Ever get that HUGE, insatiable appetite… typically when you don’t necessarily want it?
While there are tons of products claiming to help with that – many of which come with undesired side effects – there are also real FOODS you can munch on to help tame the ravenous beast in your tummy.
There are a lot of foods that curb the appetite, but as to not take up too much time, I’ve narrowed it down to seven, with a few bonuses.
The 7 Most Common Foods That Curb Appetite
*Prefer to watch/listen rather than read this information? Click “Play” on the video below*
1. Green leafy vegetables
Leafy greens like kale, collards, or swiss chard are very fibrous and are said to help keep you full.
This is said to be due, in part, to sac-like membranes called thylakoids, though some feel the membranes don’t have any bearing on appetite.
But whether or not the thylakoid membranes are responsible for decrease in appetite, you simply can’t go wrong eating leafy greens because they’re highly nutritious and rich in fiber.
And if you don’t want to consume them cooked, try them prepared other ways such as using the leaves as wraps, blending with fruit to make green smoothies or, one of my favorites, kale chips!
2. Flax seed
These tiny seeds are a great source of fiber and omega 3 fatty acids, making them great to help you feel fuller longer.
Tip: Ground flax seed is best because they’re broken down for easier digestion and more readily release the beneficial oils HOWEVER… don’t BUY them ground as the oils can become rancid and volatile the longer they sit on the store shelf.
Instead, purchase them whole and use a coffee grinder or other grinder or even your blender and grind them up yourself. Store in the refrigerator to keep them fresh longer. You can use the ground flax seed in smoothies, baked goods, oatmeal, and more!
3. Avocado
Avocados are a great source of healthy fats, omega 3’s, and fiber – all of which helps curb your appetite by making you feel fuller.
Now if, like me, you’re not a fan of avocado; do what I did when I was a raw fooder… make this avocado chocolate pudding. I know it may not sound appealing, but trust me, it’s delicious!
4. Pickles
Pickles are a great appetite suppressant food, mainly due to the fact that they’re low in calories yet, help you feel and stay full.
One thing that was commonly recommended was to try and get organic or at least natural pickles as opposed to the conventional brands with added ingredients.
5. Apples
Apples are another good choice for appetite suppression for a couple of reasons:
a.) the pectin in apples helps regulate blood sugar levels which, in turn, helps you with hunger & cravings
b.) apples are high in fiber and that helps you feel and stay full as well.
6. Oats
Oatmeal is a high source of soluble fiber that digests slowly and therefore, keeps you feeling full longer. And if you don’t particularly care for oatmeal, as hot cereal, there is a TON of other stuff you can do with it – muffins, blend in shakes, etc.
7. Spices
Studies have shown that spices such as cayenne pepper, ginger, cloves and cinnamon can help decrease the appetite, as well as reduce cravings.
The Runners Up
Dark chocolate: The deep, rich flavor of dark chocolate is said to help you feel satiated and a component of it, steric acid, is said to aid in slowing down the digestion process which causes your stomach to feel full.
I realize it’s bitter and if it’s too bitter for your tastes, one source suggests that having it with a cup of black coffee helps to bring out the sweetness of the chocolate. *Hmm… wonder how it would work out to just ADD the dark chocolate to a small cup of black coffee? I’ll have to try that out!*
Nuts: Almonds, specifically, are a great source of healthy fat and fiber.
Nuts were also said to be slow to digest, which is also a high point for helping to keep you feeling full.
Water: Did your mom ever tell you to wait until you finished your dinner before you drank anything because if you drank too much before or while eating, you wouldn’t eat all of your food? If so, she was definitely on to something.
While not a food item, per se, water is another highly-touted appetite suppressant because when drank at the onsite of hunger, it can definitely calm the voracity of your appetite and, if nothing else, cause you to eat less than you probably would otherwise.
In addition to eating the foods that curb appetite; you can also enjoy a refreshing glass of this delicious, all-natural, appetite suppressant drink that not only helps you feel full between meals, but it also helps reduce cravings AND supports your metabolism!
It contains many of the same appetite-suppressing foods you just read about such as: greens, flax, and cinnamon, among other beneficial ingredients.
Click here to learn more!
A Few Other Thoughts On Curbing Your Appetite
Identify exactly WHEN you need appetite suppression:
– Is it prior to eating a meal to avoid overeating in one sitting?
– Between meals in order to avoid excessive eating?
– Or is it during certain times of day, especially evenings or late at night, to avoid late night snacking?
Whichever time(s) of day you need it, that’s when you want to incorporate the above-listed foods.
I remember one guy making a statement that was pretty interesting.
He basically said (paraphrasing) – the BEST appetite suppressant is… FOOD.
Sound redundant?
What he meant was, simply EAT when you’re hungry but choose healthy, real food options over highly-processed, prepackaged junk foods.
Replace those with healthier choices, such as the ones named as 7 top choice foods that curb appetite.
One Final Tip…
Come up with creative ways to combine foods that curb appetite.
For example: combine oats, dark chocolate (pieces, chips or cacao powder), nuts and honey. Form into balls or bars, and store in the fridge or freezer to have on deck for a healthy, appetite-suppressing treat.
Or perhaps Greek yogurt with apples, cinnamon, honey (or other natural sweetener) and toasted flax seeds, oats, or nuts.
The possibilities are endless, just use your imagination and creativity!
I hope this has been helpful to you and if so, please feel free to share with someone else who may need it.
‘Til next time… bye for now!
