Three Foods That (Surprisingly) Make You Slimmer

See which snacks have a little something that can help you keep weight gain at bay.

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3. Mixed nuts

"Let's count the ways," says Jibrin. "First, relative to other foods, nuts are highly satiating, meaning you feel fuller, longer for the calories," she says. Research from the University of Barcelona, published in the American Chemical Society's Journal of Proteome Research, found that eating mixed nuts increases your serotonin levels (one of your "feel-good" neurochemicals), which improves your mood, decreases your appetite and is good for your heart!

And, a study from Purdue University, Indiana, published in the International Journal of Obesity, found that when study participants added about 500 calories' worth of peanuts to their diets, not only did they eat less at subsequent meals, but their metabolisms revved up by 11 percent. This brings us to Jibrin's second point: "Compared to other foods, nuts tend to increase calorie burn after eating them." She adds, "You don't fully absorb them, so some of the nuts leave your system -- along with their calories."

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