Foods to Eat to Lose Weight

While any balanced diet of healthful foods and an exercise program will help you lose weight, there are a few foods in particular that ward off hunger, provide you with necessary nutrients to help your body lose weight and even help you burn fat faster. No matter how much or how little weight you are trying to lose, these foods can help you accomplish your goal.

Vegetables

• Raw vegetables are not only low-calorie and low-fat, but they also provide you with nutrients and fiber needed to keep your body healthy. An added bonus is that the work it takes to chew them burns calories while you eat.

Oatmeal

• Oatmeal is a complex carbohydrate that does not spike your blood sugar, is satiating so it prevents hunger and has a high fiber content that prevents the body from storing fat.

Yogurt

• As long as it isn't chock-full of added sugars, the calcium and protein in a daily serving of yogurt can help you burn fat for faster weight loss results.

Nuts

• High in protein, nuts make a great snack because they prevent hunger and have omega-3 fatty acids that help burn fat. Just make sure they are raw and natural, not roasted and salted.

Spices

• Spicy foods such as hot peppers and hot mustard can increase your fat-burning metabolism by raising your body temperature. Eat them up to 3 hours before a workout to burn up to 20 percent more calories.

Water

• A well-known diet staple, water helps suppress the appetite, keeps the body and its organs functioning optimally, and reduces water retention and bloating.