Written by Jennifer Morreale
Eating healthy is always a great start to weight loss. Knowing which of those healthy foods speed up metabolism or decrease fat production, will help you reach your weight loss goals even quicker. Be sure to have these 5 food types on your shopping list.
A great way to kick off your day promoting weight loss is to replace that morning coffee loaded with cream and sugar with green matte tea. This tea is a great source of energy, and it gives your metabolism a jump start in the morning, helping you to burn calories quicker. It may even help you be more productive at work because it also promotes mental clarity. Giving up that morning coffee can seem overwhelming and if it seems unrealistic for you, have your coffee then try the tea in place of an afternoon snack. You may find that it gives you the energy boost you need while suppressing your appetite at the same time.
Berries are a great low calorie fruit that help increase your metabolism while suppressing your appetite. They are also very high in antioxidants which will help fight and prevent diseases in your body. Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries are a great guilt free afternoon snack and a great addition to a healthy breakfast as well.
Apples, grapefruit, and pears are also a great weight loss fruit, but for another reason. These fruits are not only low in carbohydrates and calories, but they are also very high in fiber. The fiber content of these fruits will take longer to digest, making you feel full longer. An apple a day will help you melt the pounds away.
Beans are another great addition to your diet for many reasons. They too are high in fiber content, but also contain high amounts of protein and are a low calorie food. Adding beans to your dinner can help you avoid those late night snack cravings.
High in omega 3 fatty acids, fish can help you to balance your insulin which will help decrease fat production in the body. Try to avoid eating farm raised fish because they are fed a grain meal that promotes inflammation. Wild caught fish are always the better choice, and also be mindful of how you cook your fish as well. If you are deep frying it, you have just turned a healthy option into a very unhealthy one.
Of course there is no miracle food that will melt fat away, but adding these foods to your diet will definitely make a difference by lowering calorie intake, stimulating your metabolism, and helping to curb the appetite. Being mindful of what you eat will make a huge difference in your life, not only with weight loss, but also with overall health. If these 5 foods seem like a large change to your current diet, start small by adding beans to your dinner one day and fish instead of a burger another day. Small changes can make a big difference.
Jennifer Morreale’s passion is running. It’s a passion she shares with anyone and anything she encounters, including her Italian Greyhound puppy Sprocket who can often be seen running alongside her. Jennifer believes that anyone can be a runner and has devoted her life to teaching others the joys and benefits of running and how running can help promote overall health.
As founder of Runner’s Realm, Jennifer inspires and motivates others to run through both words and actions. Jennifer leads by example and has completed many races including the Walt Disney World Marathon, the Iron Girl Half Marathon, the Tri-angle Duathlon and many smaller races. Never slowing down, Jennifer will soon compete in the Hero-thon in San Antonio, Texas, the Tough Mudder in Tampa, Florida, the Walt Disney World Goofy 39.3 miles in two days and the Runner’s World Half Marathon in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Combining her love of running with her desire to help others she has lent her talents to helping organizations meet their fundraising goals. She is currently working with Team in Training in advance of the Hero-thon to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in their efforts to raise funds to fight blood cancer and recently adding her name to the bone marrow registry hoping to be a match. Jennifer also works with various other non-profit organizations that promote health, such as World Wellness Education, Relay for Life and Walk 4 Animals helping raise thousands of dollars.
Originally from Upstate New York, Jennifer has lived in six states across the US and now resides in Central Florida where she helps her husband Dr. Joseph Morreale manage his business, The Chiropractic Center. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in alternative medicine from Everglades University, is a certified chiropractic assistant, has written for and been published in numerous health and nutrition publications. She also sits on the Board of the World Wellness Education and the Early Learning Coalition of Lake County. In addition to running Jennifer enjoys yoga, stand up paddle boarding, scuba diving, boating, fishing and just about any other outdoor activity.
This information is not meant to be medical advice. No action or inaction should be taken solely on the contents of this information. Instead, you should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to your health and well-being.