Unusual Food Combinations That Actually Work for Losing Weight

Losing weight isn’t a one-size-fits-all adventure, and that’s especially true when it comes to eating right. When you’re on a mission to drop some pounds, mixing up your meals with a couple of different goodies can really pack a punch. Why? It’s all about teamwork between the nutrients in those foods. They join forces like superheroes (1), with each one bringing something special to the table that the other might miss. This dynamic duo (or trio!) works together to give you a boost. Trust me, you’ll want to see how this tag team can change the game for your diet!

As a team, they can fend off hunger, help you stay full longer, and burn fat or calories better than they would do alone (1). So if you’re trying to achieve that perfect summer body, some foods are better when they are paired and can do more work and wonders in helping us lose weight (2).

Some of these food combinations may look bizarre to you, but there is also a nutritional (and even scientific) reason behind each (2). Some people opt for less traditional food combinations, but all of these have proven to work, as long as you are willing to try something new in your weight loss journey (3).

These flavor duos work in partnership, with their own unique flavors and nutrients for the perfect weight-loss meal. Also note that combining food greatly affects digestion, which is key to weight loss. Thus, the way you combine specific foods affects the way their nutrients are absorbed, as well as your blood sugar – which controls the hormones that influence weight loss or gain (4).

The key to mastering this is to know how quickly a certain food is digested. On that note, protein takes the longest yet fruits are the fastest. This is then followed by greens, starchy vegetables, and starches, accordingly. If you consume these foods in the correct order, you can facilitate the optimal absorption of nutrients, leaving your digestive tract toxin-free (4).

That said, here is a list of the weirdest food combinations that you can try to boost the rate of your weight loss process and results (2).

1. Eggs and Black Pepper

Start your day with this protein-packed meal. According to research in the Journal of the American College and Nutrition, people who had eggs for breakfast ate less for the rest of a day and a half compared to those who had a bagel. It is also known that black beans and peppers make this morning meal even more filling, thanks to its double dose of fiber (1).

Eggs are rich in protein, which can help you improve metabolism in the body. Yellow and pepper, on one hand, is a good source of vitamin C, which works together with eggs to cut down those extra fats in the body. This combination has been often suggested by experts, given their effectiveness in shedding away those extra kilos (2)(5).

2. Yogurt and Cinnamon

This combo might sound and taste weird but adding a hint of cinnamon to a bowl of yogurt is a great combination when you’re trying to lose weight (2).

Yogurt, on its own, is often recommended for people who are trying to lose weight, but it works even better when paired with the right foods – the best one being cinnamon (5). When combined with cinnamon, yogurt can help decrease the number of stored fats in the body. Thanks to its high amounts of antioxidants, cinnamon also helps you prevent free radical damage, improve insulin sensitivity and balance – which reduces flab – and prevent premature aging (2)(6).

3. Watermelon and Apple

When it comes to weird fruit combinations, the most commonly known combination is that of apples and watermelons. These fruits help you lose weight. That’s why, when apples are eaten with watermelons, they keep the fats away effectively (2).

Watermelon contains low-fat content with their added minerals while apples contain a great amount of fiber. Together, these two works wonders for losing weight and maintaining waistline circumference (2). More specifically, watermelon adds fuel to the waistline-whittling fire by enhancing lipid profiles yet lowering fat accumulation, while apple functions to reduce visceral fats in the body (7). Taken together, they can work effectively to cut down fats fast (8).

You can consume these fruits by making a home-made salad. If you want to specifically focus on getting rid of those sagging belly flabs on your body, this combo does the job right! (5).

4. Chicken and Cayenne Pepper

Chicken breasts are known to be great in weight loss, as they provide 27 grams of protein for less than 150 calories. Note that protein takes too long to digest and it helps you feel full longer (1). Many studies have also shown that a lot of weight loss control was observed in people who consumed chicken breast more often. This is because chicken breast is low in calories yet high in protein (9).

To spice this dinner staple a tad bit, you can rub it or sauce it up with cayenne pepper, as it will help you boost your calorie burn and make you less hungry (1).

Adding cayenne pepper to chicken speeds up the fat burning process (2). This is because a compound in the pepper, known as capsaicin, is proven to suppress appetite and boost your body’s ability to convert food into energy. Thus, a gram of red pepper (about ½ teaspoon) can help you manage appetite and increase calorie burn after a meal (4).

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition also found that daily consumption of capsaicin speeds up abdominal fat loss (6). This compound is known to be responsible for the “heat” in hot pepper – which aids in appetite control and an increased rate at which your body burns calories (9).

Peppers offer a huge amount of nutrients while minimally affecting the number of calories you consume in a day (9).

This delicious combination incorporates proteins in your diet – making it key to weight loss. Protein-rich foods like meat and poultry boosts your satiety and keeps your hunger pangs at bay (2). According to research, it also helps people eat less after and in-between meals (4).

Upgrade meals with chicken and season meat, grilled fish, and eggs with a pinch of red chilli pepper (4).

5. Tuna and Ginger

If you are aiming to look better for a quick getaway on the beach, you may find the nearest ocean sushi joint for this delicacy. Combining a tuna roll – or a few pieces of tuna sashimi – with ginger can help you reduce your waistline (6).

Ginger works to accelerate gastric emptying, which helps you diminish that bloated look rapidly. It also blocks several genes and enzymes in the body which promotes bloat-causing inflammation (6).

On one hand, tuna works as the prime source of docosahexaenoic acid – a type of omega-3 fat that wards off stress chemicals, promotes flab storage and regulates fat genes in the stomach, preventing belly fat cells from growing larger (6).

To consume this combo, you can place ginger at the top of your brown rice sushi, but make sure to steer clear of the soy sauce – as a single tablespoon of such contains more than 1000 mg of belly-bloating sodium, which is surprisingly more than what a big Mac has (6).

6. Green Tea With Mint and Lemon

This low-calorie drink is filled with antioxidants known as catechins, which can help you burn more calories and fat. A study suggested that drinking four cups of green tea a day may lead to decreases in weight and blood pressure. To make it even healthier, add a squeeze of lemon – as this will help your body to absorb this nutrient (1).

Drinking green tea with lemon is recommended by a lot of health and diet specialists. However, adding mint to this weight loss combination can even enhance its taste and benefits (10).

It is known that mint leaves are appetite suppressants, which prevents you from feeling hungry for a long time. That said, you would not crave any junk food frequently (10).

Moreover, green tea coupled with a dash of lemon and crushed leaves can also keep you hydrated for a long time and help you shed kilos (10).

7. Corns and Beans

If you’re looking for something really healthy, beans and corn are one of the best weight-loss combinations to satisfy your needs. Corn contains resistant starch, which is a type of carb that slows down the digestion (2).

Green beans, on one hand, are extremely rich sources of fiber, which aids in promoting weight loss by keeping you full for longer. To boost your metabolism even more, try sprinkling pepper on this combo (2).

Eating corn may not sound like the best way to lose weight or reduce bloating, but including it in a calorie-restricted diet may only require four weekly servings of protein- and fiber-rich legumes to aid weight loss more effectively, compared to a diet that doesn’t include beans, as per Spanish researchers (6).

Pairing beans with corn can help you boost the slimming effect. Similar to bananas and cold pasta, corn contains resistant starch, a carb that dodges digestion. In turn, the body is not able to absorb the many calories and glucose – a nutrient that is stored as fat if not burned off (6). This combination, thus, slows down your digestion, which means you will get to eat your next meal late and in small amounts (8).

To make this dish, combine cans of corn (free of salt and BPA) and beans in a saucepan and warm them over medium heat. Season with ground pepper and cilantro. Add the mixture to greens for a waist-trimming salad, use it as a flavorful topper for grilled chicken, or fill in a whole-grain pita pocket with the mixture for a quick, on-the-go lunch (6).

8. Banana and Spinach

Seems uncommon, right? Banana is rich in starch, which instantly makes you feel full. The combination of a heavy food (banana) and a low-calorie food (spinach) works great for weight loss. In particular, spinach helps you burn fat and keeps your stomach full for longer (2).

The starch content in bananas also helps you resist digestion. Thus, consuming bananas allows your body to work harder and reduce fat around your stomach (7).

Banana works great as a post-meal snack, eating banana before your workout can also provide you with energy that you can use to work out harder (8).

The main benefits of bananas include: helping with weight loss, reducing obesity, curing intestinal disorders, relieving constipation, and curing conditions like dysentery, anemia, Tuberculosis, arthritis, gout, kidney, and urinary disorders. In addition, bananas do not contain any fats, and each one has approximately 90 calories. Bananas also work to prevent overeating, since all of their fiber content keeps the hunger hormone, ghrelin, from being released (9).

On one hand, spinach is loaded with protein which the body uses to easily break down enzymes into amino acids. These proteins help in muscle growth and development. They also increase our body’s ability to heal wounds and boost our entire metabolism, encouraging all our organs to function at their optimal level (9).

9. Raspberries and Yogurt

This creamy treat may help improve the fat burning process. Research suggests that people who get more calcium and vitamin D as part of their weight loss plan shed more fat compared to those who don’t. That said, look for vitamin D-fortified yogurt – as this serves up about 35 percent of the calcium that you need daily. For the toppings, you can add a cup of raspberries for sweetness and 4 grams of fiber (1).

If you are worried about being overweight, try this healthy food combo to make you look slimmer in just a few days. The fibers of raspberries and fat-free yogurt can help burn the extra carbohydrates (5).

10. Oatmeal With Berries

Oats are one of the healthiest grains on earth – not only are they gluten-free, but they are also a great source of important vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Oats are high in soluble fiber called beta-glucan, which helps you reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels, promote healthy gut bacteria, and increase feelings of fullness (9).

If you have a sweet tooth yet want to lose weight, pairing oatmeal with berries is a very common – yet unusual – combination for you. Plain and unflavored oatmeal is a healthy option for breakfast; it controls a person’s hunger, given that it is rich in insoluble fiber (8).

On one hand, polyphenols – the chemicals found in berries – aid in weight loss and prevent the formation of fats in the body (7)(8).

Many nutritionists recommend consuming a bowl of oatmeal daily for weight loss, but it is only effective when combined with the right ingredients. In this case, pairing oatmeal with berries can greatly help aid in a delicious weight-loss food (2).

11. Avocado and Spinach

A spinach or kale salad is low in calories yet high in nutrients, but it may not be enough to leave you satisfied. To help you feel full, add some avocado or avocado oil to it (1).

Avocados are satisfying because they contain a kind of good fat – known as monounsaturated fats – and this staves off hunger. Avocado helps your body absorb more of the veggies’ disease-fighting antioxidants (1).

If you happen to grow out of olive oil and spinach salad, you can mix things up with avocado oil. This healthy oil is made from pressed avocados; thus, it is rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats that can help improve cholesterol. This oil also contains vitamins B and E, as well as potassium (prevents bloating) (4).

Studies show that people who eat foods with high water content, such as leafy greens like spinach, have lower body mass indexes (BMIs) and smaller waistlines compared to those who don’t (4)(6).

To prepare this combo, sauté a cup of spinach in a tablespoon of avocado oil for a quick, easy, and filling side dish. Avocado oil also tastes great when well-drizzled over whole-wheat breads, fish, and home-made pizzas (4)(6).

12. Coffee and Cinnamon

Cinnamon is flavorful, practically calorie-free, and packed with antioxidants that are proven to reduce the accumulation of belly flab. You can pair this with an appetite-suppressing cup of caffeine to boost your weight loss efforts in the morning. If you plan to make coffee at home, add cinnamon into your brew-pot for better taste and weight loss benefits (4)(6).

The cinnamon’s antioxidants can also help in maintaining insulin balance. Thus, by adding it to coffee, you can remove excess fat that is accumulated over time in different areas in your body (5).

A Takeaway

There you have it! We hope you give these food combinations a shot when making your weight loss diet plan. Although many (or all) of these may seem odd-looking and new to our taste buds, there is nothing like a first, especially when trying to lose fat at the soonest possible time.

Try these combinations today. You may not realize it yet, but you may just find something you like.

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