A Quick Road to Losing Weight

In this day and age, it is essential to maintain a healthy diet. With so many health-related issues surfacing every single day, checking what we eat has become a priority. Adding to this, the present-day hype about building a fitness regime and getting in shape has raised a very important question, ‘What are the essential foods for a low-calorie diet?’

What is a Calorie?

In the general sense, the term calorie means the amount of energy a food item holds. It helps the human body perform upon consumption of the said food item. However, if the amount of energy consumed is more than the amount required and burned by the body, it gets stored. This excess turns into what is commonly known as body fat resulting in weight gain.

Concept of Dieting:

It refers to the act of consumption of food in a controlled fashion to alter body weight. It is aimed to either increase or decrease body weight based on the needs of the person. A low-calorie diet measures the intake of food containing high calories based on the needs of the body. It can help in cutting back on 500 to 1000 calories per day. A low-calorie diet can be followed for several reasons. Doctors often prescribe a low-calorie diet to patients suffering from serious heart conditions. Apart from this, it also helps in combating diabetes, obesity, and many more issues.

Following a dietary regime can be very difficult, especially for beginners. Starting a diet can leave you craving for more. But worry not, for there is a whole bunch of low-calorie healthy food available out there that can make you feel satisfied.

Vegetables

A list of low-calorie vegetables that can be consumed raw.

1.  Lettuce– Amidst easily available leafy vegetables, a cup of shredded lettuce contains only 5 calories. It comprises 29% proteins, 65% carbs, and only 6% fat, thus making it a perfect ingredient for a salad.
2.  Cucumber– Cucumber might not be the tastiest food, but it is healthy. Studies have shown that there are 16 calories in one cup of raw cucumber. These calories include 16% protein, 79% carbs, and only 5% fat. Moreover, cucumber has a very high-water content making it an ideal low-calorie food.
3.  Radish– Another vegetable that can be consumed raw is radishes. A single cup of radish contains a minimum of 19 calories, out of which 17% is protein, 78% is carbs, and 6% is fat.
4.  Cabbage– Cabbage is available in every nook and corner of the world. It is classified into several types, but on average, a cup of cabbage holds approximately 22 calories. A Napa cabbage is slightly different and contains only 13 calories, out of which 27% is protein, 60% is carbs, and 13% is fat.

A list of vegetables can be cooked and added to a low-calorie diet.

1.  Mushrooms– Some people consider mushrooms as edible fungi, while others say they are vegetables. Either way, mushrooms are considered highly beneficial in a weight loss regime. There are several types but the classic white button mushroom has very low-calorie content. Studies have shown that a single cup of stir-fried white button mushroom has around 28 calories, out of which 42% is protein, 48% is carbs, and 9% is fat.
2.  Eggplant– Commonly known as Aubergines, they are available worldwide, containing high fiber and low-calorie count. One cup of boiled eggplant without salt holds only 35 calories. With 8% protein, 88% carbs, and 5% fat, this makes an excellent ingredient for tasty low-calorie dishes.
3.  Tomato– Tomatoes are something that can be added to any food or can be consumed raw. The best part is that one cup has only 43 calories, where 19% is protein, 76% is carbs, and only the remaining 5% is fat.
4.  Pumpkin– Another major contributor to steady weight loss is pumpkin. One boiled cup of this member of the squash family contains approximately 49 calories. Out of this, 13% is protein, 83% is carbs, and 4% is fat.

Fruits

Like vegetables, the consumption of fruits is also part of a healthy diet. Below is a list of some of the easily available low-calorie fruits.

Conclusion

There are many vegetables and fruits available to choose from in every part of the world to maintain stable body weight. However, consulting a nutritionist is always the best course of action to find a low-calorie diet that suits you.