Low-Fat Superfoods That Are Good For The Mind, Body, And Soul

For some reason, healthy superfoods low in fat get no respect. Many skeptics believe eating healthy means sacrificing flavor and eating less often. This could not be further from the truth.

There are tons of tasty, healthy, and low-fat superfoods on the market to be consumed in large quantities. Keep reading to learn more.

Eggs

Eggs are widely regarded as one of the world’s healthiest foods. They are full of protein that is high in quality. Overeating them is hard to do because of how filling they can be.

Eggs
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

There are various ways to prepare eggs which eliminate getting bored eating them often.

Wild-caught salmon

All kinds of salmon are surprisingly not nutritious. When going to the market to get your fresh cut of it, be sure it is “wild caught” and not farm-raised.

Salmon
Hoberman Collection/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Hoberman Collection/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The difference between the two types of salmon is that fish raised on a farm have a higher fat content.

Celery

Water is nutritious for the body, so logically celery is too. The crispy green veggies are made up of 95% water making them virtually impossible to gorge yourself by overeating.

celery
Anjelika Gretskaia/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Anjelika Gretskaia/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Other health benefits of celery are that it is an antioxidant, reduces inflammation, and helps to support digestion properly.

Salsa

Before you run and grab the bag of tortilla chips and get ready to party, we are talking about adding it to your meals, not dipping junk food into it.

Salsa and chips
Steve Parsons/PA Images via Getty Images
Steve Parsons/PA Images via Getty Images

In addition to spicing up the flavor of whatever you are eating, it’s hydrating, stabilizes blood sugar, and burns fat.

Hot Sauce

The only thing that possibly is better than salsa for keeping up with your low-fat diet is hot sauce. The combination of low calories and the ability to make everything taste better are two immediate benefits.

Hot sauces
Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images
Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images

It has even more nutritional value when it is added to high-protein foods.

Soup

If you thought celery had more water than soup, raise your hand. Fear not, soup lovers, because your favorite dish is 90% water, which is part of why it is so filling.

Borscht soup
NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images
NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images

Because it’s made of mostly liquid, so you can fill up on various types. Just beware of the calories in each of the different brands.

Bell Peppers

The versatility of bell peppers should not be underestimated. While they are delicious, how they are prepared and cooked is as varied as the foods they can be added to.

Bell peppers
Ricardo DeAratanha/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Ricardo DeAratanha/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Bell peppers are yummy additions to stir-fry and can be hollowed out and stuffed with ingredients like ground turkey.

Get Your Popcorn Ready

Just because you are dieting does not mean all junk food should be eliminated from the equation. Popcorn is a light, healthy snack, as long as it’s not swimming in butter.

Popcorn
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Popcorn is rich in fiber resulting in feeling satisfied quicker, and it helps boost blood circulation and digestive health.

Zucchini

Instead of inhaling a bunch of foods higher in calories, add some zucchini to your meals. Its texture and flavor are like wheat pasta, with 70%-80% fewer calories.

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Louis Hansel/Unsplash
Louis Hansel/Unsplash

Zucchini is low in sugar and fat, plus the squash is linked to improving digestion and lowering the risk of heart disease.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower has become a popular alternative to rice, potatoes, and other high-carbohydrate foods. It contains large amounts of fiber, so consuming too much of it may be challenging.

Cauliflowers
Karol Serewis/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Karol Serewis/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Versatility is another benefit of cauliflower. It can be cooked in a frying pan and is an option for pizza crust.

Kale

Kale is high in fiber, vitamins C, K, and other nutrients. Eating kale has benefits like chronic disease prevention and brain development and helps to promote blood clotting and bone-building.

Kale
PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images
PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images

One cup has only 33 calories, so put it in a smoothie or us it as a replacement for lettuce in salads.

Watermelon

Watermelon is a perfect food for people trying to lose weight. It is high in water content, making it filling when eaten and hard to consume too much of.

Watermelon
MyLoupe/UIG Via Getty Images
MyLoupe/UIG Via Getty Images

The tasty fruit has about 47 calories per cup and contains L-Arginine, an amino acid that helps us synthesize proteins.

Cucumber

Most foods that are high in water content are beneficial for weight loss, and cucumber is no different. Cucumbers are low in carbs and calories.

Cucumber slices
Joern Pollex/Getty Images
Joern Pollex/Getty Images

Along with being rich in fiber, cucumbers also contain vitamin K and vitamin A, which are necessary for maintaining vision and strengthening our immune systems.

Pickles

If cucumbers made our list, then pickles should be on it too. Pickles are fermented cucumbers and contain mostly water.

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JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP via Getty Images
JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP via Getty Images

If the pickle brand is sugarless, feel free to save and drink the juice from the jar. Pickle juice stabilizes blood sugar levels and reduces a person’s appetite.

Chicken Breast

Chicken breast is an excellent food for weight loss because it is low in calories and fat. It contains high amounts of protein and provides useful carbs for those cutting back on them.

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Karyna Panchenko/Unsplash
Karyna Panchenko/Unsplash

When we consume protein, it causes our bodies to burn energy to get rid of it.

Seasonings & Spices

Adding seasonings and spices to your meals could play a role in your sticking to a new diet plan. One of the stigmas about eating healthy superfoods is that they taste bad.

spices
Noorullah Shirzada/AFP via Getty Images
Noorullah Shirzada/AFP via Getty Images

This usually is because of less salt and sugar use. Seasonings like curry powder are low in calories.

Apples

‘A’ is for apple and can also stand for antioxidant. Apples contain large amounts of antioxidants, are high in fiber, and are rich in vitamin C.

Apples
Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images
Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images

In between meals, apples are an excellent bridge to satisfy you enough. Eating apples lowers the risk of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

Avocados

Avocados come preloaded with healthy fats and precious little carbs, separating them from other fruits. More nutritious fat content helps people feel more satisfied in between meals.

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Bethany Randall/Unsplash
Bethany Randall/Unsplash

The health benefits of eating this creamy delight are that it is high in fiber, magnesium, potassium, beta carotene, and vitamin C.

Spinach

Greens comprise many superfoods that double as healthy and low in fat, which is not “breaking news.” To name spinach as one of the vegetables lowest in calories does not do it justice because it has only seven.

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Louis Hansel/Unsplash
Louis Hansel/Unsplash

Spinach is nutrient-rich and provides calcium, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin A to a person’s diet.

Asparagus

Asparagus is delicious by itself or seasoned with garlic or paprika. One cup has only 27 calories. It’s also low in carbs, which means eating lots of it will have little harm to your diet.

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Art Rachen/Unsplash
Art Rachen/Unsplash

The highly fibrous asparagus contains excess amounts of Zinc and vitamins A and K.

Banana

Arguably one of the best sources on Earth for potassium is bananas. This fruit contains plenty of antioxidants and helps improve blood sugar levels.

Bananas
Brendon Thorne/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Brendon Thorne/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Bananas also have vitamin B6 in them, which supports brain development while keeping the nervous and immune systems healthy. Their convenience adds to their appeal.

Blueberries

Blueberries have too many health benefits to list. In addition to being the world’s leading source of antioxidants, they assist the heart’s health and bone strength. This fruit even improves the skin’s condition, lowers blood pressure, and manages diabetes.

hasmik-ghazaryan-olson-0LtiAeANy54-unsplash
Hasmik Ghazaryan Olson/Unsplash
Hasmik Ghazaryan Olson/Unsplash

Twenty-four percent of the daily limit of vitamin C is in blueberries.

Oranges

More often than not, oranges are chosen as the favorite source of vitamin C. They are also overflowing with antioxidants and fiber content.

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Vino Li/Unsplash
Vino Li/Unsplash

Oranges help fight anemia by making it easier to absorb iron. Collagen in the fruit is the protein responsible for healing wounds and smoothening skin.

Strawberries

Strawberries are a good source of fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants without including any amount of sodium, fat, or cholesterol.

olga-kudriavtseva-CL26_lT3Ygg-unsplash
Olga Kudriavtseva/Unsplash
Olga Kudriavtseva/Unsplash

They are good for reducing the risk of some forms of cancer and help people with type 2 diabetes to better manage the condition. Eight strawberries per day are recommended.

Lean Beef

As long as it is consumed in moderation, lean beef is one of the best sources of protein in existence. Zinc, iron, and vitamin B12 are high in concentration in lean beef.

Lean ground beef
PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images
PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images

If properly trimmed and part of a low-fat diet, this type of meat does not increase cardiovascular risks.

Lamb

Lamb is a rich source of protein along with zinc, iron, and vitamin B12. Usually grass-fed, lamb meat will contain large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids.

Rack of lamb
Scott Suchman/For the Washington Post
Scott Suchman/For the Washington Post

Those are the main reasons why lamb promotes muscle growth, maintenance, and performance. Lamb is also beneficial in preventing blood from becoming anemic.

Almonds

Almonds overflow with healthy fats, fiber, protein, vitamin E, and magnesium. They contribute to weight loss and are linked with improving metabolic health.

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Tatiana Bykovets/Unsplash
Tatiana Bykovets/Unsplash

It is an excellent way to reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Almonds keep blood pressure down, help decrease hunger frequency, and can promote weight loss.

Chia seeds

Twenty-eight grams or an ounce of chia seeds have 11 grams of fiber and substantial amounts of magnesium, manganese, and calcium.

Chia seeds
Sandy Huffaker/Corbis via Getty Images
Sandy Huffaker/Corbis via Getty Images

Chia seeds assist with lowering cholesterol levels and slowing down the digestion process. This prevents jumps in blood sugar amounts and makes you feel fuller after eating your meals.

Quinoa

Quinoa is a relative newcomer to the list of healthy superfoods and has been rapidly growing in popularity recently. The yummy little grain is high in fiber and magnesium content. Fans of plant-based protein will find their fill in quinoa.

Quinoa
Annie Wells/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Annie Wells/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

It treats constipation and lowers the risk of intestinal conditions.

Lentils

Lentils are high in fiber content, folate, and potassium which are great tools for managing blood pressure and cholesterol.

Lentils
Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Iron and vitamin B1 levels are invigorated by lentils which are crucial to maintaining a healthy heartbeat. They have also been linked with helping protect women from getting breast cancer.