3 Nutrients That Support Healthy Weight Loss

Making sure you get enough of these essential nutrients will help you shed pounds

It’s an age-old struggle: most of us can identify with the difficulty of losing weight. And whether you need to drop a few pounds or a lot more, dieting is never easy. But the word “dieting” is part of the problem. Most folks think that they need to eat like a rabbit, dine on celery sticks, and look longingly at delicious food, all in the name of lowering that number on the scale.

This mentality is not only the wrong way to go about losing weight, it’s actually a self-defeating prophecy.

If you’ve starved yourself and tried all of the fads and chalky shakes, you know too well that these trendy diets are not only ineffective in the long term, they can actually be bad for you. So do it the right way—if you’re ready to lose weight once and for all, here are some of the key nutrients that will support you through the process!

Protein is a foundation of weight loss

You’ve heard it before. But as trite as it may sound, protein is a key nutrient needed to lose weight and keep it off. It boosts metabolism, helps you feel full, spurs fat and calorie burn, and supports muscle growth and repair. It’s important to choose lean, high-quality proteins, however. Here are some great suggestions:

• Lean meats: try boneless, skinless chicken and turkey, low-fat ground sirloin, steak, and bison

• Salmon, halibut, tuna, cod, and other varieties of fish

• Dairy products, including Greek yogurt, egg whites, and low-fat cottage cheese

• Beans: black, kidney, and lentils

• Nuts, including almonds, cashews, walnuts

• Seeds and grains: chia, sunflower, pumpkin, teff, and quinoa

Fiber is essential

This critical weight-loss nutrient is easily obtained by eating plenty of vegetables and grains. Remember that without fiber, your body cannot properly eliminate toxins – and doing so helps shed pounds. Adding it to your daily intake also makes you feel full. And when you’re not experiencing those hunger pangs, you’ll be less tempted to fall off the wagon. Start adding fiber to your diet by including more of these foods:

• Oats
• Carrots
• Bell peppers
• Flax Seeds
• Raspberries
• Apples
• Black beans
• Lentils
• Brown rice
• Green peas
• Figs
• Whole-wheat pasta/bread
• Bran Flakes
• Pears
• Sweet potatoes
• Oranges
• Split peas

Fats. Yes, fats.

Just the word makes many people cringe. And it’s not uncommon for folks to try and ditch all fats when making an effort to lose a few pounds. But certain fatty acids are not only healthy, they’re also needed to keep your body nutritionally balanced and burning calories.

Beware, though: it’s the healthy fats that are, well, healthy. Choosing the right sources of this nutrient, such as plant-based Omega-3, 6, and 9 fatty acids in the right proportions, will help you drop pounds and improve your health in numerous ways, including by reducing inflammation and lowering bad cholesterol levels. In contrast, the malevolent trans-fat lurking in donuts and pie crusts will not only make you fatter, it’s also bad for your heart (and pretty much everything else). 

Here are some of the top foods that contain healthy fats to support weight-loss:

• Olive oil
• Avocados
• Coconut oil
• Dark chocolate
• Almond butter
• Greek yogurt
• Wild salmon
• Walnuts
• Flaxseeds
• Chia seeds
• Brussel sprouts
• Kale
• Spinach
• Watercress

If you’re dreaming of a slimmer, healthier version of yourself, take heed of the essential nutrients that will get you going in the right direction. And when you’re ready, reach out to us to learn more about Ideal Protein. Our weight loss program has helped thousands of people just like you succeed in attaining their goals. 

Call today to Book your Free Consultation at 855-545-2737. 

Dr. Nina Coletta has been practicing Podiatric medicine for nearly 20 years and is the owner of Lifestyle Weight Loss Clinic. For the past 30 years, Dr. Coletta has been a fitness and nutrition enthusiast. Her passion for health and wellness, along with a strong desire to help her patients live healthy lifestyles, led to the selection of Ideal Protein as her platform of choice for weight loss.