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Top 20 Weight Loss Foods: Know Healthy Foods To Lose Weight

Dr. Debatri Datta
Reviewed by Dr. Debatri Datta
MBBS, MD in Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy
Written by : Dr. Debatri Datta
Updated on: November 7, 2024

Starting a journey to lose weight by including foods that help in weight loss in your eating plan can make a big difference. Knowing the right diet foods for weight loss can help you reach your weight goals faster. Let’s examine the role of specific foods in weight loss, name the best foods to eat to lose weight and give useful advice to enhance your results. Whether you want weight loss foods that work fast or the best foods for weight loss to add to your everyday meals, we’ll give you all the needed facts to choose the right food. Read More

Science Behind Weight Loss Foods:

The science of weight loss foods covers many areas, like increasing metabolism, reducing hunger, and making you feel full. Eating foods high in protein causes more use of energy for digestion and thus increases metabolism. Foods with a lot of fibre slow down digestion and help you feel full, which cuts down on overall calories. Healthy fat controls appetite by means of activating hormones that make you feel satisfied. Also, a few ingredients have active elements that enhance fat burning and energy consumption, which helps with efforts to shed pounds. Certain foods contain bioactive compounds that could enhance fat oxidation and thermogenesis.  Including meals with those bioactive compounds in your diet can help weight loss efforts. [1]

Healthy Foods to Lose Weight:

Adding healthy foods to lose weight into your daily diet can speed up your weight loss process. Here is a table of some key natural weight loss foods, their antioxidants, and their roles. [2]

Food

Antioxidants Present

Benefits

Eggs Vitamin A, Lutein High-protein content boosts metabolism
Oatmeal Avenanthramides It has high fibre and makes you feel full
Nuts  Vitamin E, Selenium They contain healthy fats and control hunger
Yoghurt Probiotics, Calcium It helps with gut health and is rich in protein
Avocado Vitamin E, Lutein Contains healthy fats and causes satiety
Apple Quercetin, Vitamin C It is high in fibre and low in calories
Broccoli Vitamin C, Sulforaphane It is low in calories and high in fibre
Chia seeds Omega-3, Fibre High in fibre, it helps with fullness
Fish Omega-3, Vitamin D High in protein, it helps with satiety
Lean meat Iron, Zinc High in protein, it increases metabolism
Beans Polyphenols, Fibre High in fibre and protein
Dark chocolate Flavonoids, Magnesium Lowers cravings and enhances mood
Cottage cheese Calcium, Vitamin B12 High in protein, low in calories
Whole grain Fibre, Magnesium Both support fullness
Berries Anthocyanins, Vitamin C Protects cells and contain fewer calories
Green tea Catechins, Caffeine Boosts metabolism and burns fat
Leafy greens Vitamin K, Folate Fewer calories
Lean protein Various vitamins/minerals Abundant protein strengthens metabolism
Legume Polyphenols, Fibre Rich in protein and fibre
Salmon Omega-3, Vitamin D High protein, healthy fats

20 Best Foods to Eat When Trying to Lose Weight

  1. Eggs:

Eggs help with weight loss because they are rich in protein. The protein helps you feel full and eat less. Eggs are low in calories but full of nutrients, offering important vitamins and minerals. Eating 2-3 eggs during breakfast helps keep hunger away and lessens cravings all day. The protein in eggs also raises metabolism through the thermic effect of food making them a good part of a diet to lose weight.

  1. Oatmeal:

Oatmeal is a great option to lose weight as it is rich in fibre content, such as beta-glucan. This facilitates you feeling full and controls blood sugar. Eating oatmeal inside the morning can make you feel full till lunch, preventing snacking. Oats have few calories and a lot of minerals and vitamins. They are a healthy way to start the day. Eating one to two servings of oatmeal each day can help regulate hunger and aid losing weight.

  1. Nuts:

Nuts have a good amount of healthy fat, protein, and fibre. This makes them a great snack to assist in losing weight. They control hunger and make you feel full for longer. Still, watching how much quantity you consume is crucial because they are high in calories. A few nuts, like almonds or walnuts, are a delicious and healthy snack. This helps in watching weight without too many calories. One serving of nuts is equivalent to a quarter cup.

  1. Yoghurt:

Yoghurt contains a lot of protein and probiotics. These help with gut health and fullness. It is very good to eat for breakfast or as a snack. Eating low-fat or no-fat types helps control calories. Putting in fruits or a little honey makes it taste better without too many extra calories. Eating one cup of yoghurt each day helps maintain a good diet and assists in losing weight. [3]

  1. Avocado:

Avocados have a whole lot of wholesome fats and fibre, which help make you experience fullness and lower your total calorie intake. Adding half an avocado to your meal can increase fullness and reduce hunger. Because they have numerous fats, consuming them in moderation is critical. Eating half of an avocado every day can provide you with good fat content and help with losing weight. [4]

  1. Apple:

Apples have few calories and a good amount of fibre. This makes them an amazing snack for dropping weight. The fibre in apples makes you sense fullness, and their natural sweetness can help with your sugar cravings. If you consume an apple earlier than meals, it lets you consume fewer calories. Eating 1-2 apples every day can assist with weight loss while serving fibre to your diet and reducing hunger pangs.

  1. Broccoli:

Broccoli has few calories and good fibre content, so it is a fantastic option for losing weight. It also has many minerals and vitamins, like vitamin C and sulforaphane, which protect the body from damage. Eating broccoli can make you feel fuller and lower the amount of calories you intake. Eating one to two portions of broccoli around breakfast or lunch can provide your body with vital nutrients and assist with managing your weight.

  1. Chia Seeds:

Chia seeds provide quite a few omega-three fatty acids, fibre, and protein. They absorb water and grow bigger in your stomach, which makes you experience fullness. When you put chia seeds in your smoothies, yoghurt, or oatmeal, it allows you to feel satiated and manages your snacking urges. Eating 1-2 tablespoons of chia seeds each day is great for a wholesome diet, helping in losing weight.

  1. Fish:

Fish, fatty ones, like salmon, have a whole lot of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. These nutrients assist you in feeling full and maintain your healthy body. Eating fish regularly can make you less hungry and accelerate your metabolism. Having fish in your food 2-3 times each week helps you shed pounds by means of supplying you with important nutrients and making you feel full. [5]

  1. Lean Meat:

A very good thing to consume to lose weight is lean meat, as it can help you add protein and reduce fat; proteins reduce certain quantities of calories whilst also improving muscle tissue. It can boost your metabolism and help keep hunger at bay. This, again, will help from a muscle mass point of view and also make you feel that much fuller. [6]

  1. Beans:

They are full of fibre and protein to help you add them in your diet plan for weight loss. Fibre helps you stay satiated, as well as controls blood sugar. Beans in the diet will make you full and thus reduce calorie intake. Just a couple of servings daily can help with weight management.

  1. Dark Chocolate:

At 100 carbs/day, you don’t get much chocolate, but it is a good source of flavonoids as well as magnesium, both potentially appetite-reducing or mood-enhancing agents. Also, instead of over accumulating energy you can take small amounts of dark chocolate. The best satisfaction level is in the use of dark chocolate that contains more percentage of cocoa. A small square of dark chocolate can easily fit into your daily diet and satisfy any sweet cravings.

  1. Cottage Cheese:

Cottage cheese is also a high-protein and low-calorie food that assists in weight loss and keeps you full for longer while aiding the retention of critical muscle mass. This helps check hunger and maintain weight over longer periods of time.

  1. Whole Grains:

Whole grains have important fibre and nutrients. Having traditional meals with grains like quinoa, brown rice or even whole wheat also helps regulate blood sugar and control cravings. Whole grains: replacing refined grains with 2 to 3 servings of whole grain products can be good for both fibre and calories. [7]

  1. Berries:

Berries are low in calories and high in antioxidants, so they are great for a weight loss diet. Anti-inflammatory and health-promoting, add them to cereal and yoghurt or eat them just as they are like blueberries/strawberries and raspberries; this way, sugar cravings are reduced, and you get the vitamins your body needs.Having a cup of berries per day will help with weight control by being rich in antioxidants and reducing the calorie count. [8]

  1. Green Tea:

Drink green tea because it has catechins and caffeine that support growth metabolism and fat burning. Therefore, over time adequate intake contributes to increasing the level of calorie-burning in the body and making weight loss easier. Green tea is one such liquid that speeds up your metabolism, consuming 2-3 cups a day helps in weight loss.

  1. Leafy Greens:

Eat green leafy vegetables that have low energy density, like spinach and kale. Instead, it is the low-calorie and high-fibre content that helps you stay full, and that should form a basis for your reduced-calorie approach to your diet.  Dark, leafy greens do wonders for weight management and health, so you can easily eat 2-3 cups a week at least. [9]

  1. Lean Proteins:

Foods like chicken, turkey and tofu are full of protein but have a fairly low-fat content meaning they can still be great choices for weight loss. Protein increases metabolism and satiety. Internally, this also means by adding lean protein to your diet instead of junk food you will feel fuller for longer and help with muscle maintenance. Try eating 1-2 servings at least every day for weight loss.

  1. Legumes:

The soluble fibre and protein content of lentils or chickpeas helps fight the urge to binge. They increase satiety and have other health benefits. Eating a meal of legumes can even assist you in managing your blood sugar and hunger levels. Eat one to two servings of beans a day for important vitamins and weight reduction.

  1. Salmon:

High in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, they have a good mix of fibres and proteins that are effective in making you feel full. Regularly enjoying salmon also stifles hunger and fuels metabolism. Eating salmon a few times per week can help you lose weight by adding vital nutrients and promoting fullness.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

One of the most common mistakes people make is ignoring portion control. Also, since they are healthy weight loss ingredients, they may help to lower your metabolism, and you might even gain a few extra pounds if consumed in large quantities. Another mistake is that people focus only on a weight loss diet and overlook other essential aspects of their health. Getting enough sleep and controlling stress are all essential to making the most of your overall weight loss plan. They can help you achieve weight loss results unless and until they are used in combination with some other factors.

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Tips for Maximum Weight Loss with Proper Food:

Tips to maximise weight loss:

  • Drink Enough Water: Keep yourself hydrated to control hunger, which in turn prevents overeating. At least try to get in those 8 glasses of water.
  • Balanced Diet: Enjoy all the food groups so that you can eat more nutrients and vitamins necessary for your body.
  • Eat Clean: With your meals pre-planned, you would be less tempted to make short-term decisions involving fast food and other processed foods.
  • Reduce Portions: Use smaller plates and enjoy less to help stop overeating.
  • Choose Healthy Fats: Include healthy fats (avocados, nuts) to keep you full.

Takeaway

Personalised advice and weight loss diet plan that will assist you to achieve your goal quickly, meaning for a customised healthy weight reduction regimen. A nutritionist can provide a more personalised diet plan to cater your specific needs and preferences while still enabling you to achieve weight loss; without compromise on the healthier portion.

Frequently Asked Questions on Weight Loss Foods

Weight fluctuates for all; choosing balanced meals with calorie-controlled options may mean shedding 0.5-1 kg each week.

Commit to your diet and exercise to see outcomes in a few weeks.

While advantageous, a calorie-counted diet combined with exercise and lifestyle changes can bring fulfilling results.

Generally safe. Yet, excess consumption or sensitivities can raise concerns.

Foods like berries, green tea, and lean proteins help quicken fat burning.

Foods that quicken fat-burning include chilli peppers, green tea and lean meats.

Yes, have it in small quantities and pick brown rice since it has more fibre.

Lemon water encourages hydration yet doesn’t specifically target fat burning.

The caffeine in coffee can build metabolism and help quicken fat burning given that you drink it in little quantities.

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