Ten Highly Satiating Foods

Michael Joseph has recently written an article titled, "The Importance of Satiety: Feeling Satiated Controls Food Cravings".

He also lists 10 highly satiating foods:

Here are 10 of the most filling foods in the world, covering meat, poultry, seafood, and vegetables. Including one or more of these foods in your meals will help you with feeling satiated.

1. Beef
Beef contains numerous essential minerals including zinc, iron, selenium, and magnesium. It’s also very high in protein, providing 25.1g protein per 100g.
With this impressive nutrient density and protein content, beef certainly helps fill you up. Despite the occasional negative stories in the media, the evidence of beef causing harm is minimal.

2. Chicken
Chicken is one of the best foods for satiety due to its impressive protein density.
While it isn’t as nutritious as beef (or red meat in general), it still contains a decent selection of vitamins and minerals. Notable nutrients in chicken include B vitamins, phosphorus, and selenium. Chicken breasts contain an enormous amount of protein, with 100g providing 31g protein. Better yet, chicken drumsticks are full of protein and fat – great for satiety and much tastier too.

3. Cod
Similar to chicken breast, lean white fish is one of the richest sources of protein. Despite 100g of cod only providing 105 calories, there is an impressive 23g of protein.
Also, there is a myth that white fish like cod and haddock don’t contain omega-3 – but they do.
While it isn’t as much as oily fish like salmon, sardines or tuna, 100g of cod still provides 172 mg omega-3.
Cod also offers an excellent source of phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, and B vitamins.
All in all, cod is a protein-rich food that is extremely filling.
Tip: it tastes great with some hot coconut cream mixed with lemon juice and parsley.

4. Eggs
I like to call eggs “nature’s multivitamin” since they are loaded with essential vitamins and minerals. They are also incredibly beneficial in helping us stave off hunger, with studies showing that eggs are the best breakfast for satiety. In fact, eggs provide a good source of virtually every nutrient except vitamins C and K. With one egg containing 6.3g of protein, this soon adds up when a meal includes three or four. In short, eggs are one of the most satiating foods on the planet.

5. Green Vegetables
Green veggies such as asparagus, broccoli, and spinach are extremely nutrient-dense, full of fibrous carbohydrate, and they even contain a little protein too.
Compared to digestible sources of carbs such as white rice, bread, and sugars, they have the exact opposite effect on keeping us satiated. Looking specifically at spinach, 100g comes in at a minuscule 23 calories – but these calories are packed with nutrients. In particular, there are massive amounts of vitamins A, C, K1, and B vitamins, as well as 3g of protein.
All in all, these vegetables are highly satiating, and they provide some nice decoration next to a tasty steak.

6. Meat Stew
Making a traditional meat stew keeps us feeling full better than just eating a piece of meat alone. The reason for this is twofold; first, a stew contains a significant amount of fluid. Studies show that compared to solid foods, soups induce a greater feeling of satiation due to delayed gastric emptying (emptying of food from the stomach). Secondly, soups include a greater variety of meat and vegetables, helping to increase the nutritional value of the meal.

7. Quark
Quark is a dairy product that contains a substantial amount of protein; per 100g there are only 77 calories but 14.1 grams of protein. As a result of the protein density, quark is one of the best foods for satiation.

8. Salmon
While cod provides a decent amount of protein and a small presence of omega-3, salmon offers both of these nutrients in abundance. This oily fish offers around 2600mg of omega-3 and 25g protein per 100g. In the same fashion as eggs, salmon contains virtually every vitamin and mineral too. Rich in both energy and nutrients, salmon will certainly leave you feeling satiated.
For guidance on how to cook salmon perfectly, see here.

9. Shrimp
Almost all shellfish are nutritionally impressive, and shrimp is no exception. Crammed with beneficial vitamins, minerals, and omega-3, they are also very high in protein. Despite 100g coming in at only 99 calories, it has 21 grams of protein. Fry them up in a bit of butter for a delicious and satiating meal that helps kill hunger.

10. Whole Milk
Milk is a complete source of food which contains carbohydrate, protein, and fat.
As a result, we should be careful with the amount we drink since it’s so energy-rich. One cup of whole milk contains a decent amount of protein, and it’s reasonably nutrient-dense. Furthermore, several recent studies show that whole milk is significantly better for satiety than low-fat milk. Notably, studies also show that low-fat milk raises the risk for central obesity while whole milk has the opposite effect.

Key Point
These foods on this list are all nutritionally dense and rich in protein. As a result, including them as a regular part of the diet helps to improve levels of satiety.

Final Thoughts
To sum up, feeling satiated is potentially the most important factor in maintaining a successful diet. Without satiety, food cravings take control and willpower can only endure so much against powerful biological urges to eat more. Focusing predominantly on whole foods and including a quality source of protein at each meal makes all the difference.

All words above are Michael's and is only a 'snippet' of his article, you can read his full article with all relevant links here

You may also be interested in reading our Introduction to low-carb for beginners post here 

We bring a variety of articles, studies etc. plus recent news/views and recipe ideas to this blog, we hope something for everyone to read and enjoy. Please note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan