Working out is all fun and games until you realize you’re not actually losing any weight. You put in the work, day in and day out, only to notice that not only is your weight fluctuating like crazy, but your overall health isn’t that great either! The truth is, your diet is EXTREMELY important to maintaining your fitness, almost as much as a healthy exercise routine. To help you keep your eating habits in check, start incorporating these 5 foods into your diet NOW.

1. Fennel
   Contrary to popular belief, fennel is not just some tasteless green stalk you add to your meals to make them look fancy. This food provides great support for digestion, as it aids your body in preventing constipation by maintaining the regularity of the digestive tract. It’s able to do this by relaxing your digestive muscles, helping to relieve symptoms like:
        - Bloating
        - Cramping
        - Flatulence
   
   For better digestive health, you can incorporate fennel into soups and stews, or grill it with meat and poultry.
   
   
2. Salmon
   This superfood is absolutely PACKED to the brim with essential nutrients. You may be wondering what makes salmon so special – why not settle for tilapia or cod? Well, when compared to other types of fish, salmon is the BEST source of:
        - Omega-3 fatty acids
        - Protein
        - Vitamin B-12
        - Calcium (when canned with bones – yes, you can eat the soft bones!)
   
   Integrate salmon into your diet as a primary source of animal protein to improve your health and weight management.
   
   
3. Pomegranate
   These can be a bit tough to find in stores at times, so you’ll have to keep a careful eye out and grab them when you get the chance. Pomegranates are INCREDIBLY beneficial to the maintenance of skin health, since they help to fight free radicals and improve the blood flow in the skin. It’s also a rich source of Vitamin C, so, along with the high concentration of water in the fruit, this will help to improve the condition of any dry, dehydrated skin.
   
   
4. Soy Protein
   Soy protein comes in a wide variety of foods, so you can get creative with this one. For instance, you can eat soy in the form of miso, tempeh, and edamame, just to name a few. One of the primary benefits of soy protein is that it is absolutely PACKED with fiber, so this is another food source to help those experiencing issues with digestion. More benefits of soy include:
        - Improves blood flow
        - Provides probiotics
        - Decreases bloating
   
   
5. Ghee
   Across the pond in India, this is the prominent alternative to butter. It has become increasingly popular in the States as of late – and for good reason! This is great for those individuals who struggle with lactose intolerance, as it is has had all dairy protein and sugar lactose removed. It is a saturated fat, so incorporating it into veggie stir frys, baking, and other daily meals will help you to feel full longer. This way, you’ll eat less frequently and get a better handle on managing your weight.

Work these nutritional foods into your diet now and start seeing the gains you’ve been dreaming of!