Take a look at your plate: is it mostly brown or white with very little color? If so, you are probably consuming far too few vegetables. Nutrient dense, organic vegetables are the best source of energy for the body.
They are low calories, and jam-packed with vitamins and minerals that promote health and longevity. You challenge for today is to start making your plate colorful. Aim for at least half of your plate to be colored with fresh, local and organic vegetables.
According to Mark Sisson, author of The Primal Blueprint, 50 to 100 grams of carbohydrates from healthy sources such as vegetables, fruits and certified raw or organic sources will promote a gradual weight loss of 2 pounds each week. Because they are so low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals, your body will thank you for including them in your diet every day!
Here are a five great vegetables to consider:
Salad greens: These include all leafy greens you use to make a salad. According to the American Dietetic Association, salad greens are basically “free” foods, meaning you can eat as much as you desire. They have less than 20 calories, plenty of healthy vitamins and fewer than 5 grams of carbs per one-cup serving.
Peppers: Peppers range from mild and sweet to fiery hot and everything in between. All forms of peppers are excellent for weight loss and weight management. Peppers are one of the richest sources of vitamin C, which boosts immune system function and assists in the assimilation of other nutrients. This low calorie food contains only 15 calories per serving (1/2 cup), and 1 gram of fiber.
Sweet Potatoes: Although sweet potatoes are higher in sugar than some other vegetables, they are brimming with nutrients. A 4-oz sweet potato contains only 80 calories, has 3 grams of fiber and is one of the best sources of potassium. These tasty potatoes also contain vitamin C and vitamin A.
Tomatoes: One cup of cherry tomatoes contains only 25 calories, but has 2 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber. The biggest health bonus of tomatoes is that they are rich in lycopene, a carotenoid which is highly beneficial for cancer prevention, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.
Spinach: Popeye was right when he said to eat your spinach. One of the least sugary vegetables, spinach has only 10 calories per one cup serving, and plenty of fiber. Enjoy spinach as part of salad, or lightly steamed. Some people even put a handful in their smoothies or juices.
Enjoy!!
-The Alternative Daily
