These healthy foods will help you lose weight in time for summer

Who would have guessed it? Turns out you don't have to miss out of the lamb chops this barbecue season.

Yes, that's right, foods including delicious lamb, chilli, seaweed and much more are all good choices if you're looking to raise the rate of your daily metabolism.

Given this is something that has been proven to aid weight loss, here are some handy tips on what to fill your basket with at Choithrams.com this summer.

The acclaimed food scientist Dr Vincent Candrawinata has often said incorporating protein-rich meat, which includes lamb chops, into your daily diet will help keep kilos off by leaving you fuller for longer.

Chilli and ginger zinger

Adding spice to your daily meals could be the ticket to the perfect summer body, according to Dr Vincent, who recommends seasoning dishes with chilli or ginger.

Chilli contains an active component called capsaicin, which increases your metabolic rate, and ginger improves digestion, reduces inflammation and stabilises blood sugar levels, encouraging weight loss.

We love a ginger zinger with lemon or lime and freshly chopped ginger.

Seaweed

Low in carbohydrates and calories, seaweed could help you cut a more slender figure.

There is a natural fibre in sea kelp called alginate, which inhibits the enzymes that digest fat, so less is absorbed by the body. 

Legumes and pulses

Legumes like lentils, chickpeas and beans are rich in B vitamins, fibre and protein - all of which promote metabolism to speed up weight loss. 

Studies suggest that the high protein content of beans requires the body to burn a greater number of calories to digest them.

Apples

Did you know that one large apple contains five grams of fibre and 14 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C? Apples also contain a large amount of pectin, a component which binds with water inside the body to limit the amount of fat cells can absorb. 

They are also great in tarts and pies. Reach for an apple, available at Choithrams.com, as they are a rich source of fibre, which boosts metabolism and regulates blood sugar levels.

Lamb chops

While a balanced diet should include a mixed source of nutrients, replacing carbs and fat with protein helps to keep you fuller for longer by suppressing hormones that cause hunger.

Dr Vincent said lamb has a good ratio of protein to fat, and increases the body's metabolic rate by 30 percent more than carbohydrates do.

Coffee

Caffeinated coffee is rich in antioxidants and boosts weight loss by decreasing appetite and increasing metabolism.

Dr Vincent recommends two cups of unsweetened coffee each day, one with breakfast and lunch.