Aiming for an hour-glass figure so you wear the little black dress for the cocktail party? Include foods rich in calcium, proteins and vitamin D. Surprised? Eating the right food in the right quantity will enable your body to burn calories. Eat the wrong food, and the opposite is bound to happen. There are weight loss tips on and you can sign up for programs on and earn rewards.

Here are a list of power foods that you should include in your diet for losing weight the healthy way.

Vitamin D

Remember how your mom would force you to eat salmon or she would place a tall glass of soy milk for breakfast? These foods are fortified with Vitamin D that improves your body’s sensitivity to insulin. This hormone secreted by pancreas allows the body to utilize sugar or glucose from the carbs present in food. Insulin further signals your body cells to absorb the sugar from the bloodstream and convert it into energy.

Low levels of vitamin D can cause a surge in the parathyroid hormone or PTH that can cause conversion of sugar into fat. A decrease in Vitamin D can also play havoc in the secretion of leptin that is responsible for signaling your brain that your body is full.

Stock up on Calcium

Your mother has a good reason to give you a glass of milk every morning. Calcium is a mineral found in dairy products like milk and cheese. Vitamin D and calcium work in unison to help your body burn calories. It aids in weight loss by binding to the fat molecules in your intestinal tract and prevents it from being absorbed into the bloodstream.


Hummus, pita, Quinoa and buckwheat are sources of protein that is required for weight loss. Include reasonable proportions of protein in your diet as it helps to maintain body composition which is the total amount of fat relative to muscle. When you lose pounds, your muscle mass is maintained so you do not look saggy.

An interesting study revealed that women who were on a daily protein intake lost 4 percent of body weight when compared to women who consumed less protein. Apart from appearing slim, their muscles appeared toned and lean.

Something fishy, huh?

Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like fish, nuts and cod oil help in healthy weight loss by triggering your body to burn fat. It is seen that omega-3 stimulates the flow of blood to the muscles during exercise and enzymes are stimulated that transport fat, from where they are used for energy.

Omega-3 improves the secretion of leptin or the ‘satiety hormone” that helps regulate energy balance by inhibiting hunger and binge eating. Keep a handful of nuts and eat them when you feel the hunger pangs inside your stomach. These foods contain certain amount of fat that is converted into omega-3 fatty acids in the body.

Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs)

Need a good reason to enjoy a bar of chocolate? Foods rich in MUFA like peanuts, olive oil and chocolate improve calorie burning. These foods keep the glucose levels steady and reduce occasional hunger pangs.