5 plant-based foods that help you lose weight
The scarves have gone back into storage, but the bathing suit hasn't made its debut just yet. The wardrobe transition into summer may be just as rough as the weight loss transformation, as the hunt continues for calorie-free pizza and ice cream. However, there are still enjoyable foods that do wonders for the metabolism and boost your confidence to sit poolside.
Start with these plant-based options to start seeing results.
1. Water
Technically water isn't a plant-based food, but it's definitely in your veggies, and you definitely need to be drinking more than eight glasses a day. One study by the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, found that drinking 500 ml of water (equivalent to a normal 16.9 fl oz bottle) increased metabolic rate by 30% in just 10 minutes! You can burn an extra 200 calories a day by simply upping your H20 intake by 1.5 liters.
Read more about how much water should you really drink.
2. Zucchini
Besides drinking, you can eat your water by consuming zucchini, which is 95% water. This "negative calorie" vegetable provides you with natural sugars, while helping with bowel regularity. At 18 calories per 100 grams, this superfood is doing double duty with hydration and toxin removal. Try Veestro's Veggie Lasagne for chunks of zucchini, red pepper, carrot, onion, and spinach, in between hearty rice pasta and vegan cheese.
3. Tamarind
This is a fruit you don't hear about every day, but maybe you should. Long used in ancient medicine and now commonly seen in Indian cuisine, a dollop of tamarind paste can decrease appetite and body fat by controlling certain serotonin levels. Also, its natural fiber has been known to stimulate gastric acids so effectively, that tamarind can be used as a laxative.
4. Tomato juice
The weight is one thing, but the bloat is another. Tomato juice will be your newest shrinking hack. The National Center for Biotechnology Information, published a study in which tomato juice successfully reduced inflammation in overweight and obese females. You don't have to be a girl to reap the benefits of tomato's high concentration of lycopene, a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. The popular red fruit also increases adiponectin, a protein that breaks down body fat.
5. Coconut oil
Coconut may not be the easiest thing to carry in your lunchbox, but its weight loss benefits are worth the burden. Coconut oil is made almost entirely of medium chain triglycerides. Why is that important? Essentially, the metabolic pathway used for these fatty acids allows for increased fat burning. Just one to two tablespoons per day can increase energy expenditure by 5% or 120 calories!
Read more about 5 surprising benefits of coconut oil.
Check out this article about Lose Weight Simply: Eat Smart and 5 reasons you might not be losing weight on a vegan diet.
Sources:https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/11-foods-that-burn-more-calories-than-they-contain-1679965
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/list-fruits-vegetable-high-water-content-8958.html
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/tamarind.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23069270https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/88/12/6015/2661518
