Foods You Probably Didn't Know Helped You Lose Weight

There are no foods that will magically shed unwanted pounds, but there are some foods that you can add to your diet that you may not have known were associated with weight loss.

These are foods that kick start your metabolism and keep you feeling full for a long time. In addition, they are even very tasty.

Guacamole sauce

Avocados are full of vitamin B6, which fights the stress hormone cortisol. This hormone is what causes belly fat. Avocados also contain unsaturated fats. It is a healthy fat that, in accordance with the study  Diabetes Care can actually prevent the distribution of body fat around your belly. Avocado's healthy fats will keep you full for longer.

Dark chocolate

Does chocolate help burn fat? Yes, but only the dark version. Researchers from Louisiana State University discovered that chocolate increases the production of gut-healthy polyphenolic compounds, including fatty acids that suppress genes associated with inflammation and encourage the body to burn fat for fuel.

Water with lemon

It is not surprising that water is essential for the functioning of the metabolism. If you add lemon to it, you will also introduce the antioxidant that it is good for study showed that it has therapeutic effects on metabolic disorders in mice with obesity induced by a high-fat diet.

Mustard

Scientists from England's Oxford Polytechnic Institute discovered that consuming one teaspoon of mustard can actually boost your metabolism by 25 percent, a few hours after consuming it.

Pork steak

study, published in the journal Nutrients, showed that overweight people who had a diet rich in fresh lean pork saw significant reductions in waist circumference and abdominal fat after three months. It is believed that pork proteins contribute to greater fat burning.

Chocolate milk

Low-fat chocolate milk actually contains eight grams of protein per cup, which means drinking it before and after your workout will give your body enough protein. Just make sure you choose chocolate milk that doesn't contain a lot of sugar.

Coffee

Coffee is great for boosting your metabolism, and as long as you drink it black without milk or artificial sweeteners, you're on the right track. According to the the study , published in Physiology & Behavior, those who drank caffeinated coffee had a 16 percent higher average metabolic rate than those who drank decaffeinated coffee.

Peanut butter

Who doesn't love peanut butter? Not only does it taste great, but it's packed with flat-belly nutrients like unsaturated fat and protein.

Hummus

Hummus is made from chickpeas, so it makes sense that this spread is packed with protein. But the best part about hummus is that it pairs perfectly with fiber-rich vegetables.

Green bananas

Unripe bananas are rich in resistant starch, which is a type of starch that can pass through the small intestine without being digested. Basically, it ends up helping to create healthy gut bacteria, which leads to feeling fuller for longer. And then there's vitamin B6, which is a nutrient that helps turn food into energy.

Peaches

study, conducted by Texas AgriLife Research found that peaches reduce the risk of obesity-related diseases and also help with inflammation. Peaches also have less sugar than other fruits.

Cabbage

Cabbage is high in fiber and can also help lower cholesterol levels and prevent bile from absorbing fat after a meal.

Red pepper

Red peppers are full of vitamin C, which is an antioxidant and has been shown to reduce stress hormone levels. When you are under more stress, you have high levels of cortisol, which can cause fat to be stored in your stomach.

Beans

As you know, soluble fiber is great for reducing belly fat, and beans are full of it. It is high in protein and low in fat.