Food is fuel for the body. Eating the right foods does a lot- from keeping us healthy to allowing us to get more exercise and more. Some foods can also help reduce our risk of certain diseases while others can help us to lose weight. There are even some foods that are so good at helping us to lose our excess weight that we might refer to them as super foods. The foods that you might find on that list might surprise you.

Protein rich foods like eggs, dairy foods and some cuts of meat or poultry are super foods for any weight loss plan because of the many benefits that you get from this nutrient. Protein foods take longer to digest so you feel fuller for longer, allowing you to eat less during the day. Because the body is working so hard to digest those foods, your metabolism is revved up as well. Don't think that protein is so virtuous that you can just eat as much as you want, though. You still have to watch your portion sizes because contrary to popular belief, you can and will gain weight if you are consuming too many calories from protein.

Fiber foods like beans, vegetables and some fruits are also good choices and should be on the list of super foods. Eating any of these either before or with a meal can help you to eat much less because fiber is very filling. Fiber also helps to regulate other parts of the digestive process allowing you to be more regular. The recommended amount of fiber for women is 25-35 grams per day and slightly higher for men. The average person consumes less than one quarter of that amount. Beans may also help reduce the number of calories from sugar that are actually stored by the body. Fruits and vegetables of all colors and varieties should also be on the super foods list. Every meal should feature one or more from each group.

Filling your plate with vegetables can allow you to eat fewer calories without the fat and added sodium. Your goal should be to try to get veggies and fruits of every color so that you are getting the widest range of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Different colors mean a different concentration of the antioxidants in each type of produce for different benefits. Because they are not only super beneficial but also low in calories, these foods can be used and every meal as well as snacks for at home or on the go.