Goodbye winter, hello spring! Gone are the cold winter days which served as a good excuse for the couch potato syndrome. With spring and the sunshine it promises, engage in outdoor activities as much as possible. Even simple chores like gardening, cleaning the garage are good ways to bust a few calories. This is the ideal time to take up an outdoor sport. Even a thirty-minute walk every day will go a long way in your weight loss goals.
Not only does spring bring that spring to your feet, but also comes with a plethora of foods that can help you get closer to the weight that you desire. Bananas, strawberries, grapefruit, pineapples, kiwis, apricots, nectarines, cherries, rhubarb, blueberries are spring fruits that can be added to a weight loss plan. Veggies like cucumber, zucchini, new potatoes, radishes, asparagus, eggplant, avocados, peas, chicory, artichokes, carrots, ramps, fava beans, spinach, okra, beets, broccoli and herbs like cilantro, parsley, basil and mint must be a part of your spring food diet. Green leafy vegetables are also a must during this season. For those who need their dose of meat, opt for chicken whites, rabbit meat and lamb. Fish lovers and sea food fans could go for the sea bass, black cod, scallops, clams and mussels. For your grains try millet, quinoa, rye and barley.
A spring diet must be rich in fiber since it helps cleanse the digestive system and gets rid of toxins from the body. Artichoke contains cynarin, a compound that is effective in bringing cholesterol levels. More so, it is very rich in fiber and has contains not more than 70 to 75 calories. Asparagus can make for a yummy snack or meal. It is has a high water content and is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C. A cup of peas only contains around 30 calories. They are full of fiber. A regular intake of peas is good for a consistent dose of Vitamin K for the body. This vitamin is crucial for bone building and blood development. Cucumbers and radishes are also very rich in fiber and therefore make you feel full after having a large helping. What more, they have a negligible calorie count and can therefore be chomped upon as per your whim and fancy. Some diet experts are of the opinion that onions can actually burn fat deposits. They also bring down the level of cholesterol. Herbs like parsley, cilantro, coriander and mint also have few calories and can add a lot of zing to an otherwise boring dish. Some also believe mint is a natural appetite suppressant.
The best snack when on a spring weight loss program is a single banana. It is rich in fiber and potassium. A banana before a sport or exercise or after a workout is a good energy booster. Nectarines and peaches are also known to bring down cholesterol levels and at the same time are very low in calories. Berries like strawberries and blueberries are rich in antioxidants. They are also wonderful weight loss foods as they have no fat and are very low in calories. Blueberries are also known to regulate the body's metabolism. Although high in sugar, pineapples help in digestion. Consumed in reasonable quantities, these fruits can easily be added to your spring food diet. Similarly, avocados are not always advised for those aiming to shed those extra kilos because it contains fat. Yet if had in small quantities can work wonders since it takes time to digest and therefore gives you the impression of feeling full for a longer time. Studies have shown that having grapefruit on a regular basis can bring down the insulin level in the body. This in turn facilitates loss of weight. More so, it has essential nutrients like Vitamin A, Vitamin C and potassium. Apricots are rich in Vitamin A and cherries have nutrients that help in ridding the body of toxins. These little red fruits are so powerful that they also help counteract free radicals that are very harmful.
To increase metabolism, it is important to have protein rich foods. The sea bass is high in protein and is also rich in iron. Clams and mussels are a good source of Omega 3 fatty acids important for metabolism. Rabbit meat and lamb are great sources of protein and much lower in calorie content than other meat products and once the desired weight is achieved they can be used to replace red meat. Depending on your weight loss goal, your lifestyle, your likes and dislikes, it is easy to formulate the appropriate weight loss program. A diet in spring is easy follow as this season offers many delicious fruits and vegetables that can be put together to make interesting meals. The important thing is to transform a fatty winter diet into a more cooling spring one.
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