Yogurt is full of calcium which studies show may curtail weight gain by hindering the absorption of fat in the small intestine. (AP)
Eggs
(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Pistachios
Pistachios are full of hunger-curbing protein and fiber. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Grapefruit
Nearly everyone's heard of the Grapefruit Diet. Many believe eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice may block enzymes involved in fat and carbohydrate storage, and speed up the way our bodies burn fat, resulting in weight loss. (AP)
Avocado
Researchers suspect that the unsaturated fat in avocados may ratchet up body levels of the hunger-halting hormone called leptin -- a hormone that lets your brain know that you're full, so you stop eating.
Mushrooms
Many people substitute mushrooms for meat and cut the calories of a meal in order to lose weight. (Photo credit: www.mushroom-appreciation.com)
Olive Oil
Research indicates that replacing other types of fats with monounsaturated fats (MUFA), especially olive oil, helps people lose weight without additional food restriction or physical activity (although doing so would further increase weight-loss!). A number of studies showed that when people substituted MUFA-rich olive oil for saturated fat, they ate less food and either maintained their weight or lost weight. Several other studies indicate that monounsaturated fat enhances the body's breakdown of stored fat. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
whole-grains
Trade refined grains for whole grains. Research shows this can help reduce weight. Whole grains include brown rice, quinoa, steel-cut oats, whole-grain cereal, and 100% whole-wheat bread and pasta. (Photo credit:colorfulchinesekitchen.com)
Serrano peppers
Fava Beans
Creamy and hearty, fava beans are a lean protein source bursting with flavonoids. And in a 14-year study, these special antioxidants were shown to help hinder the accumulation of extra belly fat. (Photo credit: seriouseats.com)
RiceVeggies
Adding some high-fiber vegetables like broccoli, carrots, and kale to your rice will obviously help lower the calorie count. But not only that. Adding veggies to rice at lunchtime appears to slow stomach emptying, according to research. The end result? You feel full longer. In fact, people in a study ate much less at dinner when they added veggies to their rice at lunch. (Photo credit: www.nutrifit.org)
