Eating More Fruits And Vegetables Can Help You Lose Weight

If you are trying to lose weight, adding more fruit and vegetables to your diet is very beneficial.  Everybody knows that fruit and vegetables are healthy and that we should eat 4 to 6 servings per day of each, but many people are not aware that they promote natural weight loss, and improve the speed at which you shed pounds.

Fruit and vegetables have high fiber content which aids weight loss

One of their best nutritional qualities for weight loss is that they are high in natural fiber.  Fiber is the part of food that is not able to be digested and therefore does not contain any calories, as it is not converted into energy by the body.  But fiber does expand inside the stomach, giving a feeling of satiety are fullness, meaning that our hunger cravings are temporarily relieved while eating  a relatively low calorie food.

Fiber also helps to kick start and clean out our digestive system as it makes its way through the colon, and improves bowel  movement regularity.  In addition, the soluble fiber content of fruits and vegetables acts as a sort of sponge in the colon, soaking up harmful cholesterol and lipids, which helps to improve the levels of good cholesterol and decrease the levels of bad cholesterol in our blood.

Fruits and vegetables are high in lean protein

A healthy diet should include about 30% of its calories from protein sources.  In order to improve weight loss, you should try to eat as much lean protein as you can, and fruits and vegetables are packed with this kind of helpful protein.  This lean protein is broken down  and absorbed quickly by the body making the digestive process more efficient.

Most people in America get the bulk of their protein from animal sources.  Animal protein, especially red meat, is high in saturated fats which take the digestive system much longer to break down and therefore remain in the body for a longer period of time.  Also, this type of protein is harmful to our cardiovascular system as it increases bad cholesterol levels which promotes hardening of the arteries and heart disease.

A great source of natural vegetable protein is legumes.  One serving of beans has about the same amount of protein as one serving of meat, but it is the healthful lean protein that you need to augment weight loss and are also very high in soluble fiber.  Try to eat vegetable substitutes, such as legumes, instead of meats in order to obtain your protein.

Fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins and phyto-nutrients

When you eat a diet that’s high in fruit and vegetables, you are also getting valuable sources of natural vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.  They help your body to perform more efficiently and help you to feel better both mentally and physically.

Their high antioxidant content helps to prevent cancer by discouraging DNA mutations caused by toxins such as air pollution, pesticides, and chemical additives in our food.  Certain green leafy vegetables are high in phyto nutrients which help to strengthen our immune system.

Change your diet habits gradually

The best way to increase the amount of fruit and vegetables in our diet is to do it gradually.  By taking baby steps, we give our body a chance to adjust.  You may find it difficult at first and may find yourself craving meat, but that is because our body gets used to a certain diet but those cravings will gradually fade away as our body gets adjusted to it.  Rome wasn’t built in a day, so just work to improve your diet one day at a time.

Eat a wide range of fruits and vegetables to improve weight loss

You will have the best weight loss results by incorporating many different types of fruits and vegetables in your diet.  You may be in the habit of eating only a select few types that you are familiar with, but this is an opportunity for you to expand your horizon a little bit and learn about new options.

When you go to the grocery store, make a point to try new items that you perhaps didn’t consider before.  Buy fruits and vegetables of all different colors, shapes, and sizes.  The color is indicative of the type of nutrients that it has, so by including many different colors in your diet you will have the best coverage of vitamins and minerals.