Ground flaxseed
Ground flaxseed helps with weight loss by binding up excess hormones (as an imbalance is a common contributor to weight gain). It also reduces cravings and increases satiation through its high amount of fiber and bulking properties, optimizes healthy gut bacteria, and improves integrity of bowel movements. It’s also rich in B vitamins (involved in over 500 reactions in the human body), magnesium (nature’s relaxer, important for stress reduction as weight gain tends to have a stress component), zinc (good for immune health). It’s a rich source of over 20 fatty acids and a great source of alpha-lipoic acid, which helps reduce inflammation. It’s high in minerals like selenium (great for thyroid health, which plays a role in metabolism), manganese, and phosphorus. It’s best ground, as whole seeds tend to pass right through us. – Dr. Serena Goldstein
Chicken Liver Pate
My favorite food for weight loss is chicken liver pate. Weird one, I know. Lemme explain. The body feels comfortable shedding weight and arriving at its optimal set point only when it has reached a state of nutritional abundance. That is, the body wants to know it has all the micronutrients (vitamins, minerals) and macronutrients (fat, protein, carbohydrate) it needs to thrive; otherwise, it will want you to keep eating until you get there. Chicken liver pate, or really all the organ meats, are some of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. They’re a great way to tell your body it has everything it needs. – Ellen Vora, M.D., and instructor of How To Control Anxiety and The Doctor’s Guide to Falling Asleep Naturally
Green Smoothies
My favorite food for weight loss is a green smoothie. It fills me up, keeps me energized, and keeps my chocolate cravings and salt cravings far away. I am really not picky about what goes in them – usually a cup of greens, frozen fruit, a banana, or avocado and I am good to go! – Taz Bhatia, M.D., and instructor of The Doctor’s Guide to Hormonal Imbalance
Bitter Melon
Bitter melon is a vegetable commonly eaten in India and China (also known as Momordica charantia) that has tons of medicinal uses including aiding in weight loss. It’s a rich source of phytonutrients, antioxidants, and high in fiber, all assisting with boosting digestive health. It’s also low in calories and filling. This vegetable stimulates the liver, which is a major detox organ. The better your liver functions, the better your body can process fats and keep them from storing on your hips, waist, and other problem areas. Want to enjoy this amazing veggie but can’t stomach the bitterness? Simply soak it in chilled salt water for a few hours, then cook it or eat it raw. You can also drink the bitter melon in tea form. Any way you slice it, make sure to consult with your doctor before including bitter melon in your diet. – Karla Solis, DDS
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is acetic acid, and it dates back to 5,000 B.C., and Hippocrates (the “father of medicine”) used vinegar medicinally to clean wounds. In my experience, there are benefits for weight loss and cravings control, and evidence shows that it is really good for its glycemic effects, as it lowers blood sugar after meals. I also include it for all of my patients trying to reset their gut microbiome, as it’s fermented, which means it has live bacteria that can help build up the good bacteria lining in the GI tract. Here’s my favorite recipe: 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with the juice of 1 lemon or lime, and 4 ounces of warm water. Drink and enjoy! – Amy Shah, M.D., and instructor of The 7-Day Gut Reset
An Omelet
My favorite food for weight loss is an omelet! Eggs each have about more than 7 grams of protein each, so an omelet has 14 to 21 grams depending on how many eggs you use, plus significant amounts of B12, biotin, and choline, and up to 400 mg of healthy omega-3 fats. Because of this, I think in many ways, eggs are nature’s perfect food. Choose free-range, pasture-raised eggs whenever possible, as they are much higher in nutrients and healthy fats than industrially raised eggs (you can actually tell visibly because their yolks are bright yellow or even dark orange instead of pale yellow!). The best part is eggs take just a couple of minutes to whip into an omelet – even if you have no cooking skills. I love adding in wild smoked salmon, sauteed spinach, and fresh cherry tomatoes, if they’re in season. I love this for weight loss because it’s carb – and sugar-free, and carbs and sugar cause us to store fat, especially if we are not super active and work at a desk. As a bonus, the protein increases your resting metabolic rate, so you burn more calories even when you’re not being active. – Robin Berzin, M.D., and instructor of The Ultimate Stress Solution
