Weight loss diets or weight loss foods do not require a ‘special ingredient’, they constitute foods that you see every day in your Indian kitchens. These weight loss foods can be eaten directly or consumed in combination meals that you eat daily. Some health enthusiasts avoid typical Indian dishes that are are creamy and submerged in ghee or butter, but you can opt for healthy cooking methods using these same India-centric ingredients found in every Indian kitchen. These are weight loss foods common to Indian grocery markets and kitchens that can actually help you lose weight and gain health, using proper cooking methods.

#1 Moong dal

It is every Indian’s favourite which ever class he/she comes from. This dal is full of Vitamin A, B, C and E and many minerals, such as calcium, iron and potassium. It is often advised by dieticians to replace fatty foods with Moon dal as it is a weight loss food that is rich in proteins and fibre, so one feels fuller after having a bowl of dal for a long time and curbs your cravings. Along with weight loss, moon dal it also benefits the metabolism, immune system and protects against fatal diseases.

Enjoy this weight loss food with chapattis or you can also have them as sprouts with a tbsp of chilli powder, chat masala, a tbsp of lemon juice and salt to taste

#2 Walnuts

As quoted by sciencedaily.com , according to U.S researcher, Joe Vinson of the University of Scranton, "Walnuts rank above peanuts, almonds, pecans, pistachios and other nuts. A handful of walnuts contains almost twice as much antioxidants as an equivalent amount of any other commonly consumed nut" This weight loss food tastes delicious and low in cholesterol. While consuming this weight loss food one needs to remember that these are high calorie food that needs to be eaten in moderation.

Just when you are sitting for you meal add this weight loss foods to your salads, they will add crunch and taste to your boring veggie!

#3 Spinach

This green veggie is rich in fiber, water, antioxidants, vitamins K and A, and minerals like magnesium, potassium, and iron. All this just in 10 calories per cup of this amazing weight loss food! One bowl of spinach will make you feel fuller and stab your food craving in your stomach itself. Spinach also helps in curing constipation, being a good source of fibre. It cleanses the digestive tract.

Nutritive Value per 100gms of edible portion

• Calories ( kcal): 26
• Proteins (gms): 2
• Carbohydrates(gms): 2.9
• Fat( gms): 0.7
• Iron( mg): 1.14

If you aren’t a big fan of this weight loss food, try our innovative spinach recipes to fall in love with spinach.

#4 Bitter gourd

No don’t make that face, if you cook in the right way this bitter veggie can taste yummy too. This weight loss food is effective to reduce the total calorie you intake while having a meal so that you are eating fewer calories than you burn.

Bitter gourd is believed to contain hypoglycaemic or insulin like properties designated as plant – insulin which helps in lowering blood sugar levelsthios weight loss food is also beneficial in treating blood disorders like boils, itching, psoriasis and other fungal disorders

Use bitter gourd in low-calorie, filling recipes, such as vegetable soups or stews. Another option is to eat it as a side dish with lean protein, such as chicken breast, fish or a soy-based vegetarian burger.

When cooking bitter gourd, chop them and keep them in salted water for 5 mins, this will reduce the bitterness in the veggie. Then go ahead and use thme in stew and soups. You can also keep this weight loss food as a side dish with other lean protein Indian dishes.

#5 Beetroot

According to Livestrong, Andrew Jones and other researchers at the University of Exeter's School of Sport and Health Sciences, discovered that drinking beet juice gives your body a stamina boost allowing you to exercise longer and burn more calories.

Beets are a blood-building herb that detoxifies blood and renews it with minerals and natural sugars. They are high in potassium, folic acid, and fiber, yet low in calories. This weight loss food also aids in eliminating toxins from your body.

Their edible leaves offer protein, calcium, fiber, beta carotene, vitamins A and C, and some B vitamins. We always restrict them to salads, but did you know there are more ways to adding this beautiful vegetable to your palate.

Beetroot Juice

• 2 medium sized beetroots
• 2 oranges
• 5 slice of fresh pineapple
• Lemon Juice
• Mint – 1 small sprig

Method

Peel the beetroot, and the oranges. Peel and core the pineapple.Cut all the above into chunks, then add the lemon juice, and place in the blender.Blend for 45 seconds or until smooth. Strain and serve, garnished with mint.

#6 Almonds

A study from the University of Toronto found that people who ate almonds with white bread didn't experience the same blood sugar surges as those who ate just the slice. And the higher blood sugar levels rise, the lower they fall; that dip leads to hunger, causing people to overeat. Plus, blood sugar changes cause the body to make insulin, which can increase abdominal fats.

This weight loss food is rich with important nutrients like monosaturated fats, vitamin E, folic acid, protein and dietary fibre. Almonds works best as a quick healthy snack when you are travelling or at your office desk, or the moment when you want to hog to something unhealthy. This weight loss food also keeps your blood sugar steady.

#6 Apples

According to self.com, a study from Penn State University at University Park revealed that people who chomped an apple before a pasta meal ate fewer calories overall than those who had a different snack.

Apple is one of the best weight loss foods, having this great fruit a day not only keeps the doctor away but also makes you skinnier. With 4 gms of fiber in a medium apple, they can make you feel fuller for a longer time as the fiber take time to break down. Apples are a sweet and crunchy snack full of all sorts of nutritional goodness, and they taste good on their own and in salads, desserts, and savory dishes, too.

#8 Black Beans

Beans stay in your digestive system longer and add to the feeling of fullness and a satisfied feeling, aiding weight loss. They contain soluble and insoluble fiber, protein, and a type of fat-burning carb called resistant starch. Black beans are really one of the greatest weight loss foods.

According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, bean eaters weigh less and have slimmer middles.They are a ‘heart healthy’ addition to any diet as they contain an abundance of soluble fiber, which can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

#9 Cauliflower

However beautiful this veggie looks it is as strong enough to fight toxic compounds in your body. This weight loss food is rich is indoles, glucosinolates and thiocyanates that bumps off all the toxic waste in your body. Cauliflower is low in calories while still offering filling fiber. This veggie is also super versatile and can make a great replacement for heavier foods.

#10 Cinnamon

Everything is nice about this weight loss food. Just 1/2 teaspoon each day can help control your blood sugar and prevent the post meal insulin spike that can trigger your body to store fat rather than burn it. This nutty flavor spice is also know for its diabetes fighting properties, cinnamon can work wonders for your sweet tooth while keeping you at a safe distance from fatty sugars and desserts. Cinnamon promotes effective blood circulation, which helps your body get fitter faster.

Add ground cinnamon as a replacement for sugar in cake dough or in your tea and coffee to get the most out of this wonderful spice every day.

#11 Turmeric

A clear favourite in Indian kitchens, turmeric wins the day when we talk about spices that aid digestion and weight loss. Curcumin, a phenol found in turmeric helps keep fatty tissue at a minimum. Adding turmeric to your daily diet will help weight loss in the long run.

This weight loss food when used in the optimum dose is highly effective in soothing gastric inflammation and ulceration, which could be the key to developing new drugs against such stomach disorders, say Indian scientists.

#12 Raddish

Like other types of vegetables, cooked raddish contains approximately 3 grams of fiber per half cup to help you stay full and satisfied. Raddish are considered as starchy vegetables, so it is recommended to be eaten in place of rice, bread or other starchy foods. They work best as weight loss foods.

Enjoy a crunchy raddish in your salad with chopped cucumber and tomatoes.

#13 Garlic

Overweight people who sprinkled their food with the zero-calorie spice lost an average of 30 pounds in six months, compared to only a 2-pound loss in the control group. This much loved Indian ingredient is used widely in almost all recipes and gravies.

Allicin in garlic is considered effective for fighting high cholesterol, high insulin and unhealthy blood sugar levels. Additionally, garlic is a great appetite controller – perfect for healthy weight loss.

This weight loss food also help prevent various cancers, fight cardiovascular diseases and diabetes and respiratory problems. Garlic also helps fight various infections.

#14 Lentils

Lentils is the fastest and easy to prepare food for mothers, while being the most popular ingredient in Indian kitchens. These daals can reduce your chances of a heart attack, stabilise sugar count and help in weight loss.

Lentils are a bona fide belly flattener. They're high in protein and soluble fiber, two nutrients that stabilize blood sugar levels. Eating them helps prevent insulin spikes that cause your body to create excess fat, especially in the abdominal area.

This weight loss food is perfect for diabetes patients and at the same time improve your iron level and source for vitamin B. It is not only a comfort food but also a good protein source vegetarians.

#15 Bananas

According to HMU expert Arnav Sarkar, Bananas are part of a healthy diet, and should also be part of a fat loss diet, however no food by itself helps one to lose weight. To lose weight one has to create a caloric deficit i.e to burn more calories than what they consume in a day.

For most cases a caloric deficit of 10-15% works best and ones that create a greater caloric deficit generally causes more muscle loss rather than fat loss.

For starters bananas offer healthy carbs which give energy to be more active and feel great. It is also high in the mineral potassium which helps to lower blood pressure. The fiber content of bananas helps to control hunger much better for those who are trying to lose fat. And it has also been found to help students study better thanks to its supply of the vitamin B6.

Some more benefits of bananas - It has been found to help reduce depression due to its content of Tryptophan, the iron content in it helps those with anemia and it also helps to reduce constipation due to its fiber content.

Breakfast is the best time to have this fruit. You can chop bananas in a bowl, add milk and a few strawberries.

#16 Tomatoes

This beautiful looking veggie works best in every Indian recipe and also as a weight loss food, every time you munch on a tomato, your body releases a hormone called cholecystokinin, which tightens the valve between your stomach and your intestine. As a result, CCK boosts feelings of fullness—making you less apt to overeat.

This weight loss food boosts your energy, stabilizes your blood sugar levels, controls your appetite, detoxifies your body and reduces cholesterol. Tomatoes are also low in calories, a plus for any dieter.

When using tomatoes in your dishes, avoid mixing thme with bread, pasta, potatoes or rice, as this combination can cause acidity.

#17 Olive oil

Olive oil has healthy fat that increases satiety, taming your appetite. But that's hardly its only slimming feature.

Olive oil contains antioxidant - polyphenols. They help the body in detoxify unbalanced molecules, otherwise called - free radicals. This weight loss oil is an excellent remedy for rheumatoid arthritis. Various published studies speak of these rheumatoid arthritis fighting properties.

Research shows it has anti-inflammatory properties, and chronic inflammation in the body is linked to metabolic syndrome. Drizzle your salad with olive oil and you'll increase the antioxidant power of your veggies, a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition notes.

#18 Cabbage

This weight loss food is found on every continent, so you have no excuses to shy away from this green leafy ball. Cabbage is the ideal veggie for constipation, skin and eye disorders, aging, stomach ulcers and Alzheimer’s to name a few. Detox with patta ghobi; it is a good blood purifier as well.

It’s very low in calories and high in fiber. Add to that, cabbage is way low on the GL scale too. This weight loss veggie doesn’t just help you lose weight. is also a surprisingly excellent source of vitamin C, which some experts believe may reduce the risk of developing diabetes.

#19 Eggs

Eggs are a good source of vitamins, proteins and minerals. Eggs are not only a great source of nutrition, but also very useful to help lose weight. When combining eggs with other dishes you will limit the consumption of complex carbohydrates in the body.

Egg itself is sufficient in helping in weight loss.

#20 Coffee

The caffeine in coffee can raise your resting metabolic rate by about 15 percent, and the effect can last up to four hours—that adds up to 30 to 50 calories burned per day. Plus, people who sip 3 to 4 cups of regular or decaf coffee per day are 30 percent less prone to type 2 diabetes.