8 Secret Superfoods For Weight Loss
As we continue to discover more about health, what has been uncovered is the importance of gut health for overall wellness. There are approximately 80 trillion cells that make up the gut microbiome, and they are ready to come to your health defense at all times. These little cells help the body absorb nutrients, fight off disease, and make up the foundation for all bodily systems. And because of this, what you put into your gut directly affects these good bacteria cells, and thus your overall health. This is why eating properly is so essential to your wellness in a number of ways: physically, mentally, and emotionally. Here’s where superfoods come in, as wonderful options to boost your gut health. Learn more about 8 secret superfoods for weight loss.
Black Sapote
Black Sapote is known as the “chocolate pudding fruit.” This is because it has a dark brown, rich, and creamy interior that looks and kind of tastes like chocolate pudding. The great thing about this fruit is that it is so much healthier than the popular sugary dessert. Black Sapote clocks in at just 130 calories per serving, and a whopping 191 grams of vitamin C. That’s twice as much as an orange! It is rich in carotenoids and catechins, which are useful in releasing fat from cells and help the liver turn fat into energy. You can enjoy black sapote directly from the fruit, or blend it into a smoothie, or even make a pie or dessert.
Teff
Teff is a newly introduced superfood, and is being called “the new quinoa.” It is also great for fiber and iron, which help with appetite management. It is also one of the few grains that is totally gluten free. Teff can be made as a side dish or a breakfast porridge, or even baked into treats and bread.
Kamut
Ancient grains are becoming more popular as of late, and kamut is the next big thing. It is native to the Middle East, and is full of omega-3 fatty acids, protein, zinc, irion, and B-vitamins. It is a great option for keeping your energy high and reducing cholesterol, blood sugar, and full body inflammation. Kamut can be easily tossed in salads or enjoyed as a side dish.
Longans
A cross between a pear and a grape, longans are similar to the fruit lychee. A 100-gram service has 140% of the recommended daily portion of vitamin C. It contains no fat and very few calories. It has also been found to effectively neutralize free radicals, which lead to DNA damage and aging. Longans can be eaten like other fruits or put into fruit salads, or blended into smoothies.
Pu-erh Tea
This Chinese tea is amazing for weight loss, as it literally can shrink fat cells. Studies on rats have shown that this tea lowers triglyceride concentration levels, which can be a dangerous form of fat in the blood. It also lowered belly fat. Other studies have shown that participants drinking Pu-erh tea lost 10 pounds in just one week.
Dulse
Many people have tried seaweed through eating sushi. But that is only representative of a small portion of seaweed types and ways to enjoy it. An additional seaweed option that is packed with nutrients is dulse. It is high in vitamins and minerals, especially iodine. Iodine is essential to thyroid function, which is a major part of losing weight. You can find dulse in flake form, which can be shaken onto vegetables, soups, and salads.
Cupuacu
This hidden gem has been called the next great superfruit, and even referred to as “a pharmacy in a fruit.” It is being hailed as “Brazil’s new chocolate.” The fruit itself has the appearance of a coconut and tastes like a mixture of chocolate, pear, and pineapple. It is rich in amino acids, vitamin C and B. It is also full of antioxidants, of which can help release fat from cells and activate a fat-burning protein. It can be enjoyed as any other fruit or mixed with a breakfast smoothie.
Chia Seeds
Chia seed is the not-so-secret-anymore superfood that has become mainstream. It is still one of the most powerful foods you can incorporate into your diet. “Chia seeds give you stable energy because of their great ratio of protein, fats, and fiber combined with the fact that they’re low-carb. They won’t cause spikes and drops in blood sugar or insulin levels, preventing cravings and overeating later,” says Carolyn Brown, MS, RD at Foodtrainers. Chia can be made into a pudding, baked into foods, or added to smoothies.