You've probably seen or heard about the benefits of blueberries but should you really eat blueberries for weight loss. Let's look at why blueberries can be an important food if you want to lose weight.
Blueberries For Weight Loss: What Is Inside A Blueberry
Antioxidants. The first important property of blueberries is that they have antioxidants. As we all know, antioxidants are beneficial to our bodies because antioxidants fight the free radical that enter our bodie. Free radical can comprimise our immune system and possible lead to the failure of our immune system.
What Is An Antioxidant
An antioxidant is a group of vitamins, minerals and enzymes that help us maintain our health. Antioxidants accomplish this neutralizing any free radicals before the free radical can harm our bodies.
What is a Free Radical
Free radicals are atoms that can damage to our cells. They can harm your immune system leading to many serious diseases. The formation of free radicals occurs when the cells in our bodies are exposed to a variety of toxic substances such as pollution, smoke, drugs, pesticides and the sun. A dit that is not well rounded and balanced will promote the formation of free radicals.
Antioxidants work by giving up an electron to free radicals which converts the free radicals into harmless molecules. This process protects cells from certain types of damage that leads to aging and various diseases.
You can also find antioxidants in some vitamins and minerals but not all antioxidants are equal. Our cells can make some antioxidants including enzymes and other molecules. Other essential antioxidants come from our diet such as such as vitamin C, E and selenium.
What's Inside The Blueberry: How Is The Blueberry So Helpful
You will find the following important elements within each blueberry and each is a reason to use blueberries for weight loss.
Fiber. Another important aspect of blueberries is that each blueberry contains a significant amount of fiber. Fiber, which is not absorbed quickly by our bodies, increases your metabolism and the more fiber you can consume the more your metabolism has to work. The consequence of having a diet rich in fiber is that you will feel fuller as you consume the fiber so you will not each as much at each meal. Blueberries can play an important role if you are dieting for just this one reason alone, if you feel full and satisfied after a meal you will not be 'hunting' for snacks an hour or so after your meal.
Sugar. Sugar should not be a part of the diet of anyone trying to lose weight. This is why blueberries for weight loss is so important for a dieter, blueberries are low in sugar. When you consume sugar your body will convert that sugar into fat. As you can see if you are trying to lose weight this is not good. If you consume too much sugar your body will not be able to burn it off and it will store the remaining sugar as fat. Exercise will help your body burn off more of the sugar and fat but the key is to consume as little sugar as possible.
Calories. Another reason blueberries are important if you are losing weight is that blueberries are low in calories. To take advantage of this make sure you eat the blueberries 'raw' and fresh and never add sugar or artificial sweeteners to your blueberries. An example would be, eat a serving of blueberries or a serving of blueberry ice cream which is better for you when losing weight? I'm sure it is obvious that the blueberries by themselves are better for you and that is because you will not have consumed any sugar, fats or preservatives. The rule to remember is to avoid processed foods whenever possible and eat as many fresh foods as you can.
Blueberries For Weight Loss: The Evidence Is In
So how will eating blueberries help you lose weight? I'm not implying that you have to eat only blueberries but here is a short summery of the benefits why you should include blueberries for weight loss in your diet:
Blueberries contains antioxidants to help heal your body
Blueberries are low in sugar
Blueberries contain fiber
Blueberries are low in calories.
Those are four powerful reasons why you should include blueberries in your diet and that should help you understand why you need to include blueberries for weight loss. You can eat blueberries throughout the day, have them at breakfast with a low fat/no fat yogurt, mix them into a low fat trail mix, the possibilities are endless. There are so many possibilities that you should have no problem creating dozens of ways of working the blueberry into your day If you make a practice of consuming only half a cup of blueberries and you also exercise you will find that you will begin to lose weight
Now you know about the amazing blueberry. So small but packed with qualities the are an enormous benefit to your life.
So now it is up to you, use blueberries for weight loss, incorporate some exercise and soon you will be reaching your weight loss goals.
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