples have no starch in them and contain very less carbohydrates. Apples contain a special component called pectin which reduces the amount of fat absorption in your body. Substitute your unhealthy snacks with apples. Try and have at least one apple every day.

Honey

Honey can be a great replacement for sugar in your diet. It helps mobilize the fat deposited in your body and increase the rate at which fat is used up by the body. Have a warm glass of honey and lemon first thing in the morning. It will not only aid in weight loss but will cleanse your system as well.

Low fat dairy products

Dairy products like milk, yogurt break down fat cells in the body and aids in weight loss. Have a glass of milk at breakfast and add yogurt to your lunch or have it as a snack anytime during the day.

Garlic and ginger

Apart from adding a zing to your food, garlic and ginger can help burn fat as well. Garlic keeps your insulin level low and boosts the metabolic rate whereas ginger widens the blood vessels and increases metabolic rate. Add garlic and ginger to your cooking not just for the flavor but for its weight-loss benefits.

Cardamom and spices

Cardamom increases the metabolic rate and helps in burning calories fast. Spices can also get your metabolic rate pumping but their effectiveness depends on the quality of the dish it is added to. Steaming dishes with spices can be a great way to benefit from its fat burning properties.

Soybean

The craze behind soy milk is rightly justified as it contains a chemical called lecithin that prevents the body from amassing great deposits of fat. It also helps in breaking down the existing fat deposits in the body. A glass of soy milk a day can go a long way in aiding your weight loss plan.

Try supplementing a few “regular” foods with some of these wonder foods in your diet and see the difference in a matter of weeks. Weight loss can’t get any easier than this!