Seeds are nearly a part of every meal, they may be having an effect on your weight loss process without you even noticing!
To avoid those unneeded extra kilograms, you must be aware of what seeds are good for you and the ones that are just unnecessary.
Check this list we’ve made for seeds that boost your metabolism and have good effects on your health!
1. Chickpeas
Chickpeas are high in protein and fiber — two nutrients that can help you shed pounds and maintain your healthy diet.
Chickpeas also have a quality that helps you keep hunger in check, they offer a significant source of fiber like vegetables, they can keep your carbohydrate cravings in check by maintaining stable blood sugar levels.
They can be used on your dining table as salads or side dishes!
2. Kidney beans
Kidney beans contain an active constituent called phaseolamin which is known for its ability to improve the weight loss process.
Beans are a complex carbohydrate, which controls the blood sugar causing you to feel satisfied for longer while reducing cravings for food which causes you to eat less. Unlike other foods which make you feel more hungry.
3. Beans and Legumes
Consuming more beans and legumes in a correct way can help you lose weight, or at least prevent you from gaining any while keeping your hunger at bay.
High fiber foods like beans make you chew longer which can notch down the amount of food you eat and convince your brain you’ve actually eaten more than you have.
4. Flax Seeds
Flax seeds are gifted with high content fiber and protein. It fills you up with very little calories and promotes healthy digestion.
Plus it is is a rich source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acid which is capable of regulating the insulin level in the bloodstream to avoid sugar cravings.
Flaxseeds are also known as linseeds are the richest sources of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids known as called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).
Flax seeds can be a great aid if you’re trying to get rid of that belly fat, by increasing thermogenesis which is a process of fat burning. It perfectly balances the hormones which contribute to weight loss.
The fiber in flaxseed promotes healthy bowel function. Additionally, the soluble fibers in flax seeds can lower blood cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
5. Brown rice
Including whole grains in your daily diet can help you in many ways than one. Consuming more fiber has been proven to help you cut a good amount of calories a day.
If you want to cook a delicious recipe containing brown rice, check this one out :
Stuffed Peppers
This Recipe Makes 4 servings
- 8oz extra lean (5% fat) ground beef
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup grated low-fat parmesan cheese
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 4 green, red, or yellow bell peppers, tops cut off and seeded
- 1/2 cup tomato puree or tomato sauce
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350F
- Mix together beef, rice, onion, parmesan, tomato sauce, garlic, thyme, and basil in a large bowl then spoon evenly into pell peppers, stand peppers in a shallow baking dish or casserole, Pour tomato puree over peppers and add enough water for baking dish to come partway up sides of peppers.
- Cover baking dish with foil and bake, until peppers and rice are tender and filling is cooked through.
- Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
You can also check Metabolic Cooking for hundreds of effective weight loss recipes.
6. Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are high in fiber and fatty acids, which promotes them as a weight loss friendly food.
This is because high fiber foods can help improve satiety and therefore decrease energy intake.
One special quality about Chia seeds is when it gets exposed to water or other liquids, it begins to hydrate which makes the fibers outside of the seed trap the moisture and turn it into a gel.
So when you eat this seed/gel combination, your body is tricked into thinking it’s actually a big piece of food. That’s why it’s a go-to food when trying to lose weight because it keeps your hunger at bay.
By drinking half a cup of water with a spoon full or two of chia gel in it, about 15 minutes before mealtime, you can keep your hunger at bay.
7. Black beans
Black beans are one of the best foods for your health, especially your waistline.
Black beans are very high in fiber and protein, which means they will keep you feeling full and energetic for hours.
Black beans offer many health benefits, it’s mostly linked to the lack of saturated fat in them.
Black beans are excellent sources of protein. Just one cup of black beans will give you 15g of protein.
Because it doesn’t have the saturated fat, the body can absorb all the protein and give it to the muscles. Your body finds it easier to repair the muscles after a workout and encourage the building of them, so you don’t lose out on the muscle calories while losing weight.
Conclusion
You may not have realized it before, but now you must know we eat more seeds than we think we do!
When you’re trying to lose weight, it’s important to be aware of every calorie going into your body and whether it’s good or bad for your health. You can find a list of some other great weight loss foods here.
FitEllis 