13 Of The Best Superfoods For Weight Loss & Energy!

 

Written by: Liz Brown - Dec. 17, 2020

Two health food bowls with some of the best superfoods for weight loss, including Super Youth Skinny Greens superfood powder.  

Superfoods, the most heroic of cuisine and perhaps the millennium’s most ambiguous and overhyped food term. But it’s not all talk. In fact, there are plenty of fruits and veggies out there that rightfully earn their heroic monikers. In this blog, we’re going to dive into 13 of the absolute best superfoods for weight loss. Some are common, and some I can bet you haven’t even heard of yet. But each of these weight loss superfoods deserves to be on your radar and in your diet. 

As you’d expect, the best superfoods for weight loss have other benefits too. For instance, if you’ve been feeling sluggish, easily fatigued, and/or unmotivated, incorporating these ingredients into your diet will help give you the boost you need to power up while slimming down.

Two superfood bowls with ingredients that are some of the best superfoods for weight loss.

What Are Superfoods?


The term “Superfoods” refers to foods that offer maximum nutritional benefits with a minimal amount of calories. Specifically, the nutrients found in superfoods contain significant health benefits that can help your body burn fat, boost energy levels, ease digestive issues, and may even reduce your risk of certain diseases. 

Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and polyphenols are all abundantly found in all superfoods. Antioxidants help fight free-radical damage which causes oxidative stress on your body. Oxidative stress can result in a variety of side effects like potential damage to the central nervous system, and it may increase your risk of certain diseases, cause inflammation, and even accelerate the aging process. [1]  Polyphenols are micronutrients that help reduce blood clots, which can increase circulation, lower blood sugar levels, and lower your risk of heart disease. Polyphenols may also increase brain function and improve digestion—which can help with weight loss. [2]

Including a rich source of superfoods into your diet can significantly improve your health and may even fight weight-related issues. 

A woman meal prepping with some of the best superfoods for weight loss, including Super Youth Skinny Greens.

Top 13 Best Superfoods For Weight Loss


There are many “superfoods” out there. But, even superfoods aren’t all created equally, at least in terms of weight loss and energy. These specific weight loss superfoods contain fat-fighting and energy-boosting properties that can help you lose weight and feel amazing.

1. Alfalfa 


You may recognize from your local sandwich or salad shop. It’s those little sprouts they offer as a lettuce substitute.These little sprouts are packed with important vitamins and minerals—so many, in fact, adding it to our list of best superfoods for weight loss was a no-brainer!

Alfalfa is rich in vitamin K, vitamin C, folate, copper, manganese, thiamin, magnesium, iron, and riboflavin. [3] But that’s just the start—alfalfa contains a high content of bioactive plant compounds that include saponins, flavonoids, phytoestrogens, coumarins, and alkaloids. [4] Saponins help the immune system to protect the human body against cancers, and can also lower cholesterol levels. [5] Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants that protect the body against free-radical damage and may reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, asthma, and stroke. Similarly, they may play a role in protecting the brain. [6] And from a weight loss perspective, this is where alfalfa really shines. It’s packed with detoxification properties, protein, and fiber that can help boost your metabolism and help you shed pounds. [7]

2. Apple cider vinegar


Apple cider vinegar, AKA: ACV, is a favorite in the weight-loss community. It contains an active compound called acetic acid, which is responsible for both its sour, vinegar-like taste as well as a variety of benefits linked to weight loss. Acetic acid is a short-chain fatty acid. These types of amino acids play an important role in the health of your colon, which is involved in the metabolism of important nutrients like carbohydrates and fat. [8, 9

Animal studies suggest that the acetic acid in apple cider vinegar plays a role in weight loss in several ways. For example, one study found that treating obese rats with acetic acid protected them from weight gain and reduced belly fat storage. [10] In another study, mice that were fed a high-fat diet and supplemented with acetic acid showed an increase in fat-burning and reduced belly fat. [11] Another study revealed that acetic acid may stimulate the hypothalamus, the area of your brain responsible for appetite, which can lead to reduced food intake. [12

3. Artichoke


Artichokes made this list of weight loss superfoods for a few reasons. First, they’re awesome on paninis and pasta. 😜 Second, they’re loaded vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, protein, and fiber! [13] And secondly, several studies found that artichokes may improve digestive health thanks to its ability to promote gut-friendly bacteria. This can help regulate bowel movements, alleviate constipation and diarrhea, and help with weight loss. [14, 15]. So, next time you spot this strange-looking vegetable on the menu at your local Italian sandwich shop, don’t think twice! Give it a go, because artichokes are not only nutritious and can help trim your waistline, but they are also delicious!  

4. Chlorella


Chlorella has skyrocketed in popularity recently. It’s a type of algae that has a bright, rich green color that’s hard to miss. But it’s beautiful color isn’t the only thing to take notice of. In fact, chlorella is one of the best superfoods for weight loss! Wait, algae? Yes! Chlorella is actually 50-60% protein! What’s even more impressive is that it’s a complete protein, which means that it contains all nine essential amino acids, which your body needs to create protein, hormone synthesis, and neurotransmitters. [16] Chlorella contains antioxidants, fiber, omega-3s, and a variety of vitamins and minerals that make it incredibly nutritious. [17, 18] It’s also known to have detoxification properties that can expel heavy metals and other harmful substances from the body that can cause fatigue and weight gain. [19]

5. Glucomannan root


Glucomannan root is a type of dietary fiber reputed to be  one of the most viscous dietary fibers out there. Viscous fiber absorbs an extremely high quantity of liquid so that, when digested, glucomannan root takes up a lot of space in the stomach. Less space in your stomach equals more full-feeling, i.e. satiety. This ultimately helps to reduce your appetite and food intake. It also reduces the absorption of protein and fat in your stomach. [20, 21]

6. Green tea


Green tea is already known as one of the best teas for weight loss. That’s because it is super nutrient-dense and contains powerful agents like catechins, beta-carotene, folic acid, saponins, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus, all of which support weight loss. Green tea is also known to boost metabolism, energy levels, and immune function while lowering blood sugar and cholesterol levels. 

Cup of warm green tea, one of the best superfoods for weight loss along with Super Youth Skinny Greens.

7. Lemon juice 


The first time I heard of people squeezing lemon juice into warm water for weight loss, I laughed myself to tears. Well, hand me those tissues because it turns out there is at least some truth to this well-known adage. Some studies report that mixing lemon juice with water may boost metabolism, satiety, and hydration—all of which are associated with weight loss. [22, 23]

8. Matcha


Matcha. Ever heard of it? It’s a type of tea valued in Traditional Chinese Medicine for its powerful healing properties. It contains potent antioxidants (including powerful EGCG [epigallocatechin gallate]), catechins, polyphenols, an army of supportive vitamins and minerals like chromium, zinc, magnesium, and chlorophyll that can all help fight off unwanted pounds. [24] It also contains incredible detoxification benefits that can help clear your body of heavy metal toxins that can prevent your body from functioning optimally.

It’s often compared (or, rather, contrasted) to  coffee. But matcha is favored by many because it contains lower levels of caffeine than coffee, which gives you the weight loss benefits of caffeine without the jitters. [25] So, of course, millennials created the matcha latte—which gives us a mixture of the traditional weight loss superfood with a new-age way to get your caffeine fix. 

A bowl of matcha, one of the best superfoods for weight loss, with powder and mixing utensils. It's a great choice to pair with Super Youth Skinny Greens.

9. Moringa


Moringa made this list of the best superfoods for weight loss because it contains high levels of valuable vitamins and minerals that are effective in reducing and controlling weight. For starters, it contains high levels of vitamin B which can help improve digestion and help the body convert food into energy, as opposed to storing it as fat. [26] It also boasts high levels of phytates, which is an antinutrient that binds with minerals like iron, zinc, and calcium, making them less absorbable in your body. [27

10. Spinach 


Another super-awesome weight loss superfood, spinach helps improve your digestive system. Like, a lot. It’s loaded with fiber and a variety of vitamins and minerals that are key components for healthy digestion and metabolism regulation.

11. Spirulina


Like chlorella, Spirulina is another type of nutrient-rich algae. In fact, spirulina has been named the most nutrient-dense food on earth! 🌎 Around 65% of spirulina is a complete protein and just one tablespoon of it contains roughly 10 times the beta-carotene than carrots. (Eat your heart out Bugs Bunny! 🐰) It’s also a treasure trove of nutritious minerals, like copper, manganese, potassium, and magnesium, and boasts almost every other type of nutrient the human body requires, in trace amounts. [28]

12. Turmeric


Turmeric is one of the best superfoods for weight loss and inflammation, much in thanks to it’s most powerful substance, curcumin. Turmeric has been used in Ayurvedic medicine in South Asia for many years. It’s packed with antioxidants and can reduce inflammation, boost brainpower and cognitive function, reduce your risk of heart disease, and joint pain, and it’s helpful for treating age-related memory issues. [29] It’s also been linked to potentially aiding in weight loss, too. A 2009 study on overweight rodents found that turmeric can actually suppress fat tissue growth! [30

13. Wheatgrass 


A nutrient powerhouse, wheatgrass is packed with fat-fighting properties. It’s made up of chlorophyll, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and a whopping 98 of the 102 earth elements found in soil. Wheatgrass aids digestion, reduces food cravings, contains detoxification properties, and stimulates the thyroid gland, which can help with weight loss. [31]

What Is The Best Superfood Powder?


Eating these weight loss superfoods throughout your day is an ideal way to manage weight naturally and sustainably. But it’s also impractical for many people, considering how difficult it is to find all of these superfoods conveniently at a grocery store. Not to mention how much it would cost if you bought all these supplements individually. You can expect to drop $250 for all 13! That’s not sustainable over the long-term. But, what if there was a way to get all of the best superfoods for weight loss in one convenient supplement that was not only convenient and easy but actually affordable? Well, thankfully, there’s Skinny Greens Superfood Powder.

Skinny Greens contains all 13 of the best superfoods for weight loss, plus an additional 21 superfood ingredients, in one convenient powder for a fraction of the price. All you have to do is mix one scoop of the green apple flavored powder with water and enjoy the benefits. 

A container of Super Youth Skinny Greens powder, one of the best superfoods for weight loss.

The Bottom Line On Weight Loss Superfoods


If you’re serious about losing weight naturally and sustainably, incorporating weight loss superfoods into your diet will help you reach your goals faster and more effectively. Although superfoods alone are not an end-all-be-all solution to weight loss, they do contain powerful and effective properties and health benefits that can make reaching your weight loss goals easier. If you’re using superfoods for weight loss, it’s important to remember that not all superfood powders are created equally. Taking an all-in-one green superfood powder, like Skinny Greens, will give you the biggest bang for your buck and help you see the best results. 

 

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