12 Low-Calorie Foods with High Water Content that Aids in Weight Loss
Foods with more water content that provide less calories and have a high satiety value are called ‘low calorie foods’. Such foods fill your stomach and delay hunger pangs because of their high moisture content and thus, less calories enter your body. By eating low calorie foods, you limit your overall calorie intake. Eating such foods is beneficial for those who want to reduce weight. Making these foods a regular part of your daily diet will help you in successful weight loss.
Foods with High Water Content & Low in Calories
People usually think that low calorie foods are boring, bland and flavourless. But this is not true. Here is a list of top 11 low calorie Indian foods:
Cucumber
Cucumber is a high-water content vegetable, which consists of 92-96% water. 250 grams of cucumber contain just 40-45 calories.
In India, cucumber is commonly eaten in the form of salads. Its high moisture content and presence of dietary fiber helps in flushing out toxins. This further relieves water retention, bloating and constipation.
Hence, if you are on a low-calorie diet, you can easily enjoy eating a big portion size of fresh cucumbers without putting on weight. (Ref)
Lime Water
A big, refreshing glass of lime water (250 ml), without sugar or honey contains only 10-15 calories. This makes it an excellent beverage for calorie counters.
However, one should keep in mind that lemon water is not a substitute for your nutritious meal. But, individuals can surely replace sugar-loaded drinks, sodas and other aerated drinks with a glass of vitamin C-rich lemon water.
In India, lime water is easily available, and people often drink it to quench their thirst. Hence, people can incorporate this low-calorie beverage in their daily diet.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes have gained a lot of importance due to its high moisture and low-calorie content. 45 calories are present in 250 grams of tomatoes.
Such a composition makes it suitable for those who want to shed some weight.
Besides this, tomatoes contain ‘lycopene’, a health-promoting chemical that suppresses weight gain. Furthermore, consumption of tomatoes may make you feel full because of its high-water content. This makes one less hungry after eating tomatoes, therefore, less calories enter into your system. It is best to consume tomatoes before your meals or as a mid-meal snack. (Ref)
Green Tea
A large mug (250 ml) of plain green tea, without honey or sugar merely contains 2-5 calories. Healthy compounds present in this guilt-free beverage further boost weight loss.
Health-conscious individuals can replace their full-fat milk and sugar containing tea with green tea which hardly contains few calories.
However, excess of anything is not good. Make sure you don’t replace your meals with green tea. (Ref)
Mushrooms
Mushrooms fall under the category of ‘low calorie foods’ because most of its weight is water weight. 55 calories are present in 250 grams of mushrooms.
Its meaty texture makes it an amazing low-fat and low-calorie meat substitute.
Furthermore, mushrooms contain good amount of dietary fiber, which makes one feel full.
Thus, mushroom should definitely be a part of your low-calorie diet. (Ref)
Coconut Water
India is blessed with an abundance of natural coconut water. 250ml of coconut water contains 48 calories.
Drinking coconut water helps in detoxification and further flushes out the toxins. Weight-watchers can replace sugar-loaded beverages with coconut water. Thus, coconut water is a natural, refreshing and a low-calorie alternative to sugary and aerated drinks. (Ref)
Watermelon
Watermelon is a juicy summer fruit and it is widely consumed in almost all the parts of India.
Though it is sweet many people may think that it is high in calories. But this is not at all true. 250 grams of watermelon contain just 75 calories.
Most of its weight comes from water, which makes it low in calories, more refreshing and promotes satiety too.
Thus, after eating watermelon you may feel full, but this fullness is due to its high moisture content and not calories. (Ref)
Papaya
Out of its total weight, 89% is water. This water helps in flushing out toxins that otherwise get accumulated and cause weight gain.
This low-calorie food contains 43 calories per 250 grams. Besides this, papaya is packed with dietary fiber, which makes one feel full and delay hunger pangs.
Hence, papaya is a good choice for individuals who are looking to lose weight.
Strawberries
It is very well known that water does not contain calories. Strawberries contain 92% water which makes them a low-calorie food.
250 grams of strawberries provide 82 calories. Thus, when you eat strawberries you feel full because of its high moisture content.
In other words, strawberries provide satiety without increasing the caloric load. (Ref)
Cabbage
Cabbage, also known as ‘GOBI’ in India is an amazing low-calorie food. Besides this, it is packed with essential nutrients, body-healing compounds and antioxidants. Such a composition of cabbage helps in weight loss as well as fat loss.
Eating a big portion of cabbage in the form of salad or soup will provide a high level of satiety and little calories. 250 grams of cabbage contain 62 calories only.
