7 Metabolism-Boosting Snacks for Effortless Weight Loss

Fat Burning Snacks

Picking the right snacks that can burn fat can be a bit tricky with the wide range of different prepackaged snack foods available and with many of them claiming to be "smart" or otherwise healthy.

If you choose the right fat burning snacks and stick to mostly eating them, it will be much easier for you to prevent weight gain. Try getting rid of any snacks that are prepackaged, most of these snacks are high in simple carbs and unhealthy additives, and some of the so called "smart" snacks are simply smaller portions of junk food. It can be difficult to eat just one serving of these foods because they are purposely not filling, and you're much better off eating one of the healthy natural snacks below. Natural foods and whole foods will standpipe your blood sugar and keep you full, and are actually satisfying to eat unlike most junk foods.

Walnuts and other nuts are one of the best natural snacks

Walnuts, almonds cashews and pretty much every other nut are always healthy snack options. Too much is made about the calorie content of nuts and their saturated fat levels. Nuts may have a higher calorie content per serving than other foods, but this is misleading because they are higher quality calories that keep you full for a longer period of time. Nuts like almonds and walnuts are rich in monounsaturated fats which are healthy and good for the cardiovascular system. And there are plenty of other health benefits like their high fiber, mineral and vitamin content. The fats in nuts help maintain a normal cholesterol and triglyceride profile, and the fiber and protein content keeps you feeling full until your next meal. Peanuts don't have the exact same health benefits as nuts because they are legumes and they should mostly be avoided because of mycotoxins and anti-nutrients that are associated with some health conditions.

Eggs are an excellent natural snack

The incredible edible egg is always a good option for a healthy snack, and studies are showing that eggs are actually perfectly safe to eat in moderation. The studies we are referring to found little or no link between dietary and blood cholesterol levels. They are a rich source of several important vitamins and minerals that are necessary to maintain a healthy metabolism. Some of the vitamins and minerals in eggs include vitamins D, A, E, iron, zinc and B12. The high protein content of eggs can keep you satisfied before your next meal, and they are only 85 calories each. It's even better to mix eggs with other healthy sources of fat like avocado for a more satisfying snack.

Avocados are a perfect snack food

Avocados are one of the best snack foods being a rich source of healthy fats and minerals and vitamins, similar to nuts. Because of their portability and convenience they are a great option for a snack to go and there are hundreds of recipes that take just a few minutes to prepare. Avocados are a good source of fiber which helps lower cholesterol absorption and keeps you feeling full. A Penn State study found that avocados are one of the best foods that can actually spot reduce belly fat as a result of their high oleic and monounsaturated fat content. Avocado oil is also a good option as a dressing for salads and other quick recipes. Studies have also found that avocados are one of the best foods to squash hunger and if you include it with your main meals of the day like lunch or dinner, you are less likely to want to eat later on.

Low fat string cheese is a good option for a weight loss snack

If you have felt guilty about eating string cheese in the past you should change your mind, because low fat string cheese is one of the best weight loss snacks. Low fat string cheese has about 80 calories per serving and 6 grams of fat, and the organic varieties of string cheese have a higher ratio of omega-3 fatty acids. String cheese is filling and also has 8 grams of protein per serving, and it can help keep you full throughout the day. Some researchers believe that calcium rich foods like string cheese can take more calories to digest than other foods and may boost your metabolism a bit. Most importantly, string cheese is a good source of protein which many people lack in their dairy diet.

Turkey jerky is a convenient weight loss snack

Turkey jerky is a convenient and portable weight loss snack that is a great low fat alternative to beef or pork jerky, and it is an excellent source of protein. There are 89 calories in a one ounce serving as well as 13 grams of protein and 8 grams of carbohydrates (carb content depends on the variety). You should be careful with turkey jerky if you are pre-hypertensive or if you have hypertension because of the high sodium content. There are also some low sodium varieties but even those varieties have a significant amount of sodium per serving. Turkey jerky is a great way to get the minimum nutritionist recommended 0.6 grams of protein per pound of body weight into your diet, and because it is so portable and convenient it is an easy way to hold yourself over until your next major meal without having to resort to eating junk food.

Cantaloupe is amazing for weight loss

Cantaloupe is a satisfying and amazing weight loss food because of its very low calorie content compared to the serving size. One entire cantaloupe is only 275 calories, which is over 5 cups diced, and the high fiber and water content fills you up. It's one of the best fruits to eat for breakfast and it goes great with several other healthy breakfast foods like smoothies with whey protein and Greek yogurt. Be sure to eat fresh cantaloupe and avoid any prepackaged cantaloupe products as they often have added syrup or sugar. You can include protein rich foods with your cantaloupe snack to help tide you over and suppress your hunger levels. Melons in general are some of the best foods to eat as weight loss snacks, and watermelon has a slightly lower calorie content per serving while honeydew is slightly higher than cantaloupe.

Try frozen grapes as a delicious low calorie snack

Frozen red or white grapes are a delicious weight loss snack, and just a handful of them are very satisfying. Freezing the grapes gives them a delicious icy texture that makes them very appetizing and a bit like a fruit sorbet or popsicle, and they are one of the "ÃÂÃÂsecret"ÃÂÃÂ weight loss snack ideas that many weight loss programs and clinics teach. Because of the fact that grapes are mostly water they are filling without adding extra calories, and they have a high fiber content. Try eating them as a dessert option or between meals, and non-frozen grapes work just as well if you have to bring them with you, but if you haven't tried freezing them be sure to give it a shot.

Be sure to avoid any dried fruit or raisins as a weight loss snack. Dried fruit is a bad option because the drying process can remove important nutrients, and it removes the water in the fruit which helps to make the fruit more filling. It can be easy to eat several portions of dried mango, pineapple or other fruit without thinking much, but these dried fruits can be very high in calories and simple sugars. Even worse, some dried fruit brands add extra sugar or syrup to them, which basically makes them the same as candy. Always stick to natural foods, preferably organic, especially for fruits with consumable skin, and if you avoid eating packaged foods as a snack you can get a lot of low quality junk calories out of your diet.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your physician about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Nu Image Medical may not offer the medications or services mentioned in this article.