What Are The Best Foods For Dieting?

frozen foods

The best foods for dieting don't come in a can or a frozen foods container. They're found right in the produce section, the canned good aisles and the refrigerator sections of your local supermarket. It can be tempting to use frozen Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig meals to jumpstart weight loss, but too often these food snacks contain extremely high sodium levels and extremely low nutritional value (compared to their raw foods counterparts). Time and time again, processed foods disappoint us by containing harmful elements like trans fats or acrylamide. Eating healthy and losing weight isn't rocket science; it is knowledge that we must take a moment to assimilate.

Generally, health foods are filling and delicious. Oatmeal with cinnamon sprinkled on top is one of the best foods you can eat for breakfast. Not only will you be filling your body with whole grains, fiber, phosphorus, magnesium, phytonutrients and antioxidants, but you'll also be ingesting just 110 filling calories and 2 grams of fat. A recent study found that eating two bowls of oatmeal a day can reduce cholesterol levels by six points in just three months. Why the cinnamon? Research from the US Department of Agriculture found that a dash of cinnamon helps control insulin spikes and the USDA says that just a quarter-teaspoon a day lowers blood sugar, cholesterol and triglyceride levels in people with type II diabetes.

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.