The goal of every dieter is to lose weight. Long term weight loss however, is an effortless result of eating well certain diet foods not only for trivial reasons but most of all for health and wellness. These ,in turn, are the keys towards a happy, meaningful life.
Although we are all familiar with the “No pain, no gain” cliche, dieting need not be atrocious to the palate or injurious to your budget. There are plenty of diet foods that are vitamin-enriched, nutritious and naturally burn fat and stabilize metabolism without the adverse taste or dreadful heartburn.
Plus, they are readily available and affordable foods that are perfect in helping you achieve a healthier, fulfilling lifestyle, such as:
1. Water
Water might be easily overlooked as it has become so commonplace and ordinary, but the universal solvent is also established to aid in the body’s metabolic processes such as the breakdown of macromolecules in the process called hydrolysis as well help a dieter feel full. It is recommended that a person drink 8 glasses of water per day and in addition, a glass of water before every meal to prevent overeating.
2. Grapefruit
Insulin, secreted by the pancreatic cells, is the hormone responsible for the taking up of glucose in the body and storing it as fat in the body’s adipose tissues. As a result, high insulin levels in the body are characteristic of those who are obese. A recent breakthrough in nutrition showed that adding grapefruit in the diet program of dieters for 12 weeks helped them lose weight by insulin level adjustment. Moreover, grapefruit is naturally rich in vitamin C, which is essential to the body’s immune response, in addition to its high fiber and water content which can make a dieter feel full.
3. Spinach
Spinach may arise from popular culture as a super-food which gave Popeye superhuman capabilities. In reality, it doesn’t swerve too far as spinach is naturally rich in iron, folate and vitamin C. Spinach also has antioxidant properties, is good for the heart and is almost pure fiber. Hence, it provides a fuller feeling if introduced to the diet. Spinach can be prepared in a number of different ways. It can be eaten fresh, or cooked as side or main dishes.
4. Brown Rice
The rule in dieting is: the less processed the healthier. Brown rice, in contrast to its white counterpart, has undergone minimal processing which allows most of its nutrients and fiber content to be retained. In fact, brown rice has at least 14 more vitamins and minerals than processed white rice. Furthermore, brown rice is shown to decrease the risk of heart ailments and control obesity. Contrary to its other grain counterparts, brown rice is suitable for people with celiac disease or wheat allergy as it is known to elicit no allergic reactions.
5. Salmon
Incorporating salmon, a fish high in lean protein, into the diet twice a week aids in better fat regulation which helps improve cardiovascular well-being, hormone regulation and inflammation control. The compound omega-3, for which salmon is naturally rich, is good for the heart. Plus, salmon is reach in Vitamin D which helps in the proper regulation of cholesterol levels in the body.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sera Filson is a writer, health enthusiast, and professional student who’s currently pursing a B.A. in Business Management. When she’s not writing, exercising, or studying, she enjoys reading about velashape and laser liposuction.