Struggling to lose those extra inches around your belly? Don't feel alone, there are a million others like you. From crash diets to endless hours in the gym, there are many ways in which people approach cutting down on their belly fat. Here's a secret; starving yourself would not help. Fad and crash diets are also not as effective in most cases. According to experts and nutritionists around the world, a healthy balanced diet coupled with regular exercise is the most effective and sustainable way to shed belly fat. Experts also never fail to acknowledge the value of fruits in an ideal weight loss plan. You can have them blended in smoothies, toss them up in salads, sneak them in sandwiches, but the best way to seek maximum weight loss benefits from fruits is to have them seasonal, raw and fresh. Why do you ask? Because of their great range of fibres that aid weight loss.
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Here are 9 fruits that could prove to be your best friend in this weight loss journey
1. Peach
Peaches are rich in dietary fibre. A 100-gram serving of peaches contains 1.6 grams of fibre. Fibre delays digestion. Fibre adds bulk to the stool thereby facilitating smoother bowel movement and digestion. Healthy digestion is essential to fire up metabolism that triggers weight loss. Fibre also helps the body stay fuller for longer. A 100-gram serving of peaches contains only 39 calories, which further makes it one of the best low-calorie fruits to add to your diet.
2. Apple
An apple a day may help keep belly fat away too. Apples are rich in dietary fibre, flavonoids and beta-carotene. All of these help in keeping your belly feel full and prevent overeating and cravings. Abundantly loaded with pectin fibre, the soluble fibre, draws water from your digestive tract and forms a gel, helping to slow digestion and pushing stool through your intestines smoothly, thereby aiding both digestion and weight loss.
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Apples are rich in dietary fibre, flavonoids and beta-carotene
Tomatoes encourage the production of the amino acid called Carnitine, which is an organic molecule that plays an important role in the regulation of fatty acid and energy metabolism. Tomatoes also have a compound known as 9-oxo-ODA that helps reduce lipids in blood, which further helps in preventing weight gain and belly fat.
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4. Pineapple
Pineapples too are rich in weight-loss-friendly fibres. It contains an enzyme called bromelain, which has anti-inflammatory properties. This enzyme helps in metabolizing proteins that help cut down belly fat.
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5. Strawberries
A bowlful of strawberries may prove very instrumental in shedding belly fat. The rich quantum of fibre present in strawberries, not only regulates digestion but can also help in controlling type 2 diabetes, since fibre helps the blood to absorb sugar, this in turn could also assist your weight loss plans. You can use them to top your cereals or even blend them in smoothies.
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6. Watermelon
Did you know that 94 percent of watermelon is just water? Watermelon is also a negative calorie fruit, which refers to a fruit that tends to burn more calories during digestion than adding in. So what are you waiting for? Have it alone, juice it, add it in smoothies and say bye-bye to belly fat.
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7. Avocados
Avocados are also packed with fibre which keeps you full for longer and curbs cravings. Avocados make for one of the best sources of monounsaturated fatty acids, which are good for your heart health too. They are an ideal superfood for a 'low-carb high-fat' ketogenic diet. In a carb-based diet, carbs are converted into glucose and this is what the body will use as its primary fuel source. The principle of ketogenic diet is to make your body get into and stay in a glycogen deprived state and maintain a mild state of ketosis, where-in its starts burning fats for energy.
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8. Oranges
Orange has zero fat, is low in calories and is a rich source of anti-oxidants, which makes it one of the best weight-loss friendly fruits. It is advisable to have whole fruit over juice, to make most of its fibre content.
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9. Kiwi
Kiwi can do wonders for digestion. The fruit contains an enzyme known as actinidain, which is known for its protein dissolving properties. It helps in the digestion of proteins in the body and is also known to help patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. Good digestion is rather intimately tied with weight loss. Poor digestion would mean that the body is finding it hard to break down the foods. A poor digestion would also mean that the nutrients from the food are not being optimally utilised, which can severely affect our body's metabolism.
Load up on these fruits and see the results for yourself.