Dietary Fiber Is Important for Weight Control

In a recent study on fast food consumption, teenagers and adults who frequented fast food restaurants gained almost a pound a year more weight, had larger increases in waist circumference, and doubled their odds of developing metabolic syndrome compared to participants who had the lowest volume of fast food intake. Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, water, dietary fibers, vitamins and minerals are required nutrients. However, any calories that you do not use are stored as body fat regardless of the source.

Eating Fruit Can Keep You Hydrated Longer

Choosing a low-calorie food like fruit to replace a higher-calorie food option can create a calorie deficit. So, snacking on whole fruits instead of high calorie treats like candies, cookies and chips can significantly reduce caloric intake and boost weight loss efforts. Many health experts consider fruit to be one of nature's healthiest snacks that is portable, full of fiber, tasty and loaded with essential nutrients. Nonetheless, fructose consumption should be limited.

You can enjoy fruits consumed in moderation but focus your menu plan on eating more vegetables, especially green leafy or fibrous vegetables. If you need to cut carbohydrates from your menu plan, start with sugars, starches and grains before eliminating antioxidant fruits like berries. It is always better to eat whole fruit over its dried or canned counterpart. Since fresh fruit contains lots of water and fiber, it can keep you feeling full and hydrated longer.

Eating Whole Foods Is Important for Your Well-Being

By replacing processed foods in your menu plan with more whole foods, you can make strides towards managing your weight and improving your overall health. Try to develop new eating patterns and make eating real foods a habit. A big advantage of eating real foods is that they typically make for bigger portion sizes while providing fewer calories. This is due to the calorie-free water contained in fresh fruits, vegetables and lean proteins. To learn more about weight control by eating real foods, contact the Metabolic Research Center nearest you.