How to Lose Weight by Eating Fruits, Vegetables, Chicken & Beef

Fresh vegetables have higher nutrient contents than processed and canned vegetables.

Successful, healthy weight-loss requires eating nutrient-rich, low-calorie foods, such as whole vegetables and fruits, and low-fat proteins, such as lean chicken and beef. Eating these foods frequently throughout the day boosts metabolism and regulates blood sugar levels. Also, using food-preparation techniques that do not introduce added fat lowers overall caloric intake while maintaining the nutrient levels of the food.

Instructions

1. Eat whole, fresh vegetables high in potassium. Reduced-calorie diets can prompt potassium deficiencies, and consuming non-processed fruits and vegetables, such as sweet potatoes and bananas, helps maintain the body's ideal nutrient intake.

2. Eat a minimum of 1,000 calories per day. A severely-reduced caloric intake prompts the body's metabolism to conserve energy, which lowers the metabolic rate and hinders weight loss. Lean proteins, fruits and vegetables naturally have minimal fat content and a high proportion of nutrients per serving, which makes them ideal for reduced-calorie diets.

3. Eat high-protein meals and space them four to five hours apart. Frequently eating nutrient-dense, low-calorie foods, such as lean proteins and whole fruits, stimulates the metabolic rate and prompts the body to rely on fat stores for energy. Including lean chicken and beef in your diet creates a greater thermal effect on the body's metabolism than consuming carbohydrates alone, which in turn increases the rate the body burns calories.

4. Consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. According to a report by Consumer Reports National Research Center that surveyed the eating habits of 21,632 people, participants who ate five or more servings of fruit and vegetables per day had lower body mass indexes than those who didn't. Fruit and vegetables contain a lot of dietary fiber and water content, which fills you up without excessive fat intake.

References

• Today Health: Boost Your Metabolism and Lose Weight Faster
• Consumer Reports Health: Lose Excess Weight
• U.S. Department of Agriculture: Inside the Pyramid
• Weight Loss for All: Foods High in Potassium
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Eat More, Weigh Less?