From The Straits Times    |

10 best fruits and vegetables that can help you to lose weight!

Add these fruits and vegetables to your healthy diet, to help with your weight loss plans! Image: pilipphoto/ Shutterstock.com

Many of us spend the summer holidays getting back into shape and working off some extra pounds. Here is a selection of the 10 best fruits and vegetables to maintain that figure.

1. Melon
If your goal is to keep losing weight, melon, which is rich in minerals like beta-carotene, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, copper and zinc is the ideal fruit. Melon boasts laxative properties that help along digestion and avoid fat storage which in turn prevents weight gain. Rich in fibers, it is also considered a belly-slimming fruit. Last but not least, melon has a very low calorie count (38 calories/100g or 3.5 oz).

2. Tea
First and foremost, tea has virtually no calories (1 calories/100 g or 3.5 fl oz) and has a very low satiety level. In addition, the polyphenols found in tea aids in burning off fat while its diuretic properties help eliminate toxins.

3. Lemon
A strong antioxidant, lemon is an excellent health ally. The fruit activates the secretion of bile in your body’s organism to better digest foods thanks to its high vitamin C levels. Finally, the citric acid found in lemons work to help the stomach burn fat and proteins. Lemon has a calorie count of 33 calories/100g or 3.5 oz.

4. Pineapple
Pineapple is known as one of the best foods for weight loss. It naturally contains bromelain which is an excellent fat-burning enzyme that favors the elimination of fats by breaking down their cell-tissue. The fruit has a calorie count of 33 calories/100 g or 3.5 oz.

5. Black radish
Black radish is a powerful appetite suppressant due to its high levels of vegetable protein and iodine. The vegetable triggers the functioning of the thyroid gland and is considered an excellent “detox” food. Very low in calories, black radish counts 17.8 calories/100g or 3.5 oz.

6. Fennel
Fennel contains no less than a dozen antioxidant elements, primarily flavonoids that work to eradicate free radicals. The vegetable is also rich in potassium and calcium with only 20 calories/100g or 3.5 oz. It’s the ideal food to avoid weight gain while you boost your mineral intake.

7. Carrot
This orange vegetable contains a high concentration of carotenoids (vitamin A), beta and alpha carotene. A 100g (3.5 oz portion) covers more than half of the daily requirements for an adult. It also contains both vitamins B and K and provides a worthy quantity of potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron. Carrots have a calorie count of 36 calories/100g or 3.5 oz.

8. Cherry tomato
These small vegetables pack a rich volume of magnesium, calcium, vitamin C and B9. Its diuretic properties help to eliminate a large amount of toxins which helps avoid storage of fats. Only 29 calories/100g or 3.5 oz.

9. Raspberry
Thanks to its high-fiber content, raspberries help digestion. The sweet fruit is also rich in vitamin C, magnesium and calcium. Raspberries number 45 calories/100g or 3.5 oz.

10. Cucumber
Composed of 97 per cent water, the cucumber is the number-one diuretic food of this list. It encourages and even accelerates weight loss. Rich in vitamin K, it has one of the lowest calorie counts with 12 calories/100g or 3.5 oz.

Special thanks to nutritionist Marie-Anne Rose for these tips. — AFP RELAXNEWS

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