5 Best Fruits And Vegetables For Good Health And Weight Loss

Different foods help our bodies to grow, to heal, and to keep the immune system running properly but what are the best fruits and vegetables for weight loss? It's really important to eat healthily, so let's look at five of the best fruits and vegetables for weight loss and good health to include in your diet.

1. Broccoli.

The cruciferous family of vegetables are the best vegetables to eat to lose weight and one of the most nutrient-rich of this group is broccoli. It contains nutrients that help balance out other food elements that cause the body to deposit fat in our abdominal area..

Broccoli is also an excellent source of vitamins C and K, as well as folate, vitamin B and fiber. In addition, it contains potassium, vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6, protein and calcium. Broccoli can help in reducing cholesterol levels which boosts cardiovascular health and fitness. It helps the body's cleansing system, aids vitamin D uptake and may also reduce our vulnerability to a number of allergies.




2. Blueberries.

The second on our list of the best fruits and vegetables for weight loss are blueberries. They are one of the best fruits to eat to lose weight because they have a low glycemic index (GI). This means they have a low impact on our blood sugar levels, so you won't get a sugar rush from eating blueberries. Eating foods with a low glycemic index is also believed to reduce the risk of developing type-II diabetes as well as coronary heart disease.

Blueberries are high on the nutrient-density scale as they are a good source of vitamin K, manganese and vitamin C. They are also a very rich source of antioxidants, which are believed to help minimize the risk of developing cancer.

3. Spinach.

Spinach is one of the best green vegetables for your health. It contains a huge quantity of nutrients which provides various health benefits. The most concentrated nutrients in spinach are magnesium, folate, iron, potassium, calcium, vitamin E, protein and zinc.

Spinach contains vitamin K, magnesium and calcium which is good for maintaining healthy bones. There are also antioxidants in it that help remove harmful free radicals from the body. Spinach may help reduce the risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer. It's also an anti-inflammatory, which means it can help lower our susceptibility to allergies.

4. Watermelon.

The best fruits to eat to lose weight are ones that are full of water, such as watermelon, because it helps keep you satisfied on fewer calories. Watermelon is 92% water and a good source of vitamin C. When it's the red variety (some are orange or yellow), it also has lycopene, an antioxidant that may help protect against heart disease and some types of cancer. Some of the other best fruits and vegetables to eat to lose weight because they are made mostly of water include cucumbers (95%), salad greens (90%) and strawberries (91%).

5. Apples.

You'll get more benefit from a raw crunchy apple rather than apple juice or apple sauce. Whole fruit dulls your appetite because it has more fiber. Apples are a great source of fiber which helps towards a healthy digestive system and chewing sends signs to your brain that you have eaten something substantial, so you feel less hungry.

This also aids in the regulation of blood sugar levels. Apples are also a great source of vitamin C. Although apples aren't as nutrient-rich as some other fruits and vegetables, they are thought to have both anti-cancer and anti-asthma properties. In addition, they're good for cardiovascular health.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jon_Allo/1079948

Lose Weight and Feel Great With the Anti-Inflammatory Diet

The anti-inflammatory diet can make you feel great! "How," you ask. By cutting out or significantly reducing your consumption of pro-inflammatory foods. When these foods are cut from your diet, inflammation in the body reduces taking stress and strain from the joints and organs.

While following this diet your chance of weight loss also goes up. "How does this happen," by reducing your consumption of grain and wheat products, sodas, and other simple sugars that cause excess weight.

I'll start this discussion by telling you what extra inflammation in the body causes; chronic pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, allergies, acne, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, cancer, hypertension, depression, and diabetes. However, this is a shortened list there are many other conditions out there caused by inflammation.

In short summary, the fewer inflammatory foods we eat, the less inflammation we have in the body.




Background Information on Pro-Inflammatory Foods:

Grains, refined sugars, partial-hydrogenated oils, vegetable and seed oils are from modern man. These foods have been around a short time; hence, obesity and disease are on the rise. Humans are genetically adapted to eat fruits, veggies, nuts, lean meats, and fish, foods not related to chronic diseases.

Why Do Grains Inflame?
 
Grains contain a protein called gluten. Gluten is the main cause of many digestive diseases, such as celiac disease, also contributor to frequent headaches. They also have a sugar protein called lectins which has been shown to cause inflammation in the digestive system. Grains also contain phytic acid which is known to reduce the body's absorption of calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc.

Lastly, grains contain high amounts of fatty acid biochemicals called omega-6 fatty acids which do cause inflammation. Fatty acid biochemicals known as omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory and found in fresh fish and green vegetables.

What Should I Eat?

Anti inflammatory foods

- All fruits and vegetables (raw or lightly cooked)
- Red and sweet potatoes
- Anti-inflammatory omega-3 eggs
- Raw nuts
- Spices such as ginger, turmeric, garlic
- Organic butter, coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil
- Fresh fish, avoid farm raised
- Meat, chicken, eggs from grass-fed animals
- Wild game such as deer, elk, etc.
- Water, organic green tea, red wine, stout beer

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Dr._Steve_Smiley/606995