Health and Weight Loss Benefits of Eating Vegetables

We all know that eating vegetables is extremely healthy for you, but did you know that eating vegetables can help you to lose weight and to control your weight? Kim Lyons explains how and why later in this article.

I would also like to add that you may want to consider planting your own vegetable garden in your backyard. It’s easy to do and will benefit you in the following ways:

• Truly Organic – When you grow your own vegetables, you do not need to use pesticides, so you know that the vegetables are 100% organic.
  
  
• More Nutritious – Since vegetables do not ripen in the store or during shipping but in your garden, they are fresher, tastier and more nutritious. The will contain more vitamins and nutrients.
  
  
• Inexpensive – Growing your own vegetables is very inexpensive. Plus you can even freeze your vegetables for winter use if you have too much.
  
  
• Provides Exercise – Great way to be outside, get a little exercise and relieve your stress.
  
  

According to Kim Lyons:

Everyone knows vegetables are healthy, but most people don't realize just how extremely effective they are for fat loss. Here's why...

1.) They are very low in calories and so perfect for creating that necessary caloric deficit. You'd have to eat 20 large bags of spinach or 5 heads of broccoli, to equal the calories of just 1 cup of pasta or 1 tablespoon of butter.

So, you absolutely do not have to go hungry on tiny portions when you load up on veggies. In fact, it's almost impossible to eat too many!

Take grilled vegetables and shrimp, for example. This is a perfect combination of fibrous carbohydrates with protein, which is exactly what you want later in the day. A large portion that fills up your entire plate has only around 250 calories.

Compare it to a plate of processed carbs and high-fat foods. You only get to enjoy 1 really small, thin slice of pizza for 250 calories and almost no nutritional value, and none of the energy or protein you need. When you focus on veggies you can eat a lot more food, with less calories and a lot more nutritional value.

2.) Veggies are also high in fiber. This is both good for your digestion and fat loss because fiber expands in your stomach, making you feel full and satisfied.

A bowl of spinach has 8 grams of fiber, about 1/3 of your daily requirement of fiber. Broccoli, green peas and other green leafy vegetables are also good sources of fiber.

3.) The third reason fibrous carbohydrates are perfect for fat loss is because they have almost NO adverse affects on blood sugar levels. While it's still a good idea to balance veggies out with a protein source, even eaten alone they're okay because they don't cause an increase in insulin.

4.) And finally, they're loaded with vitamins and minerals and other very beneficial nutrients such as antioxidants and phytonutrients that will help you look and feel better, fight off disease and improve your overall health.

If there's any one type of food that is the most helpful for fat loss, it's definitely vegetables.