The summertime is a great time not only to shed some layers of clothing but also to shed some pounds. Many people undergo summertime diets in order to feel lighter and to look better in a bikini. A great way to start a healthy diet is to enjoy the fruits and vegetables of the season. Much of summer’s bounty has extra nutritional benefits you may not be aware of. Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants and other phytonutrients that may slow aging, protect against cancer and stroke, improve blood pressure, and keep your heart healthy. And just about all are low-calorie, so your waistline stays in check, another big health benefit.
Some of the best summer diet foods include tomatoes and red peppers. Both of these fruits are rich in vitamin A, vitamin C and lycopene. A medium size tomato contains approximately 35 calories, very low carbs, 40% of daily vitamin C intake, and 20% of daily vitamin A intake. A top of its nutritional value, tomatoes also reduce the risk of prostate and digestive tract cancer. Peppers on the other hand, are rich in the antioxidant known as beta carotene. Beta carotene boosts the immune system and prevents the body from cell damage caused by free radicals. Peppers also provide the body with exceptional amounts of vitamin C. Just half a cup of peppers contain 230% of the daily vitamin C intake. So try to incorporate some of these fruit into your daily diet in order to boost your health and reduce your weight.
Some other excellent diet foods include yogurt and fiber packed beans. Yogurt is beneficial to your diet because it is loaded with calcium and protein. There are numerous choices out there today when it comes to yogurt. The most important thing to remember is to choose a yogurt that is fat free or reduced fat. The taste remains the same but the calories are cut in half. Another great diet food is beans. Beans are packed with fiber and protein which makes them a great alternative to heavy meats. If you found your summer diet to be unsuccessful, try incorporating some of these great diet foods into your nutritional regimen.
It’s a natural trend to eat lighter during the summer, and you can easily do so without feeling deprived. If you follow the U.S. government’s 2005 dietary guidelines of four-and-a-half cups of fruits and vegetables and three servings of fat-free or low-fat dairy each day, you’ll be getting plenty of naturally low-cal foods that are high in fiber, calcium, and important nutrients.
These powerhouses of nutrition are members of the fruit family, though thought of mostly as vegetables. Tomatoes and bell peppers of all colors deliver large amounts of vitamins A and C. A medium tomato, for example, is low in carbohydrates and has only has 35 calories but gives you 40% of the vitamin C and 20% of the vitamin A you need for the day.
Tomatoes have other benefits, too. “Consuming a diet rich in tomatoes has been shown to decrease the risk of prostate and other digestive tract cancer,” says Emily Abercrombie, RD, LD, a clinical nutritionist at Atlanta’s Emory Hospitals. This is because tomatoes and processed tomato products have high levels of a nutrient called lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that gives some fruits and vegetables their color. Lycopene may prevent as well as treat several types of cancer. Research suggests it also may help prevent the LDL “bad” cholesterol in the bloodstream from being converted to oxidized LDL that can form plaques in arteries and increase the risk of heart attacks.
Peppers have antioxidants too, such as beta carotene, which can help boost the immune system and prevent the cell damage that comes from free radicals, a natural byproduct of our bodies’ normal functioning. Studies show damaged cells can lead to a number of diseases, such as cancer and heart disease. Peppers also have plenty of vitamin C, even more than tomatoes. Just a half cup of the green, yellow, or red varieties have more than 230% of your daily vitamin C requirement. Keep some pepper strips on hand for a tasty calorie-controlled snack. A half cup of fresh peppers has only 20 calories.
Nothing says summer like the colorful array of berries that start showing up in your produce section at the grocery store. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries satisfy your sweet tooth and are rich in nutritional bonuses, such as vitamin C. Strawberries have the most vitamin C of any member of the berry family.
Yogurt can even help you slim down, according to recent studies showing a low-calorie diet that includes three servings of dairy a day can help promote weight loss. Orlansky says yogurt is very appealing to those wanting to lose weight because of the protein/carbohydrate combination it offers. The benefits of beans or legumes are as wide as the varieties available. Peas, lentils, black beans, butter beans, lima beans, garbanzo beans (also called chickpeas) — and that’s a very short list. All are nutrient-rich and great sources of fiber, iron, and protein.
Mangoes have some big advantages over other fruits. They contain more fiber than most, which helps you curb your appetite. They are low in calories (about 95 for a medium fruit), fat, and sodium, contain no cholesterol, and have more beta carotene than any other fruit.
Water is also key for helping those trying to lose weight. It curbs hunger pains, especially when it’s included in foods such as fresh vegetables and fruits. The adult human body is 60% water and on average, loses about one cup or 8 ounces per day from normal activity. On the upside, a typical daily diet includes about four cups of water in the food you digest. Still, nutritionists advise drinking eight glasses of water daily to keep your body functioning like a well-oiled, or hydrated, machine.
Tags: antioxidant, beta carotene, calories, diet food, diet foods, fruits and vegetables, great time, health benefit, healthy diet, immune system, low calorie, nutritional value, red peppers, summer diet, vitamin c intake