It’s no mystery that vegetables pack a number of health benefits. They are full of the important vitamins and nutrients that keep our bodies functioning at optimal levels. Those with diets high in vegetables can ward off diseases like cancer and diabetes more effectively and report feeling more healthy and energetic on a daily basis. Additionally, you can use vegetables for losing weight.
Vegetables supply you with the nutrients you need without the added fats, calories and sugars that other foods contain. Eating more vegetables, in general, is a great way to improve your diet and boost weight loss. Many vegetables contain properties that help you shed pounds. Here are some of the best vegetables for losing weight.
Broccoli
Broccoli supplies you with important nutrients like dietary fiber, vitamin C, and potassium. In fact, one cup of broccoli gives you your daily supply of vitamin C. When eaten regularly, broccoli can also support weight loss by fighting your body’s tendency to store fat. Broccoli contains sulforaphane, an anti-cancer compound that also enhances energy consumption. Broccoli is widely regarded as a “superfood,” so don’t hesitate to make it an integral part of your meals!
Spinach
Spinach, another “superfood,” is widely regarded for its health benefits and weight loss properties. Spinach is extremely low in fat and cholesterol but is high in niacin, zinc, fiber, and important vitamins. Spinach also contains a large portion of protein, making it a great replacement for fattier foods. Spinach is one of the most effective vegetables for losing weight because it is rich in thylakoids, which has shown to significantly reduce food cravings.
Carrots
The old myth that carrots are good for your eyesight is true, but they aren’t the only vegetables that are. The most lauded component of the carrot is beta-carotene, a yellow- orange pigment which the body converts into the essential nutrient vitamin A. It’s the vitamin A that helps your eyes.
Carrots are a perfect food for a healthy diet because they are low in calories and packed with nutrients. Remember that vitamin A that is so beneficial to your eyes? It can also help you lose weight. Some forms of vitamin A communicate with your fat cells and can reduce new fat cell growth.
Cucumbers
Although cucumbers don’t pack the vitamin punch of other vegetables, they are excellent sources of phytonutrients like flavonoids, lignans, and triterpenes. These are all chemicals that have antioxidant and disease preventive properties. There are hundreds of varieties of cucumber, but the most common are the sliceable types you see in salads.
As vegetables for losing weight, cucumbers are a perfect addition to sandwiches, salads, and other dishes. They are filling, but low in calories, salts, and sugars. They are perfect for cutting calories out of some of your meals. Cucumbers also have high quantities of water, making them a balanced, hydrating snack.
Tomatoes
Scientifically, tomatoes are considered a fruit because they develop from the fertilized ovary of a flower and contain seeds (by that measure, so are cucumbers!). But they are perfect alongside other vegetables for losing weight and contain many of the same disease fighting properties as broccoli and spinach.
A medium sized tomato only contains 22 calories and is low in fat and carbohydrates. They have large amounts of fiber and contain low levels of natural sugar. Eating more tomatoes can reduce inflammation and water retention in the body. The can also help to regulate your metabolism and reduce your appetite! If you don’t like eating raw tomatoes, like in salads, try drinking low-sodium tomato juice or cooking them instead.
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