The foundation for successful weight loss is eating well and exercising. Americans spend about thirty billion a year on slim-down products, many of which many don’t even work. New research points to many foods—from beans to beef that can help fight hunger, reduce your candy addiction, boost your metabolism, and also shed pounds while delivering additional health bonuses.
- Eggs are full of protein and help you feel fuller longer. A multicenter study of 30 overweight or obese women found that those who ate two scrambled eggs with two slices of toast and a reduced calorie fruit spread consumed less within the next 36 hours than women who had a bagel for breakfast of equal calories. Other research has shown that protein may also prevent spikes in blood sugar, which can lead to food cravings.
- Eating Beans provides a digestive hormone known as cholecystokinin that is a natural appetite suppressant reported by researchers at the University of California at Davis. Further evidence suggests that beans help keep blood sugar at consistent levels to help decrease hunger. In addition, high-fiber beans can also lower your cholesterol.
- Consuming a Salad before a meal controls some calorie intake. In a study of 42 women at Penn State University, those who ate a big, low-calorie salad consumed 12 percent less pasta even though they were offered as much as they wanted. Furthermore, a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that people who ate one salad a day with dressing had higher levels of vitamins C and E, folic acid, lycopene, and carotenoids which are all disease fighters.
- Green tea contains antioxidants called catechins that help speed metabolism and fat burning. A Japanese study of 35 men who drank a bottle of oolong tea mixed with green tea catechins lost weight, boosted their metabolism, and had a significant drop in their body mass index. It also lowered their LDL (bad) cholesterol.
