6 Healthy Snacks Help Weight Loss Efforts

6 Healthy Snacks Help Weight Loss Efforts

Good snacks are a dieter's best friend. Certain kinds of foods, such as those rich in iron or high in complex carbohydrates, keep your energy up and hunger pangs at bay so you're less likely to pig out or make poorly thought-out choices at your next meal. Snacking does not have to contribute excess and empty calories to your diet. If you choose wisely, the right snacks can improve your diet and weight control efforts rather than derail them.

Eating a midday snack helps manage hunger and prevent overeating at meals. By having an afternoon bite, you're not ravenous when you arrive home at the end of the day and, as a result, don't polish off a meal's worth of calories before dinner. Taming your appetite with a snack also makes it easier to curb portions at suppertime.

1. Sunflower seeds are like a cousin to the nut and contain a lot of the same good characteristics. If you choose to eat these, be sure to choose the ones with low or no salt. Many people like to lick the salt from the shell and that's when a healthy snack turns into a not-so-healthy snack.

2. Air popped popcorn is one of the best snacks to choose for overall crunch appeal. Its light, healthy and provides a high amount of fiber. You can pickup a air popper for about $10-15 at your local Wal-Mart or Target. Bags of popcorn kernels are very inexpensive and will last you a while. For extra taste, add a few squirts of fat free butter spray and a pinch of seasoning salt.

3. Nutrient rich, low GI snacks include fruit and nuts (a small handful), yogurt and a medium-sized fruit, a homemade smoothie made with milk or soy milk and frozen berries, one cup of bean soup or vegetarian chili, ? a pita with tuna, raw vegetables and hummus, whole grain crackers and part skim cheese, or bran cereal with yogurt. This is one of the best natural weight loss.

4. Beef jerky is actually a very healthy snack contrary to popular belief. On average one ounce of jerky contains about 70-80 calories, 12 grams of protein and around 1 gram of fat. Just remember to buy your jerky at a health food store. The kind you see in regular grocery stores are generally high in sodium.

5. A fresh green salad is a perfect low calorie snack during the day. Dark green leafy vegetables are good sources of many vitamins and minerals your body needs to stay healthy, like vitamin A, vitamin C, and calcium. They are also great sources of fiber. The darker the leaves, the more nutrients the vegetable usually has.

6. Mangos are high in many carotenoids, especially Beta-carotene. Beta-Carotene has a protective affect against the harmful rays of the sun. Research indicates that even in older people, sun tolerance is increased when Beta-Carotene intake is increased. Beyond being delicious and rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, mangos contain an enzyme with stomach soothing properties similar to papain found in papayas. These comforting enzymes act as a digestive aid and can be held partially responsible for that feeling of contentment we experience during and after the mango feast.

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