"SuperFoods" That Aid in Weight Loss

According to Health.com there are some foods that have been labeled as "Superfoods" or foods that are naturally high in nutrition. These superfoods  can aid in building bones, preventing chronic diseases, improving eyesight, improving your mind, and most interestingly keeping you slim.

Black Beans

Black beans are a great alternative for vegetarians and carnivores alike. A cup of black beans contains 15 grams of protein, but doesn't contain the saturated fat found in other protein sources, like red meat.

Oats

In terms of fiber, oats really are super! Just a half cup of oats has 4.6 grams of resistant starch, a healthy carb that works to boost metabolism and burns fat. 

Avocados

Avocados are known for being fatty, but the right kind of fatty that benefits your body rather than hurts it. Rich in oleic acid, avocados may trigger your body to actually quiet hunger and also contain large amounts of fiber and protein. 

Salmon

Salmon is a great example of a lean source of protein that helps you feel full, but doesn't add fat to your body. Salmon is rich in MUFAs with have been proven to increase weight loss.

Blueberries 

Blueberries are a great snack or treat, with one cup only equaling 80 calories. Blueberries also help you feel full with 4 grams of fiber. 

Broccoli

Broccoli is known for it's cancer preventing properties, but is also very full of fiber and is less than 30 calories. 

Brown Rice

Brown rice a healthier, more fiber packed alternative to its counterpart, white rice. A half cup serving contains 1.7 grams of resistant starch, that boosts metabolism and burns fat. Brown rice is also low in calories but is heavy to make you feel full. 

Pears

Pears are full of fiber, just one pear equals 15% of your daily recommended amount of fiber. However, avoid peeling your pears because the skin is where all the fiber is located! 

Wine

Consumed in moderate amounts, wine has actually proven to increase weight loss. Resveratrol, the antioxidant found in grape skin stops fat storage. Studies have shown that wine drinkers have narrower waists than liquor drinkers and that downing a glass can boost your calorie burn for 90 minutes.

Grapefruit

Studies have shown that eating half a grapefruit before each meal has helped people lose up to a a pound a week. A compound in the fruit can lower insulin, a fat-storage hormone, leading to weight loss. It is a good source of protein and is good at filling you up while being 90% made up of water. 

Kidney Beans

Kidney beans offer protein and fiber, more than 5 grams per serving and are also very rich resistant starch!

About the Author: Susan is a guest contributor from The Center for Optimal Health, a center for integrating healthy life style habits with the best of conventional and alternative medicine. 

Careers in the Food Industry

Many people are passionate about food. So passionate that they decide that they want to make a career out of it. While there are many different types of career options for someone who wants to work in the food industry, we've highlighted a few that we think might catch your attention.

Chef

This one would be difficult not to mention when talking about careers in the food industry. Chefs can come from all different backgrounds. Many go through extensive training at culinary schools, where competition can be pretty tough. Many other chefs find ways to make it on their own with little external training, or learning from a mentor. Depending on the type of chef that you want to become, you may want to consider some form of culinary school from a respected institution.

Waiters/Waitress

Many people who start a job as a waiter or a waitress will often find themselves to be great at their job and they keep finding new opportunities to expand and develop their skill set. A talented waiter or waitress will need to understand everything the restaurant or food venue offers and should be able to make food and beverage recommendations based on a customer's needs. They also need to be able to communicate very effectively with chefs or anyone preparing food, as they will be the ones held responsible for the quality of the food served. While many waiters or waitresses learn from experience, many aspiring waiters or waitresses can attend hospitality schools to make themselves stand out from others on the market.

Food Quality Specialist

If you ever wonder how your food and beverages are consistently safe for you to consume, then you should thank a food quality specialist. They are responsible for making sure that food and beverages are safe to consume something as small as a restaurant chain to a region of the United States. There are plenty of positions available at the moment. Just go to a job search site like Foodsafetyrecruiter.com and use their job search tool for finding a job opening in your regional area.

Hospitality Manager

From deciding the structure of a menu for a restaurant, to how a food venue may be set up and designed, a hospitality manager will be in charge of a great deal of items related to the food service of a business or an organization. Hospitality managers are often found in hotels but will work in any environment that prides itself on providing excellent customer service as well as food or beverages.