Foods That Satisfy & Help You Lose Weight

by Devra Gartenstein

By eating satisfying, healthy foods, you can reduce your cravings for the high-calorie foods that can make you gain weight. Foods that satisfy and help you lose weight have a high water content or are high in fiber. There are plenty of tasty, filling, healthy options that are either low in calories or take so much energy to digest that they won't bust your diet.
Food With High Water Content

Many fruits and vegetables are satisfying despite the fact that they are low in calories. Their high water content makes them filling, but most of their weight comes from water, which is empty of calories. Vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, beets, cabbage and cucumber may actually use more calories in the process of digestion than they add to your diet. In addition, extra water helps your kidneys flush toxins, which your body stores in fat and releases into the bloodstream as you burn fat and lose weight.

High-Fiber Foods

Foods that are high in fiber are also satisfying and can help you lose weight. Fiber makes you feel full, yet it has no calories. Furthermore, your body can't digest fiber, so your stomach doesn't retain it but rather excretes it, using it to aid healthy digestion. Fiber exits your stomach more slowly than most other foods, allowing you to feel full longer. High-fiber foods include fruits and vegetables. Legumes are especially high in fiber; they also have plenty of protein, making them an excellent staple for dieters. Whole grains such as brown rice and whole wheat have considerably more fiber than the white, processed alternatives. They are also nutritionally superior, and this added nutritional value can contribute to the feeling of satisfaction that can prevent you from overeating.
Soup

Soup can be quite satisfying and low in calories. Like vegetables, it has a high water content, making it filling simply by virtue of its calorie-free bulk. Soups made from legumes have the added advantage of being high in fiber in addition to their high water content. If you cook your own soup, you can control the ingredients that go into it, choosing items that are low in fat. Use minimal oil for sauteeing ingredients, and if you are making dairy-based soups, choose low-fat milk. If your soup includes meat, use as little as possible and include extra vegetables to increase bulk without adding calories.

Food With High Water Content