Health Food Reviews

Health Food Reviews

You want to shed those extra pounds and you know you’re not eating right, so you look to healthy foods. Health foods tend to offer more nutritional support than processed or prepackaged foods, but not all are good for weight loss. We dug through every piece of information we could find to collect the facts. University studies, research and medical advice were all part of the equation. Everyone deserves to know exactly what to expect with healthy food, so here we are with health food reviews and research.

What are Health Foods?

Health food is a term often used to describe foods supporting overall health and wellness. On a broader scale, the weight-loss community tends to say diet foods are the same as health foods, though that’s not always the case.

Health Foods and Weight Loss

If you’re looking to switch out some unhealthy foods with healthier foods, you can look at several categories like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Health food reviews are a starting point for research-based facts.

Fruits

Fruits are a part of a healthy lifestyle; providing essential nutrients and, in some cases, fiber. According to the journal Nutrients, “[fruits] anti-obesity effects are greater than their pro-obesity effects in most cases.”

Vegetables

If you’re trying to lose weight, vegetables are the perfect addition to your diet. Most vegetables are low in calories and high in nutrition. Think rainbow when choosing vegetables as each color offers different support. Green, leafy vegetables like kale, spinach, collards and even romaine lettuce have very few calories but they offer tons of vitamins. You may be surprised to find dark green leafy vegetables are an excellent source of fiber, folate and carotenoids, according to research in the Ceylon Journal of Science. These vegetables also contain vitamins C and K and the minerals iron and calcium.

Whole Grains

When you think of whole grains do you picture “wheat” bread in the grocery store? Just because the label says wheat, does not mean it contains whole grains or is a healthy food. Whole grains are the key, so “whole wheat” is what you’re looking for. Other whole grains include bulgur, brown rice, whole-grain barley, whole rye and buckwheat.

Health Foods and Weight Loss

Some health foods clinically proven for weight loss include:

Beans

These high-fiber sources of protein are under-appreciated unless you are a vegetarian or vegan. All it takes is one, small serving of beans added to your afternoon meal to fight that afternoon hunger. Skip the snack and you’re more likely to lose weight. Plus, few Americans get enough fiber in their diet, says the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

Protein

Starting your day with a good source of protein may be enough to stop you from overeating for the rest of the day. According to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, “The weight of evidence…suggests that high protein meals lead to a reduced subsequent energy intake.”

Fiber

The average American consumes fewer than 14g of fiber each day, despite the fact that at least 25g is suggested. Fiber slows the digestive process, making it easier to fight those cravings that all too often cause excessive intake of simple carbohydrates. Plus, fiber is clinically proven to support weight loss. According to the journal Diabetologia, “individuals with low fat…and high fibre…intakes lost more weight compared with those consuming a high-fat…, low-fibre…diet.”

The Bottom Line on Health Food Reviews

There is no doubt that healthy food needs to be a part of your everyday diet. Losing weight aside, if you eat a rainbow of foods you’re more apt to get all the vitamins and minerals you need. When you are looking to lose weight, switching out foods with a high glycemic index for ones with a low glycemic index is a great option. And, it’s important to start your day with a lean source of protein and fiber to keep that hunger at bay.