If you are looking for foods with zero calories, well!! You may just have to keep searching as there isn’t any such thing but what you can eat are several foods where you needn’t worry about packing on calories since all of these mentioned below are either extremely low in calories or foods that satiate you so you don’t eat more. Some of these in the list may surprise you too. Most of these foods are either nonstarchy fruits or vegetables packed with fiber, antioxidants and loads of nutrients.
Surprised?? We thought of putting boiled potatoes on this list and no! It isn’t a joke, you can actually eat your favorite boiled potato without fear of gaining weight and here’s why.
Potatoes are packed with fiber, vitamins and nutrients but people avoid them thinking them to be high in carbs. Well, that may be so but potatoes contain what is known as resistant starch that contains just half the calorie value of regular starch. This becomes similar to a soluble fiber satiating you and making you eat fewer calories. If you allow boiled potatoes to cool, their resistant starch content increases. Studies have found that cooling and reheating boiled potatoes multiple times increases their satiating properties. One study ranked potatoes the highest as hunger satiating foods.
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Who doesn’t love their eggs which are incredibly healthy? Most of the egg's nutrients including 50% of its protein are found in the yolk. The great thing about eggs is the fact that they contain all 9 essential amino acids that our body can only derive from nutrition. They are a complete protein and filling too. Studies confirmed that eating eggs for breakfast can keep you satiated during the day so you eat less calories. In fact, studies have also proved that eggs can decrease your BMI or Body Mass Index.
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Oatmeal is a great breakfast cereal ranking third on the satiety index because of its high fiber content. Oats is a healthy soluble fiber containing beta-glucan that slows down digestion and carb absorption. Oats also decrease cholesterol and improve your blood sugar levels. It reduces satiety and decreases your calorie consumption during the day. Steel cut oats contain more protein and are more nutritious than the rolled instant oats.
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Celery is 95% water and is packed with health benefits. It contains several nutrients like folate, potassium, fiber and 30% daily requirement of vitamin K. Celery is an excellent weight loss food which you can east as much of. In one serving of celery, you eat just 6 calories. Celery is best eaten fresh to enjoy its antioxidant properties.
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One cup kale has only 33 calories with 3 grams of protein and 2.5 grams of fiber. Kale is among the few items that contain omega 3 fatty acids that is mostly derived from fish. Kale is also rich in vitamins and folate.
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Blueberries are best credited with its fantastic oxidant content where a cup of blueberries contains 85 calories. However, blueberries are now known for an incredible ingredient called c3g or cyanidin 3 glucoside that can decrease blood sugar without hindering the muscle building process called protein synthesis.
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Cucumber is almost 85% water and is just 16 calories per serving. In fact, many throw away the skin but that too contains a lot of nutritional value. The seeds and peel provide a rich source of beta-carotene good for the eyes.
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Tomatoes are rich in Lycopene which is a carotenoid that helps the body combat chronic disease. Tomatoes are also rich in vitamins like A, C and B2. They are rich in fiber, folate, potassium and chromium. One medium tomato will give you just 25 calories. The best way to enjoy your tomatoes is by chopping it and combining it with chopped garlic, chopped parsley, basil and a dash of extra virgin olive oil tossed into semolina pasta.
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Grapefruits are one of nature’s superfoods and help you lose weight. They are rich in fiber and stabilize blood sugar. Grapefruit also satiates you and keeps you full. One-half grapefruit contains only 50 calories. Vitamin C in grapefruit can also protect you from a number of diseases. The fruit also decreases cholesterol and improves digestion.
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Now, this is another superfood that everyone should include in their diet. Broccoli contains sulforaphane which is an anti-carcinogen that can destroy free radicals and cancer-causing agents found in the body. Broccoli is rich in vitamin K, A, C and E so it is also good for your skin. One serving of steamed broccoli contains only 33 calories and provides you 20% of a daily requirement of fiber.
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Cauliflower may be white in color but it is high in nutrients, antioxidants, and phytochemicals that combined make a powerful weapon to fight disease. Cauliflower is a rich source of vitamin C, K, folate and fiber. In one serving of cauliflower, you get only 25 calories.
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Almost all lettuce such as iceberg or romaine will give you just 10 to 20 calories per serving. Lettuce may not contain much protein but it will definitely give you several nutrients like vitamins A and C, iron, and folate.
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Who doesn’t like an orange, but to enjoy the benefits of an orange, it’s best to eat fresh oranges rather than drink packaged orange juice which has higher sugar content. Oranges are rich in vitamin c that produces more collagen in your skin and fighting free radicals that damage the skin cells. It increases skin elasticity and radiance. Oranges are a low-calorie meal with only 8-0 calories to a medium-size orange. The pith which is the white part under the skin is also high in fiber and can reduce cholesterol and blood sugar.
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Strawberries are one of the best foods for polyphenol which are potent antioxidants. Strawberries are also packed with vitamin C and a rich source of potassium and fiber. The added benefit of strawberries is that they are sodium free and contain no cholesterol. One cup strawberries contain 50 calories but to gain the benefit of the fruit, you shouldn’t be adding cream.
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One honeydew lemon contains 64 calories but that’s mostly from the sugar in the fruit. There is 14 grams of natural sugar in one honeydew melon but you needn’t worry about that. Honeydew melon provides you more than 50% of your RDA of vitamin C and copper that is also vital for skin health.
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