Fruits & Vegetables Diet Facts: Lose Pounds the Healthy Way

A fruit and vegetable diet is usually associated with a vegan regime due to weight loss trends today. However, the two weight loss plans are different despite their apparent similarities. According to Med-Health, a fruit and vegetable diet does not mean that meat is out of the menu. In fact, there are important proteins and nutrients in meat that a healthy body needs. 

A fruit and vegetable diet just means that people should start including more foods from this food group into their meals. Fruits and vegetables are good sources of vitamins and nutrients needed by the body to stay healthy.  

This food group not only assists in maintaining the body's health, but also protects against disease and helps the body shed excess weight, reports Weight Loss Resources UK. According to the site, fruits and vegetables are low in calories and fat as well as high in fiber, which is essential when trying to lose weight. 

Fruits and vegetables add bulk to a diet plan but do not contain as much calories, which in turn helps the body lose weight, states Weight Loss Resources UK.  

The site explains the concept using the following example: "A meal consisting of a 150 g grilled chicken breast, a 300g jacket potato, 20g of butter and 30g low fat cheese provides a total weight of 500g and provides 790 calories." 

"Swap that meal for a 130g chicken breast, a 200g potato, 5g of butter, 80g broccoli, 45g carrots and 40g green salad, and you still have an overall weight of 500g, but for just 480 calories," it added.

Even though fruits and vegetables may contain less calories, take note that different fruits and vegetables contain a different number of calories. For instance, the calories in one banana can be found in two small apples.  

Med-Health also states that vegetables contain fewer calories than fruits. In addition, complex carbohydrates, which keeps the body satisfied longer and does not turn into sugar easily, can be found in vegetables as well.  

It is also important to consider the way fruits and vegetables are served before digestion. For example, vegetables are best served raw, states Med-Health.  

The site adds that to get the best nutritional value out of fruits, these should never be boiled. Turning fruits into juice also ruins their nutritional value since it will no longer contain much fiber. Fruits are best served when cooked, baked, steamed and of course raw to get the most nutrients from them.