An extra bite here and an extra bite there can increase your carb intake, spelling disaster for your weight loss efforts. But that doesn’t mean you should not reach out for a snack when hunger comes calling at an odd hour.
At such times—and otherwise too—look past carb-rich foods and pick up a low-carb food.
Why?
Because cutting carbs helps you lose weight. According to several studies, a low-carb diet helps lose more weight, sometimes two or three times more, than a low-fat diet.
Lowering the carb intake also provides many other health benefits. Studies have linked low-carb diet to reduction in sugar levels in blood, blood pressure, and triglycerides and higher HDL cholesterol.
Luckily, eating low-carb is not at all complicated. Here are 6 healthy snacks for weight loss and better health.
1. Apple and Cheese
This sweet and salty snacks tickles taste buds in the right way besides providing very few calories.
Half a cup of cup of apple slices paired with string cheese helps satisfy an untimely hunger pang without spiking up your calorie count by much. What’s more, this satisfying snack does provide protein and fiber in good amounts, both essential for good health.
Carbs: 10 grams
2. Avocado on Crisp
Want to have a creamy, crunchy snack?
Spread one-quarter of mashed avocado on 2 rye crackers. This low-calorie snack provides you with a lot of fiber and healthy fat.
Avocados are a great source of fiber, which is so essential for good health. Adequate fiber intake is associated with weight loss and better digestive health.
Fats are of two types—healthy and unhealthy. Avocado is rich in monosaturated fatty acids, which are extremely beneficial for heart health.
Carbs: 18 grams
3. Yogurt and Cucumbers
Enjoy the multiple health benefits of yogurt and cucumber as you satisfy hunger. All you need is a cup of low-fat yogurt and one cup of cucumber spears.
Yogurt is a calcium powerhouse, so is extremely good for bones. It is also rich in potassium and vitamin A, riboflavin, protein, and phosphorus.
Even people who are moderately intolerant to lactose can enjoy yogurt, as it contains lactose in significantly less amount than milk.
Cucumbers are rich in fiber, promoting better bowel movement. They are also beneficial for brain health and heart health, besides might helping lower the risk of certain cancers, like breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer.
Carbs: 12 grams
4. Cottage Cheese with Berries
Another healthy snack for weight loss is cottage cheese with blueberries. Pair one cup of cottage cheese (low-fat variety) with half a cup of frozen or fresh blueberries to enjoy a tasty, filling, wholesome snack.
Cottage cheese is a complete source of protein, as it contains all the amino acids we need. It also is rich source of calcium and phosphorus, and Vitamin B2 (also called riboflavin).
Blueberries, on the other hand, are among the healthiest fruits. It helps lower blood pressure, manage diabetes, improve bone health, ward off heart disease, and prevent cancer.
Carbs: 18 grams
5. Jerky
Jerky is a great low-calorie snack, as long as it doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients or sugar.
Opt for grass-fed beef as it is believed to contain less total fat, more omega fatty acids (which helps lower blood pressure, improve health, and slow plaque growth), conjugated linoleic acid (which may reduce heart disease), and antioxidants (which improve eye and skin health and strengthens the immune system).
Carbs: 10 grams in 1.5 ounces
6. Hard-boiled Egg
Hard-boiled eggs sit at the top of any grab-‘n’-go power snack list—and rightly so. Rich in protein and good fats and a decent source of vitamin A and calcium, hard-boiled eggs provide many healthy benefits.
You can add a hint of hot sauce or more, depending on your choice, to a boiled egg to make it savory.
Carbs: Less than 1 gram of carbs
Reach out for a healthy snack, which satisfies hunger and provides sufficient nutritional values, when you feel hungry between meals. There are many tasty, healthy snacking options–so there’s enough variety to choose from.