The Top 30 Best Weight Loss Foods

By eating Best healthy weight loss foods that not only help you shed the pounds, but provide a myriad of benefits to your system. Think lean protein, healthy fats, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables, according to Lisa Richards CNC, nutritionist and founder of The Candida Diet. “Simply eating more good-for-you foods can kick off a weight loss journey,” she says.

Not all calories are created equal.
Different foods go through different metabolic pathways in your body.
They can have vastly different effects on your hunger, hormones and the number of calories you burn.

So, with the help of nutritionists and science, we rounded up a few dozen of the best weight loss foods.

Best Weight Loss Foods from vegetables

Celery

Ever chow on celery because you heard digesting it burns more calories than the flavorless food contains? Well, it turns out the idea of “negative calorie” food is completely bogus. But there are other reasons the crunchy stalks can support a weight loss journey. “Celery offers much more than just low calorie contents,” says Richards. For starters, it contains a great deal of inflammation-lowering antioxidants that can help fight damaging free radials, which are thought to contribute to chronic conditions and cancer, she says.

“Celery also contains a compound called “apiuman,” which has been shown to support gastrointestinal health,” according to Richards. “When the gut is healthy, your metabolism can work more efficiently to aid in weight loss,” she says. Goodbye constipation-induced weight gain!

Broccoli

A great source of calcium and important cancer-fighting compounds, broccoli also has loads of filling fiber and will set you back only 30 calories per serving. If eating this cruciferous veggie makes you bloat, try steaming it first, which makes it easier to digest while still preserving the cancer-fighting ingredients that could be lost when you boil or cook it in the microwave.

Cabbage

This side dish is the perfect addition to cold-weather meals as well as summer barbecues, and it’s easy to whip up in a hurry. Watch this video for the instructions on how to make cabbage slaw with poppy seed dressing.

Carrots

Because carrots have high water and fiber content, they can increase feelings of fullness as you eat. To boost their calorie-burning potential, try roasting them. In one University of Arkansas study, roasted carrots contained three times as many antioxidants as raw ones.

Also good: The beta-carotene in carrots can help maintain a strong immune system and good eyesight.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower is an especially low-calorie vegetable, with just 25 calories per cup. It’s also packed with filling fiber and good-for-you nutrients like potassium and vitamins C, K, and B6.

Like its cruciferous cousin broccoli, raw cauliflower can cause bloating, but steaming can make it easier to digest. Try steaming then blending the veggie to give it a mashed potato-like texture, pureeing it into soup, or making cauliflower “rice” by pulsing florets in a food processor before heating them in a wok.

Kale

The fibrous benefits of kale are no secret to anyone who’s caught the down-wind of someone who just ate a kale-icious dinner. “Fiber-packed veggies like kale support a weight loss journey by keeping you full between mealtimes,” says Richards. It’s also very high in antioxidants which, she says, are thought to help reduce inflammation in the body which can interfere with weight loss.

Kimchi

Kimchi is a spicy Korean condiment that’s made with fermented cabbage and is a great source of vitamins A, B, and C. Because it’s fermented (like sauerkraut), kimchi contains tons of those good probiotics that aid digestion.

Look for kimchi in the refrigerated section at your grocery store and use it to flavor Korean-inspired dishes like dumplings or spicy beef stew.

Pumpkin

Looking for a dessert recipe that everyone in your family can enjoy—even family members trying to cut back on their cholesterol? Look no further.

Best Weight Loss Foods from fruits

Apple

An apple a day keeps the . . . weight gain away? It’s true. The how is two fold. Richards explains: “Apples are rich in antioxidants that help rid the body of toxins that can contribute to inflammation in the body and unwanted weight gain.”

And they contain a ton of fiber, she says. One apple contains upward of 5 grams of fiber, which makes them more filling compared to snacks of similar calorie contents. It’s simple: eat an apple, feel fuller, snack less throughout the day. Richards adds: “The fiber also helps keep the gut microbiome healthy and balanced—an essential component of a good metabolism.”

Figs

Craving something sweet? Instead of fattening cookies or cake, reach for fresh figs. Thanks to their dense consistency and high amount of filling fiber, they can slow the release of sugar into your blood. Pair with leafy greens dressed with lemony vinaigrette, chickpeas, and pistachios to make a satisfying fruit salad, or slice and slather with nut butter for a filling, nutrient-rich snack.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit contains a compound that can lower the fat-storage hormone insulin, which some studies have suggested can lead to weight loss. Because grapefruits are 90% water, they fill you up, and they also act as a natural appetite suppressant.

Bonus: Research suggests that this superfruit can also help protect your heart and maintain firm, healthy skin.

Lemons

A squeeze of lemon adds instant freshness to everything from drinks to salads to fish without additional calories, making it an ideal way to flavor food if you’re watching your weight. Plus, the pectin fiber in lemons can help fill you up and fight off hunger cravings.

“Add a slice of lemon to a glass of water, hot or iced tea, or homemade vinaigrette,” says Sass. “Or steam veggies in lemon water to give them flavor.”

Oranges

Sweet and satisfying, oranges come in at about 80 calories each and have no fat.

This vitamin-packed juice contains oranges, grapefruit, and kiwis. It has almost twice your recommended daily intake of vitamin C so it will help keep your immune system in tip-top shape.

Best Weight Loss Foods from seeds

Chia seeds

Our chia pudding recipe calls for antioxidant-rich matcha powder and the ultra-healthy spice ginger to create a nutritious breakfast or treat with a kick.

Almonds

Sure, nuts aren’t known for being low in calories, but they have an array of other properties—namely a high protein and fiber content—that makes them ideal for weight loss. A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, Circulation, found that consuming 1.5 ounces of almonds daily (as opposed to a carb-dense muffin) along with a heart-healthy diet, helped to improve cholesterol and lipid profiles among the research participants. The study also found that eating almonds reduces belly fat, too.

Pistachios

As it turns out, almonds aren’t the only superstar nuts around. Studies have shown pistachios aren’t bad to snack on either. UCLA Center for Human Nutrition researchers divided study participants into two groups, each of which were fed a nearly identical low-cal diet for three months. One group was given 220-calories of pretzels as an afternoon snack, while the other sect munched on 240-calories worth of pistachios. About a month into the study, the pistachio group had reduced their BMI by a point and improved their cholesterol and triglyceride levels, while the pretzel-eaters stayed the same.

Best Weight Loss Foods from drinks

Coffee

Coffee can do way more than just wake you up in the morning. In addition to its health benefits, it can reduce inflammation and even kick up your metabolism short-term.

Kombucha

A buzzy bev that’s made by fermenting tea, kombucha’s main claim to being a healthy weight loss food fame is that it contains a boatload of probiotics. As a refresher: probiotics help to support the good bacteria in your intestines, which help keep your digestive tract happy, healthy, and moving, explains Richards. While more research is needed to make conclusion declarations, recent research has gone as far as to consider probiotics a possible method for treating obesity. Exciting!

Green Tea

A myriad of different teas have been shown to aid weight loss, and green tea is no exception. In fact, a study published in The Journal of Nutrition found that after just two weeks, those who sipped four to five cups of the green brew each day, in addition to working out for 25 minutes, lost more belly fat than those who didn’t imbibe. Scientists attribute green tea’s ability to shrink waists to the beverages catechins, a type of antioxidant that hinders the storage of belly fat and facilitates rapid weight loss.

Red wine

Good news, wine drinkers. Thanks to resveratrol, an antioxidant found in grape skin, drinking red wine in moderation can be part of a healthy diet. Some studies suggest that people who drink wine have smaller waists and less abdominal fat than those who drink mainly liquor. And having one glass of red wine can increase your body’s calorie burn for up to 90 minutes afterwards. The antioxidants in wine might even help your body prevent cancer and improve heart health. Just be sure to stick to no more than a glass a day—the calories can add up fast.

Vinegar

In addition to being low in calories, vinegar might also help prevent weight gain, some studies suggest.

“Vinegar is not only for salad dressing,” says Sass. “Experiment with using it in slaws or chilled vegetable side dishes.”

Panda Tea – Organic Cleanse Tea – Detox Tea – Slim Fit – 56 Tea Bags – 28-Day Slimming Detox – Weight Loss

Check price on Amazon >>>

Morning boost – Energy & Slimming

Morning Boost is the perfect blend to kickstart your day and to meet your slimming and well-being goals. It will give you energy for the day and boost your metabolism.

Oolong Tea

Not to be outdone, oolong tea—a Chinese beverage—can help those who drink it shed up to a pound per week. According to a study in the Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine, participants who regularly sipped oolong tea lost six pounds over the course of six weeks. What’s more? The tea’s antioxidants are thought to remove harmful free radicals and improve bone health.

Burn-XT Thermogenic Fat Burner – Weight Loss Supplement, Appetite Suppressant, Energy Booster

Check price on Amazon >>>

Best Weight Loss Foods from Power Pairs

When it comes to slimming down, two (or more) foods can be better than one. That’s because each has different nutrients that work together. As a team, they can help you fend off hunger, stay full longer, and burn fat or calories better than they would solo.

Avocado and Dark Leafy Greens

A spinach or kale salad is low in calories and high in nutrients, but it can leave you wanting more. To make it more filling, top it with avocado. It’s likely to be more satisfying since it has a kind of good fat (monounsaturated) that staves off hunger. Bonus: Avocado also helps your body absorb more of the veggies’ disease-fighting antioxidants.

Chicken and Cayenne Pepper

Chicken breasts are known to be good for weight loss, and for good reason. One breast serves up 27 grams of protein for fewer than 150 calories. Protein takes longer to digest, and that can keep you full longer. Spice up this dinner staple with a rub or sauce made with cayenne pepper. It may boost your calorie burn and make you less hungry.

Oatmeal and Walnuts

A simple way to slim down: Eat the rough stuff. Simply adding more fiber to your diet can lead to weight loss. That’s because your body can’t break down fiber, so it slows down digestion and takes up space in your stomach. With 4 grams of fiber per cup, oatmeal can be a good source. Walnuts can add about another 2 grams, plus satisfying protein and crunch.

Eggs, Black Beans, and Peppers

Start your day with this protein-packed scramble. According to research in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, people who had eggs for breakfast ate less for the rest of a day and a half than those who had a bagel. Black beans and peppers make this morning meal even more filling, thanks to a double dose of fiber.

Bean and Vegetable Soup

Add a broth-based vegetable soup to your lunch or dinner. The liquid fills your stomach, leaving less room for higher-calorie foods. One study showed that people who started with soup ate 20% fewer calories during a meal. Stirring in beans, such as chickpeas or black beans, can give it more staying power because they’re high in protein and fiber.

Steak and Broccoli

Too tired to hit the gym? This meal can help you out. Beef is rich in protein and iron, which your body uses to build red blood cells. They take oxygen to your organs, so falling short in those can zap your energy. Broccoli is the perfect side, because its vitamin C helps your body take in iron. A half-cup of this veggie has 65% of all the vitamin C you need in a day.

Green Tea and Lemon

If you need a pick-me-up, brew some green tea. The low-calorie drink is packed with antioxidants called catechins, which may help you burn more calories and fat. One study suggested that drinking 4 cups of green tea every day may lead to decreases in weight and blood pressure. To make it even healthier, add a squeeze of lemon — it helps your body absorb them.

Salmon and Sweet Potato

Fish is often called “brain food,” but it’s also good for your waist. Its omega-3 fats may help you lose body fat, and salmon is a top source. Plus, one 3-ounce serving packs in 17 grams of protein. Serve it with a baked sweet potato for a filling yet light meal. A 5-inch-long spud has 4 grams of fiber and just 112 calories.