We know vegetarian diets are the best alternatives to lose weight, but eating the wrong vegetables can land you in a soup. So here’s a cheat code that can make you the biggest winner in terms of nutrition and the biggest loser in terms of weight.
1. Beans:
Beans are green vegetables, rich in protein and dietary fibers. These are low in fat and can even be consumed raw. It’s a fibre rich food alternative to meat in your weight loss diet.
2. Bell peppers:
Red, yellow and orange peppers are very sweet. They are the perfect foods which divert all those sweet cravings we get time and again – and they are a valuable source of Vitamin C.
3. Broccolis:
Try to infuse plenty of broccolis in your diet. This vegetable is zero fat and ample complex and slow releasing carbohydrates. Essentially it contains 60 percent carbohydrates, 40 percent proteins. It is also fibre rich and has high water content. These carbohydrates take a lot of time to digest, so it keeps you feeling full of energy. It’s a powerhouse of nutrition, containing- vitamin E, thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, and selenium.
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4. Brussels Sprouts:
Sprouts are easy to grow at home. These are similar to cabbage but have more fiber and all of 21 calories per serving. It is also a salad staple. Like most vegetables in this list, it is rich in vitamins C, A, K, thiamin, B6, folate, potassium, and manganese. But it is a better alternative than cabbage because cabbage can lead to flatulence.
5. Carrots:
Experts say chewing your food long enough makes you feel fuller. In that case Carrots can be your new best friends! It contains oodles of beta-carotene and Vitamins A, K, and C. The best thing about carrots is that they even taste good raw and so it’s a perfect snack between meals.
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6. Collard Greens:
Collard greens are packed with proteins and amino acids, and have a low glycemic index. As like other green vegetables it contains: thiamin, niacin, potassium, vitamins like A, C, E, K, riboflavin, B6, folic acid, calcium, and manganese.
7. Cucumber:
Cucumber is the best vegetable for weight loss. It has the least calories compared to any other green vegetable. It is basically 90% water and 10% fibre.
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8. Celery:
It is similar to cucumber- hardly any calories, high water content and good source of fibre. Hence, perfect for weight loss. If that was not enough, celery also contains protein. These are mostly salad staples, as they can be eaten raw. To add flavor, one can have these with whipped salted yoghurt- another healthy alternative to your usual cream dips.
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9. Garlic & Onions:
Whether you like them raw, cooked, minced or pureed- Onions and Garlic are what will add taste to your otherwise simple weight loss meals. They are a good source of allyl sulfides, which are compounds that may help lower blood pressure and hinder tumor growth. They also contain saponins, known to prevent tumors and allicin, a natural antioxidant that may help improve heart health.
10. Spinach:
Spinach is popular choice in vegetarian diets. It’s packed with nutrients such as, vitamins A, C, E, K, thiamin, riboflavin, B6, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, copper, and manganese. Spinach is a hassle free, green, leafy vegetable. It is easy to cook and takes very less cooking time. Usually spinach has very less takers, but they can be made tasty. Use them in salads or stews, they are versatile. It curbs the waistline and helps purify our blood and doesn’t cause water retention in our body.
While vegetables generally tend to be among the lower-calorie foods, some are surprisingly high in calories. Corn, squash, peas, sweet potatoes, avocados, etc. can be very nutritive vegetable but they are high in calorie content. Save these for an occasional treat.
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