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Health & Fitness

PLENTY OF PRODUCE

Ask someone what comes to mind when he or she hears the word “diet,” and the response undoubtedly will involve deprivation and restriction. But what if there were foods you could eat more of in order to lose weight?

There are: fruits and vegetables. We’ve all heard that they’re good for us, but they’re also award-winning when it comes to weight management.

How does eating more of something help you lose weight?

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There are several factors that contribute to the slimming effect of produce. First, our body doesn’t signal us that we’re full when we’ve reached our calorie limit for the meal. This communication of satiety only occurs when we consume a certain volume of food – that is, when our stomach feels full.

Fruits and vegetables are naturally high in water and fiber. They’re also relatively low in calories. As a result, they give you more “fullness” with fewer calories. For example, compare two slices of bacon with an apple. Both contain approximately 90 calories. Bacon is primarily fat and has no fiber – it won’t produce the same feeling of fullness as a fiber-rich apple.

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Why? Fiber expands in our stomach, which is what gives us the sensation of fullness. So, you’ll feel full with fewer calories by incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet. You’ll also get more “bang” for your nutritional buck by eating more nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables.

For the same number of calories (400), you could eat one slice of apple pie or consume five apples. A small serving of peach crisp (300 calories) is the calorie-equivalent of eating five peaches. A large serving of McDonald’s fries (500 calories) has the same number of calories as four baked potatoes.

At the same time that obesity is on the rise, studies show that most Americans are not meeting the recommended intake of fruits and vegetables. How much do we need daily? In general, adults need a combined total of 9 to 13 servings of fruits/vegetables per day.

Sounds hard to do for most of us so bridge the gap with what you eat and what you should eat with Juice Plus+.   www.donnacodelljuiceplus.com

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