Hunger is a constant battle. Some people even claim they're never sure if they actually feel a sensation of hunger. The truth is we eat much bigger portions than our bodies need. We also often choose unhealthy snacks throughout the day. The ghrelin hormone is produced in the stomach and intestines and is often referred to as the “hunger hormone.”  This hormone has numerous functions in the body, including the ability to stimulate hunger.  When ghrelin levels in the stomach rise, the brain gets a signal that it is time for food.  Ghrelin also slows our metabolism, just in case we cannot find any food.  Then, after a big meal, ghrelin levels drop and metabolism speeds up to the burn calories we just ate.   

Oysters: Chock full of zinc, oysters work with leptin to regulate appetite. Many studies have shown that overweight people tend to have lower levels of leptin and lower levels of zinc than slimmer individuals. One significant study published in the journal, Life Sciences, found that taking zinc supplements could increase leptin production in obese men by 142 percent. Just 6 oysters only contain 43 calories and provide 21 percent of your daily needed iron. 

Rooibos tea: This type of tea is made from the leaves of the red bush and grown only in Cederberg region of South Africa. A simple flavonoid Aspalathin is a compound that reduces stress hormones that trigger hunger and fat storage and are linked to hypertension, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. 

Boiled Potatoes: Even though they've gotten a bad rap, plain boiled potatoes remain one of the most filling foods there is according to the Satiety Index of Common Foods, an Australian study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Halibut: Fish in general has a ton of zero belly benefits. It's high in omega-3 fatty acids which works to reduce inflammation throughout the body  and allow leptin to communicate efficiently with the brain and halibut. The Satiety of Index of Common Foods ranks halibut the #2 most filling food bested only by those boiled potatoes. The study's authors attribute that halibut's high protein content and levels of tryptophan. The latter produces serotonin, one of the hormones that curbs hunger. It's one of the best sources for methionine which is a nutrient that reverses the genes for insulin resistance and obesity. 

Eggs: Waking up to a high protein breakfast can set your fat burning pace for the entire day. A recent study showed those who ate eggs in the morning had a lower response to ghrelin and were less hungry three hours later and also consumed fewer calories for the next 24 hours. Egg yolks contain a powerful fat-burning property called choline. Bonus!

Apple cider vinegar: This slightly more tangy vinegar is made up of mostly acetic acid which helps to slow the release of sugar into the bloodstream, according to a study published in the journal BMC Gastroenterology. It's been shown to reduce the rise in blood sugar by 34 percent.