Foods That Help You Slim Down
We all know some foods are less fattening than others, but did you know some can actually help you lose weight? These are known as negative-calorie foods, meaning your body burns more calories digesting them than they contain.
Whenever possible, choose seasonal produce — they’re cheaper, tastier, and healthier because they retain all their nutrients, texture, and aroma when freshly harvested.
Apple
Apples are highly recommended in summer. Composed of 85% water, they contain pectin, a soluble fiber that slows digestion and provides a natural feeling of fullness. They’re also rich in vitamins C and A.
Very low in calories, apples are perfect for snacking between meals or before lunch to help curb your appetite.
Apricots
Apricots are in season from early spring through late summer, making this the perfect time to enjoy them.
They are rich in provitamin A, vitamin C, and minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
High in beta-carotene, apricots help protect your skin from the sun and have antioxidant properties that may prevent cardiovascular disease.
Broccoli and Cauliflower
These veggies are great for weight loss thanks to their high fiber and water content, which helps you feel full and slows digestion.
Broccoli also contains compounds that may lower the risk of colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer.
It’s antioxidant-rich, boosts liver detoxification, supports cardiovascular health, and lowers cholesterol — effects that can last up to two weeks after eating.
Watermelon
Watermelon is the queen of summer — made up of nearly 95% water, it’s perfect for hydration during hot days.
La sandía es diurética, rica en antioxidantes, vitaminas A y C y minerales que son muy beneficiosos para nuestro corazón y para evitar la aparición de enfermedades.
Diuretic and rich in antioxidants, vitamins A and C, and heart-friendly minerals, watermelon helps relieve fatigue, muscle soreness, rheumatism, and promotes digestion due to its high fiber content.
Red Fruits
Strawberries, cherries, red plums, raspberries, cranberries, and blackberries are not only delicious — they offer powerful health benefits.
Las fresas tienen beneficios desintoxicantes, ayudan a combatir la anemia y son muy refrescantes a la hora de combatir el calor.
Las cerezas son ricas en betacarotenos, energéticas, depurativas y diuréticas, ayudando a eliminar toxinas y evitando la retención de líquidos.
Las ciruelas son muy conocidas por sus propiedades contra el estreñimiento y ayudan a regular la digestión.
Las frambuesas son muy ricas en vitamina C, con beneficios antioxidantes y nos ayudan a la hora de prevenir el cáncer.
Los arándanos rojos son especialmente ricos en antioxidantes y ayudan a prevenir enfermedades cardiovasculares, mejoran la circulación y combaten el colesterol.
Las moras están especialmente indicadas en casos de niveles altos de grasa en sangre, ya que ayudan a reducir el colesterol alto.
Strawberries have detoxifying benefits, help fight anemia, and are incredibly refreshing — especially useful when trying to beat the summer heat.
Cherries are rich in beta-carotene, provide energy, and have both cleansing and diuretic properties, helping to eliminate toxins and prevent fluid retention.
Plums are well known for their ability to relieve constipation and support regular digestion.
Raspberries are very rich in vitamin C, offer strong antioxidant properties, and help in preventing the development of cancer.
Cranberries are especially high in antioxidants and help prevent cardiovascular diseases, improve circulation, and combat high cholesterol levels.
Blackberries are particularly recommended for those with high levels of blood lipids, as they help reduce elevated cholesterol.
Cucumber
Cucumber is another food that provides a high amount of water, helping to hydrate the body and eliminate toxins. It is also highly versatile when combined with other ingredients in salads.
This summer vegetable offers a wide range of health benefits, especially due to its high water content.
Cucumber is extremely refreshing, very low in calories, and provides fiber, vitamins A, B, C, and E. It is also rich in minerals such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium — the latter two being particularly beneficial for the cardiovascular system as they help reduce blood pressure.
Cucumber is an excellent diuretic, helps flush out toxins from the body, supports the immune system, and delays skin aging.
Green beans
The best way to make the most of all the nutritional benefits of green beans is to steam them.
Green beans contain fiber, vitamins A, C, K, and B-complex, as well as minerals such as manganese, magnesium, iron, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. They also provide tryptophan, which helps regulate healthy serotonin levels in the brain.
Omega-3 fatty acids contribute to cardiovascular health, while vitamin C, beta-carotene, and manganese make green beans one of the vegetables with the highest antioxidant capacity — along with peas.
Lettuce
Composed mainly of water, lettuce contains almost no calories and provides vitamins, minerals, and alkaloids.
It is rich in vitamin A, C, E, B1, B2, B3, and beta-carotene.
In addition to its antioxidant properties, lettuce acts as a natural diuretic by stimulating the elimination of excess fluids from the body. This makes it highly beneficial for managing high blood pressure, kidney stones, cystitis, and also helps lower blood cholesterol levels.
It is best consumed fresh, as most of its nutrients are concentrated in the green leaves. You can also prepare a lettuce infusion by boiling 100 grams of lettuce in a liter of water for 15 minutes, letting it steep for 10 minutes, and then straining the liquid before drinking.
Onion
Besides being a staple in any kitchen, onion contains essential oils, B-complex vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids, and fiber.
While onion is best known for its diuretic properties — highly recommended for kidney failure, gout, kidney stones, or hypertension — it is also an expectorant, bactericide, and fungicide. Moreover, it helps reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
This is the perfect time of year to enjoy fresh salads that can be prepared quickly and provide us with all the hydration and nutrients we need during these hot summer days.
What are you waiting for? Start today!
