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Are
Apples good for weight loss?
"An
Apple a day keeps the doctor away" - this is a saying which
till date goes unchallenged and is agreed upon by the old and
the young. Yes, apples are fortified with nutrients and it IS
a super food which has got a lot of health benefits. Apples contain
loads of pectin, antioxidants and Vitamin C - reason enough for
anybody to bite into one. But are apples good for weight loss?
Experts say that adding apples to a healthy diet plan can actually
help in losing and controlling weight.
How are apples good for weight loss? A quick glance reveals that
apples contain fewer calories/ no fat/ less sodium and are fortified
with vitamins, minerals and fiber and GI carbohydrate. All these
contribute in different ways when weight loss is the goal.
Low in calories
An apple, depending on its size, contains approx. 100 calories
and hence can be easily incorporated into the daily meal plan
of a dieter.
High in fiber
Apples are naturally rich in fiber (approx. 5 gms in a medium
size apple). Fibrous foods have always aided weight loss and apples
are no exception. Fiber, when consumed, actually gains bulk in
the stomach and helps to keep the stomach full, thereby cutting
down on hunger and inducing a fuller feeling. By consuming a fiber
rich food like apple, you can easily beat the hunger pangs, keep
overeating away and attain your weight loss goal.
GI Carbohydrates
There is a general misconception among weight watchers that carbohydrates
always result in weight gain. Well, a high-carb diet may actually
do that but carbohydrates which are low in Glycemic Index can
in fact do just the opposite. An apple contains 25gms of low GI
carbohydrates (brown or unpolished rice have also got it) and
this, when consumed helps to release sugar in a slow pace into
the blood stream. This helps to control hunger in the system.
Studies have shown that dieters who include 2/3 apples a day in
their diet (low-calorie) eventually lose more weight than those
who do not.
Low sodium
Low sodium foods always aid weight loss as they reduce water retention
in the body and flush out toxins and excess water.
Needless to say that like all other weight loss foods, apples,
when consumed as a weight loss aid, must be eaten in their raw
state as cooking or processing them diminishes the fiber and nutrient
level.
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