Count Fiber, Not Carbs For Weight Loss

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are unique in their ability to produce an amino acid called carnitine. This amino acid causes your body to burn fat at a faster rate by increasing your body's basal metabolic rate. Any tomato products, from ketchup to tomato sauce, are great for your weight-reducing diet.

Tomatoes also contain abundant amounts of vitamin C and an antioxidant called lycopene, which helps to prevent several types of cancer, including breast and prostate cancers. The combination of vitamin C and lycopene also helps to prevent the buildup of cholesterol in your bloodstream.

Beans

The high fiber content of beans helps to reduce the absorption of both fat and calories from the intestinal tract. The fiber content of beans reduces your appetite. and lets you eat fewer calories because you get filled up earlier.

Beans are also high in potassium and low in sodium, which helps to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and strokes. Beans, beans they're good for the heart, the more you eat them, the more you're smart.

Sweet Potatoes

Contrary to popular belief, sweet potatoes are excellent sources of vitamins and minerals and are considered good carbs. They are a great addition to any weight-loss program because of their high fiber content and their nutritional value.

Sweet potatoes are good sources of vitamin C, B-complex, folic acid, potassium, vitamin A, and beta-carotene. These nutrients, combined with plant sterols found in sweet potatoes, are powerful antioxidants, which can help to lower cholesterol and lower your risk of heart disease. When sweet potatoes are eaten with their skin, they are good sources of both insoluble and soluble fiber. These two types of fibers help to reduce your appetite the way most fiber foods do, by filling you up and satisfying your appetite early, without supplying extra calories in your diet.

Asparagus

Asparagus is an excellent source of potassium, folic acid, beta-carotene, vitamin C, and the antioxidant glutathione, which helps to fight nasty free radicals, which can damage nonnal cells. Asparagus is a great addition to any diet program, since it is low in calories and high in fiber and nutrients.

Steamed asparagus is great eaten alone or in a salad. It must be refrigerated or frozen quickly to prevent the loss of its nutritional value. If boiled too long, most of the nutrients end up in the water.

Peppers

Red and green and yellow sweet peppers are excellent sources of vitamin C, vitamin A, and beta-carotene, B-complex vitamins, potassium, and folic acid. Since they are low in calories and high in fiber, peppers are excellent foods to add to your weight-loss program. Due to the spices contained in peppers, they have a tendency to satisfy your taste buds early and aid in reducing your appetite.

Peppers contain antioxidants that help to prevent blood clots by decreasing the blood platelet's stickiness. This property can help to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Hot peppers contain higher quantities of antioxidants than sweet peppers. They also contain phyto-nutrients that help to prevent certain fonns of cancer. Hot peppers also contain an ingredient called capsaicin, which makes these peppers hot and spicy. This ingredient has anti-inflammatory properties and helps to relieve the pain of various fonns of arthritis and nerve inflammations. These capsaicinoids can cause eye irritation if transferred from your hands to your eyes, so be careful to wash your hands thoroughly after handling hot peppers.

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