How Important are Vegetables In Losing Weight?

 

Every dieter knows that some vegetables and fruits are great for a diet. But did you know that some even aid in weight loss?

Don’t be put off by some of those vegetables that you don’t like. I don’t like a few vegetables… actually I think I like almost all veggies but you may have some that you don’t like. No problem. There are plenty of other delicious fruits and veggies that are not only low in calories, but also can actually help a person lose weight.

Advantages of Adding More Vegetables to Your Diet

Vegetables and fruit can be low calorie, high volume and provide high nutrients as well as fiber and water. Simply stated: they make you feel full without excess fats and calories. Plus they contain minerals and antioxidants. (You can’t say that about cookies, candy and cake!)

There’s even more good news: Increasingly, nutritionists believe that certain plant-based foods can control cravings.

Some vegetable advocates even believe that Brussels sprout (okay, say, spinach or any of the others on the list below) can slow down cravings for processed foods.

Eating a plate of green beans might actually make that bag of potato chips less appealing (well, maybe not during the Super Bowl).

 

Your best options for the more nutrients per calories (plus helping weight loss) is a list any dieter knows well: spinach, celery, collard greens, Swiss chard, cucumber, kale, zucchini, green onions, artichokes, broccoli, green beans, green peppers, peas, lettuce, cabbage and … yes … Brussels sprouts.

There are some fruit on that list as well: apples, pears, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries. The berries can help speed up weight loss; they are low calorie and help to burn fat. The apples and pears, along with many of the vegetables, can help lower bad cholesterol.

The advantage of a vegetable on a diet is that the increased amount of fiber and water content allows effective and efficient weight loss without causing hunger pangs.  That’s because they allow the eater to feel full without overeating.

Consider protein…

Beans of all types (kidney, pinto, lima, garbanzo, white, and soy) are rich in protein. A serving of beans (one cup) can be 9 to 12 grams of protein. That’s a far healthier choice than fried chicken or a cheese-heavy hamburger. Aside from beans, dieters don’t generally think about protein as a factor in vegetables. Think again:

A half-cup portion of the following provides the following amount of protein:

• Peas: 3 1/2 grams
• Spinach: 3 grams
• Broccoli’s 2 grams per serving
• Asparagus: 3 grams
• Cauliflower: 3 grams
• Artichoke: 3 grams
• Watercress: 3 grams

And, yes, even Brussels sprouts: 2 grams

With today’s supermarkets carrying fresh vegetables all year round now, there’s no excuse not to pick them up during your weekly shopping.

And, they can always be prepared quickly and easily, so you don’t have to find complex recipes for them.

Want to fill up quicker and lose weight faster? Eat those veggies!

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