5 Superfoods For Weight Loss

These prime eats are excellent at doing double-duty.

Welcome to the Best Foods for Weight Loss Treasure Trove. Contrary to popular opinion, slashing as many calories from your diet as possible is not the optimal way to lose weight. Instead, you should be loading your diet with whole, healthy foods that fill you up (making you less likely to go overboard on less healthy options), boost your energy so you can crush it at the gym, and provide enough calories to keep your metabolism chugging right along.

1. SPINACH

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a leafy green vegetable that originated in Persia.

Eating spinach may benefit eye health, reduce oxidative stress, help prevent cancer, and reduce blood pressure levels.

Nutrition facts
The nutrition facts for 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of raw spinach are

Calories: 23
Water: 91%
Protein: 2.9 grams
Carbs: 3.6 grams
Sugar: 0.4 grams
Fiber: 2.2 grams
Fat: 0.4 grams

2. APPLE

Apples are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, all of which benefit health. They also provide an array of antioxidants. These substances help neutralize free radicals.

Apples contain fiber, vitamin C, antioxidants, and potassium.
13–20% of a person’s daily fiber needs
9–11% of a person’s daily vitamin C needs
4% of a person’s daily potassium needs

3. WATERMELON

Watermelon is around 90% water, which makes it useful for staying hydrated in the summer. It can also satisfy a sweet tooth with its natural sugars.

Watermelon also contains antioxidants. These substances can help remove molecules known as free radicals, or reactive species, from the body. The body produces free radicals during natural processes, such as metabolism. They can also develop through smoking, air pollution, stress, and other environmental pressures.

4. TOMATO

Tomatoes are an intensely nutritious plant food.

The benefits of consuming different types of fruit and vegetable are impressive, and tomatoes are no different. As the proportion of plant foods in the diet increases, the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and cancer decreases.

There are different types and sizes of tomato, and they can be prepared in different ways. These include cherry tomatoes, stewed tomatoes, raw tomatoes, soups, juices, and purees.
Nutrition
Tomatoes are packed with nutrients.

One cup of chopped or sliced raw tomatoes contains:

32 calories (kcal)
170.14 g of water
1.58 g of protein
2.2 g of fiber
5.8 g of carbohydrate
0 g cholesterol

5. DARK CHOCOLATE

Dark chocolate contains several compounds that possess antioxidant properties, such as flavanols and polyphenols. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and prevent oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress refers to the damage that excessive amounts of free radicals can inflict on cells and tissues in the body.

Oxidative stress contributes to the natural aging process. Over time, the effects of oxidative stress may also contribute to the development of a variety of diseases, such as:

heart disease
diabetes
Parkinson's disease
Alzheim difference disease
cancer

eye disease

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a 101-g bar of dark chocolate with 70–85 percent cocoa solids provides:

604 calories
7.87 g of protein
43.06 g of fat
46.36 g of carbohydrates
11.00 g of dietary fiber
24.23 g of sugar
12.02 milligrams (mg) of iron
230.00 mg of magnesium

3.34 mg of zinc