8 Foods You HAVE to Eat to Lose Weight
This is a writing sample from Scripted writer Nikki Gaskins Campbell
If you're like most people, losing weight can be incredibly tough, especially when faced with daily yummy temptations. We live in a society where there is a fast food restaurant on every street corner. And while you can find healthy foods in grocery stores, you can also find sweets, processed foods, and other less healthy items. We know that passing by the ice cream aisle can be difficult, but don't give up! There are plenty of delicious foods to eat that can help you win the battle of the bulge.
1. Eggs
Not only are eggs packed with protein, but they're also so satisfying! A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition showed people who ate eggs for breakfast consume fewer calories at the following meal. Plus, one large egg is only 70 calories, so scramble up two to four of them for a guilt-free, low-calorie breakfast.
2. Beef
If you're a meat lover, you're in luck. Health experts say you can eat beef and still lose weight—under one condition: It must be lean. This means no ribeye steak, of course! According to a study by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, eating up to ten ounces of beef daily while on a 1,700 calorie diet helped women lose more weight and fat than a control group eating the same number of calories minus the protein.
3. Broccoli
Not only is this vegetable full of fiber and calcium, it contains lots of water. Other cruciferous veggies, like cabbage, brussel sprouts and cauliflower, are packed with H2O, too. Water fills you up. When you feel full, you eat less. Because these kinds of vegetables contain so few calories, you can truly eat as much as you want.
4. Beans
Beans are high in soluble fiber. As a result, it slows down your digestion, making you feel full longer. One study by Tulane University found that people who ate beans had a 22 percent lower risk of obesity and were more likely to have a smaller waist than people who didn't eat them.
5. Grapefruit
In 2006, a study of 91 obese patients found that eating half of a fresh grapefruit before meals was associated with significant weight loss. Insulin resistance also improved when they ate fresh grapefruit. Along with promoting weight loss, grapefruit is packed with vitamin C, which can help boost your body's immunity to illnesses.
6. Cinnamon
Fitness experts believe this tasty spice can help fire up your metabolism, helping you to burn those pesky pounds faster. A USDA study also found that a water-soluble extract of cinnamon can reduce factors associated with diabetes by controlling insulin spikes, which makes us hungry.
7. Nuts
Don't let their high-fat content fool you! According to a Purdue University study, nuts may help people maintain a healthy weight. In an article by the New York Times, research has also found that people can snack on modest amounts of nuts without gaining pounds and that nuts can even help in slimming down.
8. Hot Red Peppers
If you can stand the burn in your mouth long enough to swallow them, hot red peppers can promote weight loss, health experts say. According to Dr. Andrew Weil, the compound responsible for the "heat" in hot peppers may help control hunger pains and increase the rate at which your body burns calories.
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