Healthy foods can be very, very sweet. Yes, we are talking about the pear. By taking one pear, you are already fulfilling 15% of your daily fiber needs.

Not only are pears really sweet, they are very filling, so you would tend to eat less when you have consumed a pear. This, of course, is because of the high fiber content found in the skin. The skin of the pear actually contains more phytonutrients than the fleshy part.

Like most fruits, the pear is a powerful anti-oxidant food. But what many people do not realise is that a lot of the goodness is found in the skin. So, make sure that you do not remove the skin, and if you juice it, do not filter the drink. The “cloudy” drink filled with the pulp and skin is far more healthy than clear pear juice.

Definitely, you will always hear about Avocados when there is any discussion going on about healthy foods to lose weight.

The reason for this is simple – its true.

Although Avocados are usually found in the vegetable section of the supermarket, they are actually classified as a fruit. Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fat that is easily burned for energy. It is also very high in potassium. In many weight loss program, you are usually asked to cut down on your carbohydrate intake. When you cut down on carbohydrates, you need to increase your intake of healthy fats. Avocados are rich in healthy fats. Oleic acid, a compound in avocados, may help your body to actually stop feeling hunger.

You may want to look at our recipe for Avocado Bread, which will help you get your regular intake of Avocado without having to worry about how you are going to incorporate it into your meals.

Eating the right healthy food can help you to lose weight, and Black Beans would be one of these super foods.

The black bean is a variety of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) typically used in Latin American cuisine. But it can be used in many different ways.

It is important to add these super foods into your diet. Not only are they good to help you control your weight, but they have many other benefits.

Packed with fibre and protein, they will quickly give you the feeling of being “full”. Also, black beans can help regulate glucose levels in your body, helping you to burn calories. The high fibre helps to absorb bile acids, thus reducing cholesterol. High fibre content also helps your digestive system operate more efficiently. Black beans also contain anti-oxidants which help to fight the free radicals in your body.

Black beans are the secret weapon against cancer and is an anti-aging food.

Here is a Black Bean recipe (taken from www.health.com) you might enjoy:

Spiced Black Bean Hummus with Marinated Peaches

Ingredients

1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 garlic clove
2 tablespoons tahini
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon Sriracha chili sauce
1 large lemon
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 firm ripe avocado
Sea salt
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon chopped parsley
1 ripe large peach
Freshly baked pita chips
Preparation

Put black beans, garlic clove, tahini, olive oil, chili sauce, and the juice of 1 large lemon in a food processor; pulse until smooth. (If the hummus is too thick, you can drizzle in some of the black bean liquid from the can.) Season with 1/2 teaspoon sea salt. Transfer hummus to a bowl, and let chill. Meanwhile, dice avocado, and place into a small mixing bowl. Season with sea salt, 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, and chopped parsley. Dice peach, and add to avocado mixture; toss gently. To serve, place hummus into a serving dish, and top with marinated peaches and avocado. Serve with freshly baked pita chips.