It’s easy to think that the trick to losing weight is simple: eat less food. However, if you’ve struggled with weight, you know that weight loss isn’t so cut and dry. Attaining a healthy weight is more about what foods you decide to put in your body and less about the quantity (just try to eat too much spinach!). Overall, the goal is to burn fat and loose weight.
There are a bunch of tips that I can give you on how to lose weight without following a diet. In this article I am going to share with you my favorite weight loss foods. These foods can help to boost your metabolism and curb cravings, moving you closer to your optimal weight.
Matcha Green Tea
If there were one change that could help millions of those struggling with weight problems, it would be shifting what drinks they consume. Processed drinks packed full of processed sugars and chemicals are the norm. Even the drinks that many believe are healthy, such as orange juice from the grocery store, are often so processed and far from the original healthy food that they are no more than sugar water with a few vitamins.
Luckily there is good news: there are tons of delicious and healthy drinks out there that can offer you variety. Of all of these drinks, loose leaf teas are some of the best drinks out there for your health. Even among tea, one stands at the top when it comes to health and weight loss: green tea.
Countless placebo controlled studies exist that demonstrate the fat busting potential of adding green tea into your diet. The best way to get this benefit is to consume a minimum of one cup of green tea every day. I recommend organic matcha green tea. Matcha green tea is finely powdered green tea which is much more concentrated than traditional green tea, delivering even more health benefits than a traditional bag of tea.
Apple Cider Vinegar
There exists a lot of buzz around apple cider vinegar (ACV) right now, and that is thanks to its many health benefits. Among these, apple cider vinegar may help you lose weight thanks to its acetic acid content.
In a randomized, placebo controlled study it was shown that subjects who consumed greater levels of acetic acid prior to eating white bread were more likely to eat less bread thanks to increase satiety. What this means is that participants who had more acetic acid felt full sooner and thus consumed less.
One great way to get ACV into you daily routine is to mix up to 2 tablespoons with 8-16 ounces of water each morning before you eat or drink anything else. You can even add lemon juice and cayenne pepper in to boost the health benefits. This will help you start your day feeling more full and satisfied.
Chia Seeds
Another superfood that has demonstrated an ability to help us eat less is chia. It is thought that the high fiber content of chia may lead to reduced hunger between meals and increased satiety.
In one study it was found that participants who consumed chia with their yogurt during a mid-morning snack experienced the following throughout the day: lower feelings of hunger, lower food consumption, less desire for sugar, and greater satiety. What this means is that by simply adding chia to their snacks, participants consumed less calories throughout the day while feeling more full!
You can easily add chia to your yogurt, cereal, smoothies, or even just a tablespoon to a cup of water.
Eat and Drink More to Eat Less
If you are looking to burn fat and loose weight, make it easier on yourself by adding in foods and drinks that will do the hard work for you. Rather than fighting cravings, eat foods that help you feel hungry and experience less cravings overall.
By adding in green tea, apple cider vinegar, and chia seeds into your daily routine, you can start to feel better and lose weight quickly! Remember to stop by Hummingbird Wellness Boulder for more advice on how to loose weight.
References:
- Vinegar supplementation lowers glucose and insulin responses and increases satiety after a bread meal in healthy subjects. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16015276/
- Anti obesity effects of green tea catechins: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21115335
- Chia seed added to yogurt reduces short-term food intake and increases satiety: randomised controlled trial: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5621364/
