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Being overweight leaves you at risk for a myriad of health problems. Diabetes, heart attack, and stroke are just some of the deadly risks associated with carrying around surplus pounds. And those that are overweight also have a higher risk of painful diseases like osteoarthritis and gout. Because of this, many people are looking to lose weight just for the health benefits alone.
Diet failures and other fads
There are many ways that people try to lose weight. Many of these end in failure. Fad diets are notoriously bad. Why? Because these diets are next to impossible to stick to for any length of time. While many of them can help you to lose weight short term, the results will not last once you go off of the diet, and many dieters end up gaining more weight when they quit. Plus, many of the popular fad diets significantly limit one food group or another, such as low-carb diets. Besides being difficult to stick to, since your eating options are so limited, these types of diets deprive the body of necessary vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that it needs to function properly. This leaves you feeling hungry, tired, and irritable.
Another diet fad that is a diet failure is the use of diet pills. Most of the weight lost when taking diet pills is water weight, and the pounds will pack back on as soon as you stop taking them. Plus many of the side effects are uncomfortable or embarrassing for the user. Stimulating diet pills can leave users feeling anxious and jittery and interrupt sleep. Other diet pills that block fat can cause embarrassing gas and incontinence. And once again, taking diet pills for an extended period of time can have a negative impact on your health.
What are super foods?
When it comes to getting the most out of your diet, one of the things that you need to focus on is the super foods. But just what makes a food a super food? Super foods go above and beyond their caloric count and vitamin content and give you something else that your body needs. Some have phytochemicals that can stave off illness and disease. Others have anti-aging properties to help you look and feel younger. And when it comes to the realm of weight loss, diet super foods help you to eat well and still lose weight without feeling hungry, tired, and deprived. This means that you can find that slimmer waistline or that sexy man chest without resorting to fad diets or pills.
There are many types of foods that can fit this category. Many fruits and vegetables are touted as super foods because they can fill your stomach without adding a ton of calories to your meal. Two cups of strawberries, for example, can make for a sweet snack and only add about a hundred calories to your meal. Steamed carrots are full of nutrients and two filling cups only adds about 140 calories.
Part of the reason that fruits and vegetables make such good super foods is the fact that they are packed with fiber. Eating enough fiber can help you to feel fuller longer so that you can resist the sugary and high fat snacks that damage your diet efforts. Plus fiber helps to keep your digestive system running smoothly.
Protein is another super nutrient that is found in many super foods. Getting enough protein will also help you to feel fuller for a longer amount of time, can boost your metabolism, and helps with muscle growth when you are exercising. Just be sure to look for lean protein choices so that you are not indulging in too many calories per day.
Super foods you should be eating
If you serious about losing weight and building muscle, then there are some super foods that you should not ignore. Adding these into your diet will allow you to see dramatic weight loss improvements without having to skimp on meals or turning to fad diets.
Green tea
Green tea is becoming a popular beverage, and it is one of the super foods that you should not ignore. Green tea is packed with phytochemicals that aid with weight loss, anti-aging, and other health benefits. The slight bit of caffeine found in green tea can also help give you energy to improve your workout without leaving you feeling anxious and jittery.
Soup
If you want to diet by actually eating more, broth- and tomato-based soups is a good way to do it. Enjoying a cup of soup before a meal will help you to feel less hungry, allowing you to eat less of other, more calorie-dense foods. And if you avoid the cream-based soups, you will not add many calories to your daily total.
Salad
A healthy salad is another pre-meal option that can fill you up without weighing you down. Most lettuces and vegetables are low in calories and packed full of nutrients and fiber. Eating one before a meal can help you to cut down the amount of calories that you eat during the meal. Just use caution to avoid high-calorie dressings and toppings.
Yogurt
It is not completely known why dairy products help you to lose weight, but many studies suggest that adding low-calorie yogurt to your diet can help slim your waistline. Besides replacing other calorie-dense foods, it has been shown to reduce belly fat and help dieters lose more weight. Plus you can add in your own toppings such as fresh fruit or flaxseed for additional health benefits.
Beans
Beans are packed with both fiber and protein, meaning that they will be satiating much longer than other foods. This makes it easier to stick to your diet without going overboard on the calories.
Water
While not technically a food, substituting water for sodas and other high-calorie beverages can help you to lose weight. Besides helping to fill you up, it helps to keep you hydrated and flushes the body of impurities, allowing you to look and feel better while dieting.
If you are looking for a way to create a diet plan that will last a lifetime, then you need to consider super foods. Super foods can help you to melt the fat away to find that powerful man chest or sexy midline that you desire. They can also help you to manage your weight so that you can avoid dangerous health problems later on.
