Everyone has their own idea of comfort foods. They’re the things you eat that bring back happy memories and soothe your soul, while delighting your taste buds. And some are undeniably unhealthy because they’re deep-fried or loaded with sugar, but these comfort foods can actually help you lose weight.
Hot chocolate - Cocoa has lots of antioxidants, which lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol that causes your body to hold onto belly fat, nutritionist Tara Gidus says. And if you add a little cinnamon to your hot chocolate, she says you’ll get even more of a health boost because it’s got compounds that keep insulin out of the blood stream and from storing fat.
Chicken noodle soup - People who eat broth- or vegetable-based soup before a meal eat fewer calories overall, according to nutritionist Rania Batayneh. The water in the soup help to fill you up and the act of eating the soup slows your eating down and your body has time to recognize feeling full.
Coffee - A cup of the buzzy brew can boost your mood and your metabolism too, thanks to the antioxidant CGA, which increases your body’s use of fat for energy. Research has shown that small doses of caffeine before a workout can improve performance and even help your muscles recover quicker.
Pot roast - Because your body has to work harder to break down protein to use it for energy, you burn more calories as you digest it, Gidus explains. And since it stays in your stomach longer, it keeps you full longer too.
Roasted potatoes - White potatoes have a bad reputation with waistlines, but they’re full of nutrients. "White foods contain the disease-fighting chemical allicin," Gidus says. "This chemical, also present in garlic, has been shown to fight inflammation in the body, contributing to smaller waistlines."
Source: Health