The answer, my friend, is lying in your fridge

Mona

Considered eating more, to lose weight? If you are conscious about the calories you add to your daily diet, it is important to know the food group labelled as ‘negative calorie’ food. Technically, no food comes with ‘negative’ calories, but some low-calorie food does make the body burn more calories than you eat, leading to the negative-calorie effect. Here are seven nutrient-dense foods to get you started on the weight-loss journey:

Rings a bell?

Bell peppers are best known for burning calories. Adding yellow, green, or red bell peppers to your salad plate is a good idea. It has a pigment called ‘capsaicin’ which mixes with the gastric juices that helps in burning fat. Also, it works best when eaten raw. So, avoid adding sauces while consuming it and make it an essential ingredient in your whole-wheat bread sandwiches and whole-wheat pasta.

Swear on asparagus

A natural diuretic, asparagus, not only flushes out water from the body, but its alkaloid chemicals break down fat cells. Add it to your main meal.

Zucchini zest

Fibre-rich zucchini helps burning calories. At 17 calories per 100 grams serving, it contains essential manganese that helps to process fat, carbohydrates, and glucose. While having zucchini, remember—don’t peel it. It can be consumed in the form of cooked vegetable and off-course salad.

Bond with broccoli

Steamed broccoli has high fibre, and it reduces fat. With 25 calories per half a cup, it is also an excellent anti-oxidant. Anti-oxidants help the body to get rid of free radicals that are left behind after digestion; the plant-based proteins help building lean muscles.

Go nuts

Soak almonds and walnuts overnight for best results. Consuming 10 to 12 soaked almonds with four walnuts burns calories. They should be consumed early in the morning, after drinking a glass of water. Don’t mix them with tea. Together, these two have the power of proteins and they nullify food cravings.

Chia-check

Packed with fibre and omega-3 fatty acids, chia seeds should be soaked in water for half-an-hour before you eat them. They swell, after they are taken out of water out. A gel-like substance comes out from the seeds; consume it with salads. You may also mix them with yoghurt or yoghurt-based smoothies. Chia seeds are not only filling, but delicious too.

Bring on the brinjal 

Bengan ka Bharta is one name that strikes every person’s mind when we talk about brinjal. But this definitely adds to your weight. The best way to consume it is to mix it with raita or to roast it on non-stick pan. Brinjal has seeds and hard peel, to process that body uses its calories reserves that lead to burning fats. 

Why protein?

If you have been on a diet, you know the first thing they do is to put you on high-protein diet. “Proteins are harder to digest so body has to work extra that takes metabolism rate high resulting in weight loss,” says diet consultant Madhu Sharma. Eggs, milk, yogurt, legumes, nuts, chicken, and fish are good sources of protein.

Salads, steaming, and grilling are the best ways to make the most of nutrient-packed low-calorie veggies.

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(with inputs by Kirti Thakur)

—Inputs by nutritionists Pallavi Jassal and Neena Luthra