9 ‘Bad’ Foods That Are Good for Weight Loss

There are more than 1 million diets around, I haven’t counted but I’m pretty sure there must be at least that as a new one seems to spring up every week. However what is important when dealing with diets is how healthy are they and how nutritionally sound?

These are some of the foods that you may have thought would not help you with weight loss, but read on to see whether or not that is true.

1. Potatoes score right at the top on the Satiety Index, a scale for measuring how filling foods are. They can be a. healthy option as they’re gluten free, they offer more potassium than a banana, and are good sources of vitamin B6 and vitamin C.

It is how you cook them matters: boiled will keep you feeling fuller longer, but baked, with a healthy topping like sautéed broccoli, is another tasty option.

2. Pasta it seems that studies in people eating low-glycaemic diets (foods that take longer to raise your blood sugar) show that a moderate amount of pasta isn’t harmful. In fact, participants were still able to lose weight while eating pasta.

Aim for whole-wheat pasta and-the more you cook it the more it raises your blood sugar, so al dente is best.

3. Nuts may be high in fat and calories, but you don’t have to skip them in order to shed pounds. In fact, studies say women who eat one serving of nuts two or more times a week are almost 25% less likely to be obese and gain fewer pounds than those who avoid nuts.

Nuts are loaded with antioxidants and one study found that walnuts have a greater capacity to fight free radicals than fish .Research also hows that the antioxidants in walnuts and almonds can protect the delicate fats in your cells from being damaged by oxidation.

4. Cheese might not be the enemy if you’re counting calories, because one study suggests including calcium-rich low-fat dairy in your low-cal meals may actually help you lose a little weight while also protecting bone health.

Cheese is a great source of calcium, fat, and protein and contains high amounts of vitamins A and B-12, along with zinc, phosphorus, and riboflavin. Cheese made from the milk of 100 percent grass-fed animals is the highest in nutrients and also contains omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin K-2.

5. Coffee having a daily cup won’t hinder your weight loss efforts. In fact, researchers think the caffeine in coffee may actually make you feel less hungry and burn more calories.

However, this is black coffee they are talking about as adding sugar or milk and cream can make it less healthy. It may even boost the number on your scale over time.

6. Rice is a staple in a healthy diet as whole grains, like those in brown rice, can actually help you keep a healthier body weight. In addition to fibre that keeps you feeling full, you’ll also get vitamins B1 and B6, magnesium, selenium, phosphorous, and manganese.

If you find you really can’t get on with brown rice, then although white rice doesn’t have these benefits, with limited, sensible portions, you can still enjoy it without worrying about weight gain.

7. Chocolate is another item where the type matters as you need to stick to dark, plain, varieties and keep portions small.

Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants, and studies report it helps insulin work better in your body, while controlling feelings of hunger. That makes it an ideal sweet treat to cap off a healthy meal.

8. Popcorn is a great source of fibre and satisfies your hunger quickly so you’re less likely to overeat.

BUT go for the air popped variety and go very, very easy on the sugar, or salt and butter.

9. Whole milk may not seem the obvious choice if trying to lose weight but experts think that may be the case. Studies show a glass of whole milk every so often doesn’t increase weight gain and may even help you lose.

Though they aren’t yet sure how it works, it could be because the high milk content fills you up quickly and keeps you from overdoing it elsewhere.