If you've been getting rid of certain foods from your diet because you're trying to lose some weight, that's good, but are you eliminating the wrong ones? Biochemistry professor Rodney Bilton writes in his latest book, Know What to Eat, that there are certain foods you'd never expect to be helpful for weight loss.
In fact, some of the ones you think are healthy are the complete opposite!
Read more ¿Qué más?:5 Fantastic reasons why EVERYONE should eat blueberries
Usually, if you're trying to lose weight, you cut back on certain meats, breads and processed foods. Women especially get caught up in eliminating carbs, which isn't always the smartest idea.
They may actually be doing themselves a disservice not eating grains because they are some of the key components in weight loss. According to Bilton's list, certain foods like platanos that you think make you put on the pounds actually do the opposite.
Check out his list and other foods that you didn't expect could help with your weight shedding plan.
Platanos: YES, you can have your beloved platanos because they are high in resistant starch. As a result your blood sugar doesn't spike and keeps your hunger at bay while the hormone glucagon is released and helps you burn fat fast. But NO deep frying; make sure you eat them raw!
Parmesan cheese: You would think cheese would ruin your waistline, but Parmesan is in a class of its own. The cheese is only 20 calories per teaspoon and has more calcium than other cheeses. It's also ideal if you have dairy sensitivities because it is low in lactose.
Red meat: Meat lovers rejoice! You can have your beloved carne while trying to lose weight. Wendy Bazilian, D.P.H., R.D., author of The SuperFoodsRx Diet says, "It requires more time and energy to digest and can help you gain metabolically active muscle, which burns more calories at rest than fat does."
Potatoes: Bake a potato or boil it for a filling and nutrient dense starch. Its fiber and vitamins keep you full and give you energy throughout the day.
Eggs: Eggs usually get a bad reputation because of their supposed "bad" cholesterol found in yolks. Despite the saturated fat, egg yolks also have zinc, iron, and other vitamins that reduce your risk of breast cancer and keep your mind sharp.
Image via Corbis Images
