From The Straits Times    |

18 foods that can help you lose weight.jpg

Image: Cover Media

Being on a diet and watching your weight can involve endless healthy lunches consisting of salad. Even if you love cucumber, lettuce and tomato, eating it every day can bore you into devouring a ham and cheese baguette in no time.

However nutritionist Fiona Kirk has opened up to MailOnline on the best foods to tuck into to both shed the pounds and keep meal times exciting. Fiona, who has penned book Diet Secrets Uncovered, also points out that food is not the enemy to a dieter. In fact if you use it properly, eating the right food will aid your weight loss and will speed up the body’s fat-burning ability.

“The more nutrient rich foods you eat, the slimmer you’ll get. You won’t feel hungry all the time either,” she told the publication.

“If you want to lose weight you need to cut down on foods which have little nutritional value and consume more nutrient rich foods. Foods that are rich in fibre and proteins can speed up your metabolism naturally, whilst avoiding carbohydrates and eating foods rich in fat, can put your body ‘in a fat burning state’.”

To help dieters get a head start, she’s compiled a list of the top 18 foods to help keep fat off and hunger at bay.

Carnivores

There’s no need to cut back on meat, just pick organic varieties. Chicken and turkey are lower in fat than red meat, but don’t deny yourself something you love.

Fish is great for aiding a hormone in the body called Leptin, which regulates fat storage.

Fruits and vegetables

A diet rich in fruit and veg will provide you with all the vitamins and nutrients your body needs. Some of the best for helping lose weight are: Coconut, grapefruit, bananas, avocado, tomatoes, green leafy veg, chillies and hot peppers and broccoli.

Spices

Adding spice to meal times can give your body a shot of goodness. Cayenne can help lower glucose levels, while turmeric is full of antioxidant beta-carotene which helps protect the liver from free radical damage.

Cinnamon is also a great choice for regulating blood glucose levels.

Nuts, seeds and pulses

Nuts are full of nutrients, including magnesium, and can help control weight as well as reducing heart disease and diabetes risk.

Flaxseeds contain a lot of omega-3 and help the body to rid itself of toxins.

Lentils are filled of fibre and will help you feel fuller for linger. Its iron count is also a great way to get iron in the diet if you’re deficient.

Quinoa has become a kitchen staple for many, and with good reason. Add this low GI food to your diet for a vitamin hit. It makes a great substitute for potatoes and rice at meal times.

The rest

Green tea can help speed up metabolism, so swapping your regular black tea or coffee for a cup will do wonders to your waistline.

Eggs are not only delicious and filling, they can also reduce cholesterol, contrary to popular belief. The protein in eggs will also keep you feeling full. — Cover Media

You can still eat carbs when on a diet! Here are 6 healthy carbs you should try!

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