Your Best Winter Foods for Weight Loss

While Spring is a great time to chisel your abs in anticipation of summer bathing suits, winter usually gets a bad rap.

Think about it: first, we get hit with three months of holidays that center around festive eating, starting with Halloween (let the sugar rush begin!) and ending with New Year’s Eve and Day (alcohol in abundance!). Fill the gap with the sun setting early, depriving us of mood-boosting Vitamin D, winter rains here in the Pacific Northwest, and cold weather that practically compels us to consume all carbs within arm’s reach, and you have a foolproof recipe for weight gain.

There is hope. For those of us who enjoy eating, there are foods that, when consumed, actually help us lose weight. Consider the following and see if any of these winners can help you drop pounds and save the “packing” for holiday gifts.

Meyer Lemons

Consider this love child of lemon and orange your new go-to citrus treat. Meyer lemons rev your metabolism and, according to University of Bridgeport’s research team in Connecticut, contain d-limonene, which can improve your liver’s ability to break down metabolism-slowing toxins by nearly 30 percent.

Polenta

Creamy? Check. Yellow? Check. Vitamin-rich? Triple check! This delicious, corn-based dish provides a host of vitamins, including folic acid, niacin, and vitamin C, as well as enough insoluble fiber to lower cholesterol, aid in weight loss, and keep you regular. We’re sold!

Guava

Never tasted one? Hop to it! This tropical fruit holds rich flavor and vitamins A and C, potassium, as well as magnesium. Many varieties include high levels of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant known to help prevent coronary artery disease. Sub into your homemade salsa in place of tomatoes for a sweet, exotic flavor.

Sunflower seeds

Yummy! Sunflower seeds both help to suppress appetite and provide magnesium, selenium, and vitamin E, which is the body’s primary fat-soluble antioxidant, responsible for cell membranes and brain cells. Pop a baggie of these into your pocketbook or gym bag for satiation on the go.

Honey

Far from just an all-natural sweetener, honey helps to prevent fatigue, boosts energy levels, supports your immune system, kills bacteria with antibacterial properties, and soothes sore throats. Use honey to cure your New Year’s day hangover, as its natural sugars speed up the oxidation of alcohol in your liver.

Eggs

Incredible, and yes, edible. Eggs provide amazing amounts of amino acids as well as selenium, iodine, tryptophan, and vitamin B12, all of which help to stabilize blood sugar, essential to weight loss and maintenance.

Macadamia nuts

Fat alarms going off (unnecessarily). Macadamia nuts contain high levels of monounsaturated fat and keep you full longer than other types of nuts, nevermind most of the goodies at the snack table. Bonus points if you bring enough for the rest of the group in a pretty bowl that’s a gift for the hostess.

Kimchi

This incredible, Asian cousin of sauerkraut packs healthy bacteria that balances your gut, reducing the risk for obesity and weight gain. It also tastes delicious!

Make this winter a weight-balancing season with these incredible foods. Falling in love with just one can make a huge difference in your body and mind throughout the winter months.