There’s no magic pill for weight loss or to curb those annoying hunger pangs that hit you at the most unexpected times, throwing your fitness plans off balance.
However, you can take some measures to tame your appetite naturally. These six foods will help kill your appetite and keep untimely tummy cravings at bay. Not only will this help you drop those pounds faster, but will also help you stay more focused at work and energized throughout the day!
1. Avocados
You’re obviously very familiar with that luscious creamy, buttery texture that makes avocados such a well-loved fruit. But did you know this texture is because of the high content of monounsaturated fats that are extremely healthy for your body? Because your tummy takes longer to digest these fats, you end up staying full for longer. Plus, avocados are also a good source of soluble fiber, which basically forms a thick coating of gel in your intestines, further slowing down the process of digestion.
As far as variety is concerned, we promise you, you won’t get bored of this fruit. Mash it up and use as dips for veggies, or as a spread on a slice of toast. Or, if you’re looking for something fancier, simply scoop out the pit, break an egg and let the yolk fall into the hole, then sprinkle over with some salt and pepper and bake till the egg is all cooked!
2. Apples
The road to weight loss is a lonely one, full of unhealthy temptations. This is why you need to make the apple your best friend.
Apples are high in soluble fiber, namely pectin. Therefore, they stay put in your system for longer because your tummy has to work overtime to break it down. Pectin also brings down the rate of absorption of sugar and calories by the bloodstream after you’re done eating. This way, it helps stave off blood sugar spikes, thus further preventing excess fat storage. Therefore, not only do you stop your body from putting on more weight, you also get to avoid frequent blood sugar crashes that leave you hungry for more food. This explains why apples are so perfect for diabetics!
You can either enjoy this fruit by itself or simply slice it and sandwich these slices with some organic peanut butter for a decadent mid-afternoon snack!
3. Eggs
There’s a reason why the world can’t stop raving about eggs. Studies have proved that overweight people who eat eggs for breakfast take a much longer time to get hungry.1 The participants of the research showed lower levels of ghrelin, a hormone that basically stimulates your appetite and pushes your brain to eat. The researchers also observed higher levels of PPY-36 – a hormone that makes your stomach feel full. Because eggs are such a perfect combination of fat and protein – they make for a very satisfying breakfast food.
Whip up some omelets stuffed with vegetables and cheese (this is where you can sneak in extra veggies if you’re not a vegetable-lover) or boil them and mash them with some cottage cheese for a satisfying sandwich!
4. Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is different from regular yogurt because most of its whey is strained out and removed. This gives you a higher concentration of nutrients, thus making it a powerful appetite-buster that’s rich in protein. Because yogurt is so thick and creamy, it tricks your tummy into thinking it’s full, thus preventing it from nagging you for more food.
Add nuts, berries, and honey to top off your tub of Greek yogurt, or just use it plain as a dip for veggies and pita chips!
5. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is basically the champion of breakfast foods that help you lose weight. Oatmeal attributes its thick, goopy consistency to a type of soluble fiber called beta-glucans. Like other types of soluble fiber, beta-glucans travel really slowly through the digestive tract, keeping you satisfied for longer. Also, by trapping bile and flushing it out of our systems, oatmeal also helps lower your cholesterol levels.
You can make your morning bowl of oatmeal even more nutrient-dense and filling by adding extra protein elements like Greek yogurt, milk, berries, nuts and seeds.
6. Almonds
Another great source of healthy fats, almonds are great to snack on in between meals. Research reports that people who consumed 1.5 ounces of almonds as part of their daily diet reported reduced hunger, and the extra calories gained from the nuts were compensated by eating smaller portions at mealtimes throughout the day.2
However, if you love eating nuts, you need to keep in mind that their hunger-reducing effects only come into play after about half an hour from the time of consumption. This could lead you to overeat. For this reason, you need to be extra careful about how many almonds you eat, as too many of these could give you constipation and diarrhea.
References
