Healthy Eating Habits to Lose Weight Right Now

by Stephen C. Project manager

Imagine a group of scientists in a food laboratory on a dark and stormy night and one of them says they've created the superfood that will end disease as we know it! All the other food scientists gather around. Such excitement! Soon, the food additive is being blended into everything, from cookies to fast-food burgers, as scientists are certain the superfood will help us all lose weight and live longer and healthier.

Now, imagine that years later, we discover the superfood is, in fact, a monster food—an additive so toxic that, over time, it wildly increases our risk for everything from heart disease to stroke to cancer to obesity. And it's already inside us all!

Sound like a made-for-TV movie? It's not. It's the story of trans fat, a dangerous, man-made lipid found in margarine and shortening that, for a little while at least, was believed to be healthier than regular fats. We bought the lie until the mid-'90s when a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicted trans fats for no fewer than 30,000 annual deaths. The worst part: They're still in our food today!

Understanding the nuances of nutrition is hard—so hard that scientists are constantly learning more new information. That's why the best way to lose weight is to ignore trends and fly-by-night advice, and instead, focus on healthy eating strategies. Develop healthy habits, stick to them, and no matter what nutritional blunders you might make, you'll still keep yourself on the road to weight loss and a slim physique. Here, we rounded up the 20 best fat-fighting habits. Commit them to your daily routine and you're guaranteed to drop excess pounds. Indulge and enjoy. And while you're making healthier changes, be sure you're stocked up on The 7 Healthiest Foods to Eat Right Now.