Worried about Belly Fat and Over Weight? Switch to Superfoods. Checkout These 5 Superfoods for Weight Loss.

Worried about Belly Fat and Over Weight? Switch to Superfoods. Checkout These 5 Superfoods for Weight Loss.

Superfoods are foods with abundant Vitamins, minerals, fibres, .etc but with minimum calories. They increase body metabolism and help to reduce weight. This article discusses the use of 5 superfoods and some superfood recipes to add to your diet for weight loss.

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What is a Superfood?

Obesity is a growing concern around the world; most of it is due to bad lifestyle and horrific eating habits. Some people suffer from weight gain due to genetic reasons or due to low metabolism. There are many ways through which you can help your body shed weight like exercise, weight loss medication etc but did you know that you can lose weight by eating superfoods. There is a reason these foods are called superfoods.

Superfoods are mostly plant-based food but some of them come from fish and dairy as well. These superfoods and a whole package of dense nutrition that keeps a person healthy without add weight. Superfoods are packed with a variety of nutrients like antioxidants, healthy fats which helps prevent heart disease, fibre which helps in our digestive problems and prevents diabetes and phytochemicals which is a chemical that gives a plant its vibrant green colour and smell and has many health benefits. It is important to include these superfoods in your daily diet to remain healthy and lose weight naturally

A good superfood should have an excellent source of fibre, vitamins, minerals and nutrients. It should be high in phytonutrients, antioxidants like vitamin E and A. It should be able to reduce the risk of heart diseases and should be easily available. Here are such 5 excellent superfoods that are easily available and popular in India.

Superfoods for Weight Loss

Daliya

Having Daliya for breakfast is a great way to take in nutrients and to lose weight as well. It is rich in fibre and protein which does not only improves your digestion but also keeps you full for a long time. The ample amount of protein in Daliya takes longer to digest and does not make you feel hungry all the time. It is probably the best breakfast you can have as it is a low-calorie superfood. 100 grams of Daliya daily will provide you with 18 grams of fibre which is great for your gut. It has low GI which makes it a perfect superfood for people fighting diabetes. GI is how one can measure how carbs in foods affect the blood sugar and carbs with GI of 55 or less are not absorbed quickly which enables the slow release of sugar and leads to weight loss. It also boosts your metabolism and activates the weight regulating hormones, therefore, eating Daliya every day can help you shed some weight naturally.

Amla

Another wonder superfood found in India is Amla or Indian Gooseberry. Taking Amla juice every morning on empty stomach helps speed up your metabolism. It is high in fibre and improves your digestive tract. A person with good metabolism is able to burn up calories faster and effectively. It also helps in regulating blood sugar as it has chromium in it which improves the blood glucose levels in the body and prevents weight gain associated with diabetes. Amla has a bitter taste to it therefore it may be difficult for some people to eat it, therefore, it is best to take in Amla juice, you can mix it with some organic honey to enhance its taste and benefit from it.

Lentils

We already know the goodness of lentils but you would be surprised to know that lentils aid in losing weight. The Yellow, red, green or black lentils are some of the best ways of obtaining nutrients needed for a healthy body. Lentils are high in protein and dietary fibre. They also contain iron, potassium, folate and manganese and a cup of boiled lentils has only 165 calories in it. They are high in soluble fibre which lowers cholesterol levels and clings to carbohydrates which help the body absorb them slower to make you feel full longer. Lentils are a common food in India but the best way to eat them is to simply boil them with salt and turmeric to gain the most benefits from it.

Chillies

Indians are known for spicy food laden with chillies. Chillies not only give our food a strong spicy flavour but are good for your weight. The core chemical in chillies is Capsaicin which is great for boosting metabolism. A study done by the University of California stated that eating food with chillies in it can increase a person's metabolism by 15 to 20%. The spicy flavour in chilly activated the white and brown fat cells in the body activates the metabolic activity in the body hence helps in weight loss. Cayenne pepper is also a kind of chilly that can be eaten for weight loss as they are loaded with Capsaicin as well. It helps in the process of thermogenesis which is when our body converts fat into heat and leads to weight loss. Capsaicin is also known for suppressing hunger and prevents you from eating too much food thus helps you lose weight.

Dahi

If you are worried about your gut health then you can start eating dahi or yogurt. Dahi is a great natural super food that is a good source of probiotic elements and helps in improving your digestive system. A good digestive system helps in the absorption of nutrients rather than fat which prevents weight gain. It is also high in calcium which is a great fat burner. It is believed that eating fat-free yogurt for 12 weeks burns a massive amount of calories and reduces belly fat. You can include yogurt in your diet in various ways like eating it with honey. You can add in fruits, nuts etc to enhance its taste and you can eat it any time of the day to keep yourself full and help in weight loss.

Super Food Recipes for Weight Loss

Daliya Khichdi

Ingredients

  • 1 tsp ghee / clarified butter
  • ½ cup dalia / broken wheat
  • 1 tsp oil
  • 1 tsp jeera / cumin seeds
  • pinch of hing / asafoetida
  • ½ tsp ginger paste
  • 2 green chilli, slit
  • 1 tomato, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp peas / matar
  • ½ carrot, chopped
  • ½ tsp turmeric / haldi
  • salt to taste
  • ½ cup moong dal, soaked
  • 4 cups water

Method

  • Heat 1 tsp ghee in a pan and add 1/2 cup of daliya, roast it on low flame.
  • Put in 1 tsp oil, 1 tsp jeera and a pinch of hing in a pressure cooker and saute it.
  • Add 1/2 tsp ginger paste and 2 green chilli, saute it.
  • Put a tomato and cook till soft, add in 2 tbsp peas, 1/2 carrot, 1/2 tsp turmeric and salt and cook for 2 minutes.
  • Add 1/2 cup moong dal soaked for 20 minutes and saute.
  • Add daliy and water, cook for 3 whistles and serve with curd.

Amla Ginger Shots

Ingredients

  • 2 amla(gooseberry)
  • 2 tablespoon gur(jaggery)
  • 1 inch ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon black salt
  • 1 glass water
  • 2 pinch black pepper

Method:

  • Put 2 Amla cut in pieces, 2 tbsp jaggery, 1 inch ginger, 1/2 tsp black salt and one glass of water in a blender and blend it well.
  • Pour it a glass and serve.

Lentil and Vegetable Soup

Ingredients

  • 2 cups dry lentils rinsed
  • 1 cup dry quinoa rinsed
  • 2 carrots shredded
  • 1 sweet potato cut into bite size pieces
  • 1 yellow onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 5 cups vegetable broth low-sodium (no sugar added)
  • 4 oz can of diced green chilis
  • 2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (more to taste)
  • 2 cups chard torn and packed, center stem removed
  • 1 avocado chopped
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro chopped

Method:

  • Put in all the ingredients except char, avocado and cilantro in a pot and boil it.
  • Turn down the heat and cover it with a little opening.
  • Cook the lentils and quinoa for around 30 minutes or till done.
  • Put in torn swiss chard, cook for 5 minutes.
  • Serve it with avocado and chopped cilantro.
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Health is Wealth in 2020 and What's Better than these Superfoods for Weight Loss?

Maintain your health by taking superfoods. Check the recipes suggested above adding superfoods to your diet and try your own recipes too. Don't forget to exercise and drink plenty of water.