Foods That Will Help You Achieve Your Body-Shaping Goals

Getting back in shape is always a challenge for anyone who knows how satisfying it is to eat. For some, losing the weight and being in shape may involve drastic measures such as liposuction, tummy tuck, or even breast enhancement. With a little know-how and a lot of hard work, being mindful of the way you eat can start off the journey to a healthier you.

Here are seven foods that will help you achieve your body shaping goals:

OATMEAL

Oatmeal, a whole grain, is a healthy addition to any dietary plan. It is a slow-digesting carbohydrate that keeps your insulin and sugar levels to a minimum while accelerating fat-burning. It also contains a type of fiber that makes you feel full and cuts down hunger. So, eating oatmeal for breakfast can curb your appetite and prevent you from overeating throughout the day.

Oatmeal is easy to prepare; you only need oats and water. If that is too bland, you can mix it with milk and add toppings of your choice, such as raisins, walnuts, fresh fruits, and honey. Just don’t overdo it, though. Remember, you still want to keep the calories at bay. You can even prepare it the night before, pop it in the fridge, and eat it the next day.

BEETROOT JUICE

Also known as a blood turnip, beetroot is a superfood loaded with Vitamin C, magnesium, nitrates, and folate. Aside from its weight loss properties, beetroot also lowers blood pressure and prevents cancer. It also increases stamina and endurance, so you can burn more fat while you exercise. It contains no fat and is a great source of dietary fiber. This improves digestion and regulates proper bowel function.

Despite the several health benefits, it is still an underrated vegetable as it is a bit of an acquired taste. But, with everything that you can gain from it, it is a taste worth acquiring. To cancel out its bitter taste, you can add other fruits or vegetables such as lime, carrot, celery, apple, grapefruit, and tomato.

AVOCADO

Having a large waist circumference can make you prone to certain diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. The belly, however, is the most troublesome area to maintain. The monosaturated fats in avocados can cause your body to burn more fats and calories and help you trim your waistline. Avocado is packed with nutrients such as Vitamin K, folate, Vitamin C, potassium, and Vitamin E. It can also increase the feeling of satiety and reduce appetite.

Avocado is high in heart-friendly fats and calories so you should watch your portions when adding it to your diet. A quarter or half of the avocado is the desired serving size.

HONEY

You might have your reservations about honey because of its sweetness. But, unlike unrefined sugar which contains empty calories, honey is packed with nutrients and minerals such as protein, iron, potassium, zinc, and calcium. When you use honey instead of sugar, it can help you cut down the calories by up to 63%.

Honey is also a great food for endurance. Having honey before any exercise can give steady blood sugar and insulin levels for a longer period and can boost speed. Honey aids in improving digestion and helps break down food particles in the body especially when you take it in the morning. When you take it before going to bed, honey lets your body hibernates in a healthy way by keeping your metabolism burning fat, reducing the stress hormones, and continuing to stimulate the liver function.

You can consume honey as it is, or you can add it to warm water as well. By drinking the water and honey mixture, you can feel full for a longer period. You can also add lemon to make it a more refreshing drink that also has fat metabolism and slimming properties. Drinking a honey, water, and cinnamon mixture on an empty stomach can provide a potent boost for weight loss. You can also add it to oatmeal or use it as a dip for your apple slices.

TUNA

Tuna is a formidable source of essential nutrients such as omega-3, potassium, magnesium, iron, and Vitamin B6 that are beneficial for maintaining overall health. It is heart-friendly, lowers blood pressure, improves immune system, strengthens bones, and aids in weight loss.

Depending on the variety and how you serve it, tuna has relatively low calories. Tuna canned in water and tuna steak are your best options. Tuna canned in oil has higher calories so switching to tuna canned in water can help you lose more weight.

Tuna also has high protein content. Aside from providing the amino acids for building muscle tissue, it can also help in weight loss because it takes your body more calories to burn the protein.

BLUEBERRIES

This small fruit is low in calories but is loaded with nutrients such as Vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. Half a cup of blueberries only has 40 calories which makes it a terrific choice for weight loss.

The insoluble fiber in blueberries improves the digestive process. This prevents you from feeling constipated and is helpful for regular bowel movement which is a plus.

Blueberries make for a healthy snack. You can enjoy a handful of them or make smoothies and add other fruits as well. It can also be used as toppings for a bowl of oatmeal or yogurt.

BELL PEPPER

Often referred to as ‘sweet peppers’, bell peppers are botanically considered as fruits. Nutritionally though, they fall under vegetables. They have a high concentration of antioxidants. They can also act as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agents. They can also prevent anemia, macular degeneration, help cell regeneration, and balance blood sugar level.

Low in calories and fat, bell peppers are ideal for your diet program. Bell peppers contain capsaicin that boosts metabolism by increasing the body’s heat production and oxygen consumption, which helps in burning the extra calories.

You can eat the bell pepper raw for a healthier snack substitute or add it to a stir-fry vegetable recipe, or stuff it with quinoa.

It is important to note that everyone has a different pace when it comes to weight loss. Several factors such as gender, age, activity level, hormones, and metabolism are responsible for it. So if your friend has already reached her ideal weight and shape while you haven’t, don’t be disheartened. Do the work, be patient with yourself, and you’ll get there soon enough.

Author Bio: Sandy Getzky is the executive coordinating editor at The Global Nail Fungus Organization, a group committed to helping the 100+ million people suffering from finger and toenail fungus. Sandy is also a registered Herbalist and member of the American Herbalist’s Guild.