If you would like to shed some extra pounds it’s good to know there are a couple of foods that can help you lose weight, while there are others to avoid. We present to you 5 foods that should be in every diet and 5 foods that can prevent you from getting the results you want. This doesn’t mean you should change your eating habits altogether. You could begin with adding or removing one food each week. The sooner you get this right, the sooner you will see results.

5 Foods You Should Eat

Nuts

Walnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachio nuts, roasted almonds or cashews. So many options and they are all good for you. Nuts are filled with protein and healthy fats. One serving of nuts is about 1/4th cup (one ounce). Add them to your salads for some extra crunch.

Berries

The reasons why berries are good for you could fill an entire page. To name the most important, they are full of antioxidants and a great source of vitamin C.

Dietary fiber

Dietary fibers can be found in fruit, vegetables, beans and legumes. Add these foods step by step as a higher fiber intake can lead to increased gas and flatulence.

Raw vegetables

Make sure to eat raw vegetables on a daily basis. Not only because they are low in calories and contain lots of vitamins and minerals, but also because they are rich in enzymes. Try raw vegetable juices for some variaton.

Fish

Just like nuts, fish is a great source of protein and full of healthy fats that help to lower your cholesterol. Try to eat fish at least two times a week, but don’t have it deep-fried.

5 Foods You Should Avoid

Cookies or cake

Cake, cookies, crackers or other snacks and desserts contain lots of sugar and trans fat. We know this is hard, but try to see it as an experiment. Try it for a week and be amazed at the results.

Soft drinks

Try to swear off all soft drinks, diet soda too. Have tea, water or coffee instead. Green tea has some extra weight loss benefits.

Breakfast cereals

We’re talking about the kind of breakfast cereals that come in colorful boxes. They are too high in sugar and low in fiber. Oatmeal or muesli is a much better alternative.

Pasta

White pasta is full of refined carbohydrates that contribute to weight gain, especially if you don’t exercise too much. It’s not that pasta is bad for you, but you need to have a very active lifestyle to burn all those calories. If you can’t live without, stick to whole grain pasta. It contains vitamins, minerals, fiber and complex carbs that provide a slow energy release.

Bread

Just like white pasta, most bread contains a lot of refined carbs. The only bread you should ever eat is whole grain bread, and even then it’s recommended not to eat more than two slices a day.

Alison