Snacks That Help You Lose Weight: Add Pomegranates, Melon and Avocado To Your Shopping List | HuffPost Life

9 Snacks That Aid Weight-Loss To Stick In Your Lunch Box

Natasha Hinde— The Huffington Post UK

We hate to be party poopers - and it immensely pains us to say this - but crisps and biscuits are not the answer when it comes to snacking.

Bad news aside, there are, however, healthy alternatives which taste yummy and aid your body's ability to lose weight.

From snacks that increase metabolism to ones that improve blood flow - these are the fat-busting foods that you need in your shopping basket. Pronto.

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Why? It helps to improve thyroid function which helps boost your metabolism. The spicy sauce also helps to burn calories.

Why? While it might be something of an American specialty, turkey jerk has 10 grams of protein and only about 60 calories (opt for normal turkey slices if you don't quite fancy it).

Protein is digested more slowly than fat or carbs and keeps you full for longer. Meanwhile mustard is a low-calorie, high flavour topping.

Foods with high water content, such as melon, keep us feeling full for longer. The additional balsamic vinegar activates Pepsin, an enzyme which breaks down proteins into amino acids.

Pineapple is low in calories and has a high water content, meaning you can eat lots of it.

Squeeze lime juice and sprinkle sea salt on top for a combination that helps promote healthy digestion.

Peanuts keep you feeling full, while the small amount of chocolate will help satisfy that sweet tooth and prevent you from indulging again.

Cinnamon is not only tasty, but it also balances blood sugar levels helping with weight loss. Meanwhile apple chunks and walnuts are generally pretty darn great - just make sure you limit your walnut portions.

With its healthy fat and fibre, half an avocado at snack time will make it less likely that you'll overeat. Meanwhile goji berries help contain appetite and the lime juice helps to add flavour and maintain a healthy digestive system.

Fibre-filled pomegranate seeds keep you satisfied while pistachios contain an amino acid which improves blood flow during exercise.

This snack provides a double dose of slowly digested fibre. Meanwhile spicy salsa has few calories and helps you eat more slowly.

Brain Superfoods

Walnuts(01 of12)

Walnuts are chock-full of heart-healthy and anti-inflammatory nutrients, and are the only good nut source of alpha linolenic acid (ALA), HuffPost Healthy Living earlier reported. That means they help promote blood flow, which in turn allows for efficient delivery of oxygen to the brain. And research presented at the 2010 International Conference on Alzheimer's found that mice with the disease who were regularly fed walnuts had improved memory, learning and motor skill coordination, according to MyHealthNewsDaily. (credit:Alamy)

Olive Oil(02 of12)

Olive oil is a great source of monounsaturated fats, which have been shown to actually slow brain aging. (credit:Getty Images)

Berries(03 of12)

Animal studies have long indicated a link between berry consumption and brain health. But a recent study published in the Annals of Neurology found that a diet high in blueberries, strawberries and others were linked to a slower mental decline in areas like memory and focus in a large sample of middle-aged women, reported TIME's Alice Park. (credit: FLICKR: GEISHABOY500)

Sardines(04 of12)

Fatty fish like sardines (and salmon!) are a well-known brain booster, thanks to the omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, which have been linked to lower risk of dementia, improved focus and memory. (credit:Alamy)

Coffee(05 of12)

Caffeine, the mild stimulant found in coffee, improves mental acuity, though the drink's enthusiasts -- who guzzle 120,000 tons of the stuff each year -- likely already know that. Aside from caffeine's brain boosting effects, coffee's antioxidant richness helps maintain brain health. And some research suggests that drinking coffee can actually stave off depression in women. (credit:Alamy)

Spinach(06 of12)

Spinach is rich in the antioxidant lutein, which is thought to help protect against cognitive decline, according to researchers from Tufts University. And a longitudinal study at Harvard Medical School found that women who reported eating the most leafy green and cruciferous vegetables had a markedly lower rate of cognitive decline, compared to those who ate the least. (credit:Alamy)

Dark chocolate(07 of12)

Antioxidant-rich dark chocolate is healthy for your whole body, but its caffeine content is thought to play a role in maintaining mental acuity. What's more, chocolate is rich in flavonoids, a class of antioxidant that helps to improve blood flow (and thus brain health) by regulating cholesterol and lowering blood pressure. (credit:Getty Images)

Avocados (08 of12)

Avocados are full of monounsaturated fats that improve vascular health and blood flow, making them another brain food. (credit:Alamy)

Water(09 of12)

When a person becomes dehydrated, their brain tissue actually shrinks. And several studies have shown that dehydration can affect cognitive function. Dehydration can impair short-term memory, focus and decision making, according to Psychology Today.

Wheat Germ(10 of12)

Wheat germ is a rich vegetarian source of choline -- a nutrient that is involved in the body's production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that boosts memory, according to Shape. Eggs are another good choline source. (credit:Alamy)

Beets(11 of12)

Beets are a good source of naturally-occurring nitrates, which help improve blood flow to the brain, according to Shape. (credit:Alamy)

Garlic(12 of12)

Garlic may help stave off some forms of brain cancer, according to research published in Cancer, the medical journal of the American Cancer Society. Investigators found that the organo-sulfur compounds in garlic actually worked to kill glioblastoma cells -- a type of malignant tumor cell. (credit:Alamy)

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