Vegetables are excellent for weight loss. They are high in fiber and are rich in nutrients that may help enhance your body’s metabolism, which makes shedding pounds a bit easier.
Including vegetables in your diet doesn’t just support your weight-loss efforts, but also leads to a longer and healthier life. That said, here are some of the best vegetables for losing weight.
Spinach
Spinach and other leafy green vegetables, like kale and lettuce, are nutritious and help burn belly fat. Spinach is low in calories and rich in insoluble fiber.
The insoluble fiber helps you stay full for longer. But that’s not all, your body doesn’t absorb calories from insoluble fiber. Simply add some blanched or cooked spinach to your breakfast or lunch to stimulate your body’s metabolism. If you aren’t fond of spinach, there’s a loophole: throw it in your blender with other smoothie ingredients. You won’t taste it at all, yet you reap all of the benefits.
Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower are rich in fiber and protein. Thanks to the combination of protein, fiber, and low-energy density, cruciferous vegetables are an ideal food to include in your weight loss diet. You should aim for at least 2½ cups of cruciferous vegetables every day.
Carrots
Carrots are one of the best low-calorie veggies to include in your weight loss diet. They are high in both soluble and insoluble fiber, which aids healthy weight loss goals.
You should eat at least a half cup of carrots each day, which gives you about 25 calories and 6 grams of carbohydrates.
You can blend carrots with other vegetables or fruits to make a healthy, nutrient-rich fat burning juice. You can also stir-fry them along with your meat dishes.
Bell Peppers
Bell peppers contain dihydrocapsiate, a metabolism-boosting compound. They’re also rich in vitamin C, which neutralizes stress hormones that promote fat accumulation around your midsection. This is an excellent vegetable to add to your diet for a vitamin and fat-burning boost.
Legumes
Legumes are critical to a comprehensive weight loss plan, thanks to how nutrient dense they are. This type of vegetable includes chickpeas, kidney beans, lentils, and split peas.
With high fiber and protein content, legumes are a great choice for appetite control. They are somewhat high in calories, though when consumed in moderation, the benefits outweigh the costs.
A cup of cooked kidney beans will give you about 255 calories. A cup of cooked lentils delivers about 230 calories. You can eat legumes by themselves, but they also work well mixed with non-starchy vegetables and whole grains.
Pickles
Pickles are low-calorie, high-fiber vegetables, making them a good choice for your waistline. One large pickle contains 15 calories and two grams of belly-filling fiber. Thus, eating three or four can leave you feeling satiated for less than 100 calories. You can add pickles to your sandwiches and burgers, or eat them on their own to boost your weight loss efforts.
Getting used to eating these vegetables will help in your weight loss journey and also keep you healthy.