12 Best Fruits for Weight Loss

You may be wondering why incorporating fruit into your diet will help you lose weight. When your body is hungry it’s usually either dehydrated or lacking essential nutrients. Fruit has both a high water content as well many vitamins and nutrients that will allow your body to feel full. The best fruits for weight loss are low in calories and high in fiber. Here are some you can stock up on. Some fruit will also help release fat burning hormones.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit is a great low calorie fruit that can help reduce hunger cravings. If you eat half of a grapefruit before a meal it is said to help you lose weight. It has a high water content and a high fiber content. Grapefruit can also help to settle an upset stomach. Combine it with smoothies or add it into salads for a refreshingly tart treat. Grapefruits are known to help jumpstart your metabolism.

Blueberries

Blueberries are high in antioxidants and have been found to help with weight loss. They are good for your brain and have a high vitamin C content. They contain a lot of phytonutrients because of their dark pigment. Blueberries should only be eaten organic because the pesticides on conventional berries is consumed when eaten.

Watermelon

Watermelon is a very hydrating fruit yet in low calories. The water in fruit is actually more hydrating than drinking water because it is cased in a jelly like substance and not passed through your body as quickly, helping you stay hydrated longer. Watermelon is also very low in calories but has many essential nutrients as well as fiber that will help you stay full. When you get a sugar craving, reach for watermelon instead of candy. Watermelon can be blended to make a delicious juice or chopped up (with the seeds removed) for smoothies.

Kiwi

Kiwi actually has more vitamin C than oranges and the seeds which are soft and easy to digest contain soluble fiber which helps you digest and reduces high cholesterol. Kiwi is very low in calories, low in fat and high in nutrients which is why it is considered a superfood. Make this a dessert instead of cake or ice cream.

Strawberries

Strawberries are very high in vitamin C and the cool thing about strawberries is that they release a hormone that will help you lose weight. You should always eat organic strawberries instead of conventional so you don’t consume the harmful pesticides on the fruit. You can eat them on their own, chop them up in a salad or use them to make a delicious green smoothie. Strawberries actually help to reduce blood sugar and insulin levels after meals.

Oranges

Oranges contain folate, vitamin C and fiber that all contribute to a healthy weight loss eating plan. The vitamin C can help make your workouts more effective and the fiber absorbs water and helps you stay full. Oranges contain zero fat and contain a very low amount of calories. They are a great snack between meals or the perfect addition to salads. You should avoid pasteurized orange juice because it does not contain the same nutrients and usually contains preservatives and added processed sugar. Also keep in mind that non-organic oranges are usually coated with harmful pesticides and the organic oranges will have much more flavor because they have their full natural nutrient spectrum.

Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe is a very hydrating fruit that contains B vitamins, vitamin C, potassium, copper and zinc among other vitamins. This is a very low calorie fruit that is great to eat for breakfast. Take advantage when this fruit is on season and well priced so you can replace those unhealthy breakfast foods!

Pomegranate

Pomegranate seeds help lower high blood pressure and boost your immune system. Pomegranates contain antioxidants and help your heart health by lowering the buildup of cholesterol. Pomegranate juice with seltzer and ice is a good alternative to unhealthy cocktails or soda. This fruit is high in fiber and blocks the fat that is bad for your blood which is called triglycerides.

Blackberries

Blackberries contain a very high amount of phytonutrients and antioxidants, so not only will they help satisfy your hunger, they will also help your immune system. Antioxidants are said to help reduce the free radicals in the body that cause painful inflammation as well. Berries of all kinds are great for your brain and because they don’t have an outer covering, try to only eat them organic. Berries not only help with weight loss, they help fight cancer, help your memory, help your vision and help protect against UV rays.

Coconut

Coconut helps your liver metabolize up to 30% more efficiently which can really help your weight loss. Coconut oil is a healthy form of fat that is good for your brain and a healthy alternative to butter or canola oil. Coconut is also high in potassium which is an essential mineral that helps decrease depression in women. Coconut oil is said to be the healthiest fat which will not make you gain weight. Their fatty acids will also help to increase your metabolism. Do not think that drinking pasteurized coconut water will give you the benefit though, you will have to consume it raw (this is available in most health food stores).  Coconut is great for people that have a slow metabolism. You can buy a whole coconut and drink the juice and eat the meat which is full of fiber. You can also dehydrate the coconut meat for a snack or blend the meat and juice into a smoothie.

Avocado

Avocado has a healthy form of fat that is used as slow burning energy in your body. It also helps reduce bad cholesterol. The types of fat you want to avoid for weight loss are trans fats and hydrogenated fats which are found in processed foods and especially fried foods. Your brain needs fat for energy so don’t make the mistake of cutting out all fat from your diet when you’re trying to lose weight. Avocados also contain omega  6, potassium, Vitamin E and folic acid. Avocados are considered a superfood because they contain about 20 essential vitamins. Remember, you body will feel hungry until it has the nutrients it needs.

Pear

Pears contain a very high amount of fiber that helps you stay full and helps you digest effectively. Most of the fiber is found in the skin so be sure to eat that as well. Pear juice is not a good substitute to eating pears because you will be missing on the fiber that you need to process the sugars in the pears.

 

Remember that it’s best to have 2-3 servings of fruit daily and pasteurized juice does not contain nearly the same nutrient content as unprocessed fresh fruit. Even juicing apples removes the fiber that will make you feel full so it’s better to eat the whole apple or put the fruit in a blender. Also try to eat organic fruit instead of conventional fruit because it will have a higher nutrient content and help reduce hunger cravings. Finally, keep in mind that frozen fruit loses some of the nutrient content so have fresh fruit if you can.

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