Healthy Low Calorie Foods

Losing weight for most people is a matter of mathematics. One pound is 3,500 calories. If you cut out 500 calories a day, you will typically lose one pound every week. By replacing empty calories with low-calorie healthy alternatives, you can lose weight and feel great. Read up on what low calorie foods you can supplement into your diet that are nutritious and will help you shed the pounds.

Protein

• When the body breaks down protein, amino acids are created that tell the brain we are full. By choosing low-calorie proteins, you can become full faster by consuming fewer calories. Legumes are not only full of protein, but they are also a high source of fiber. One serving of black beans to a meal is generally 100 calories. You could add beans to egg whites in the morning for a filling meal that is less than 180 calories. Compare that to a bagel, which is typically 250 or more calories. Fish is another source of protein. One fillet of orange roughly has 100 calories. Shrimp has only 22 calories for every four shrimp and oysters have 57 calories in every six.

Spice

• Spicy foods like jalapenos, serrano peppers and poblano peppers are low in calories and can help you lose weight. One jalapeno has four calories and can boost your metabolism. According to a Canadian study, men who ate their meals with hot sauce consumed 200 fewer calories than men who didn't. Spiro Antoniades, an author and orthopedic surgeon, tried a similar diet and lost 70 pounds. You can read about his experience in his book, "The Hot Sauce Diet: A Journey of Behavior Modification." The next time you make a meal pour on the spice for weight loss.

Vegetables and Fruits

• Vegetables and fruits can help us flush out toxins and excess waste. Vegetables are very low in calories. Many dark leafy greens such as spinach have only seven calories per cup. Likewise, fruits can help give us fuel and keep us feeling full. One half cup of apricots is only 17 calories. Grapefruit and apples are both 45 calories each. Pair your fruit with a sugarless yogurt and you have a meal that is around 150 calories.

Nori

• Nori is a seaweed that is generally used in Japanese cuisine for sushi rolls. One sheet is 17 calories. Seaweed is an excellent source of iodine, which helps hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue. Iodine deficiency can be a reason for fatigue, sluggishness, weight gain and the inability to lose weight. Roll up your own sushi by using brown rice, which has 3.5 grams of fiber compared to the 0.6 grams in white rice. One cup of brown rice can make two rolls of sushi that come out to be less than 250 calories.

Soup

• Soups can be filling for snacks or meals. One cup of Miso soup has 85 calories and onion soup without the cheese is 90 calories. Eat prior to an entree and you'll fill your stomach with a low calorie meal. You can make a nutritious soup by using two ingredients: broccoli and water. Boil two heads of broccoli until cooked. Place in a blender with 1/2 cup of the water you used. Blend and add additional water to make it the consistency you enjoy. Season with a little sea salt and pepper for a meal of less than 150 calories. Check out resources for more low-calorie soup recipes.