Rather than experimenting with all kinds of diet and causing your body more harm than good, a balanced diet is your best option.
Read on to find out which are these 'go-to' foods for slimming down.
For good, long term results choose a weight loss diet programme that understands your lifestyle and caters to it.
You don't have to splurge tons of money in order to buy some very exotic variety of food or skip food all together in order to lose weight.
All you need is healthy and nutritious food.
Here is a list:
Red beans
It's a good source of protein. It keeps you full and helps you avoid binge eating unhealthy fat. A go-to food for slimming down.
Almonds
It is a powerhouse of nutrition. It provides a good variety of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to the diet.
Low in calories and high on fibre -- it's the perfect weight loss snack.
Yogurt
The calcium in yogurt makes your bones stronger.
The minerals in yogurt help to curb production of the stress hormone cortisol, which is responsible for accumulation of abdominal fat.
Green tea
Unsweetened brewed green tea is a zero-calorie beverage.
It contains much less caffeine as compared to milk tea/coffee. It's also known to have different health benefits which are helpful in avoiding stress, chronic fatigue, etc.
Brown rice
A fibre packed alternative to white rice. It is a low energy density food, which means that it's heavy and filling, but low in calories.
Apples
It is a complete snack; a soluble fibre that helps you to feel full and satisfied.
Lemon water
This high source of Vitamin C helps in better absorption of calcium and increases the fat burn process.
Have one glass of warm water with lemon and honey the first thing in the morning for best results.
Vinegar
It reduces body fat deposit (including visceral fat), lowers blood pressure and reduces blood sugar spikes from consuming high glycemic index foods.
Since it is not very easy to consume vinegar, here are some ways in which you can do it:
- Use it as salad dressing.
- Dip your multi-grain bread in it.
- Add a tsp of white vinegar in your soup.
- Marinate the meat in vinegar.
- Have 2 tsp before meal (try apple cider for better flavour).
Lots of veggies
The healthiest sources of nutrition, vegetables are great for weight loss.
Low calories, high fibre, low glycemic index -- everything that you could ask for!
The benefits of eating vegetables are numerous, especially if you are aiming at becoming skinny -- the healthy way.
Some healthy Indian diet options
Sprout chat
Easy to make and can be used in multiple ways. It is the complete snack.
Dhokla
A healthy and nutritious snack; it has a good combination of carbohydrate and protein.
Khichdi
It contains protein from dal, carbohydrates from rice and is easy to digest and light for the stomach.
Besan ka cheela
Made of gram flour, it is an instant nutritious low calorie protein-rich recipe ideal for breakfast and snack time.
Chola/chickpea chaat
A complete meal by itself -- a bowl only has 280 calories -- it is filling and packed with nutrition!
A balanced diet -- to get skinny fast -- is when your daily dietary intake is based on your individual body type and its requirement.
It doesn't tell you to starve or eat just a specific food.
It focuses on complete daily nutrition.
In order to lose weight, it is important that you keep a holistic approach with your food.
The author Swati Kapoor is a dietitian and nutritionist.
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