It is not surprising that obesity rose at the same time when processed foods had become available. There is no doubt that you can enjoy a lot of convenience due to highly processed foods, but they are laden with calories, put you at risk of various diseases and are low in nutrients. In contrast, real foods are the healthier option and can help you shed weight. These are single-ingredient foods that are rich in minerals and vitamins, do not have chemical additives and are mostly unprocessed. Some of them include fruits and vegetables, whole eggs, unprocessed meat, brown rice and salmon.
Every food group comprises of real foods that you can add to your diet when you want to lose weight. Some of the top reasons they can help you achieve your goal are.
They are nutritious
There are numerous minerals and vitamins in unprocessed, whole plant and animal foods and they are great for your health. In comparison, processed foods tend to be low in micronutrients and increase the risk of diseases. Processed foods can also slowdown the weight loss process because they do not provide enough iron, thereby affecting your ability to exercise. Moreover, when your diet is low in nutrients, you will not be able to lose weight because it makes you feel less full. In order to increase your nutrient intake, you should eat real foods.
They are loaded with protein
The most important nutrient you need for losing weight is protein. It boosts your metabolism, reduces your hunger and affects the production of hormones that help in losing weight. As real foods are not heavily processed, they are a better source of protein. A number of essential amino acids can become harder to digest because of food processing. Whole sources of protein are low in calories and high in protein and this makes them good for fat loss.
They don’t contain refined sugar
There is a world of difference between refined sugar and natural sugars in fruits and vegetables. While the latter contain natural sugar, they also have nutrients like vitamins, fiber and water that are needed for a balanced diet. Refined sugars are the ones added to processed foods and they are higher in calories and offer fewer health benefits. In addition, they do not do much to keep you full and increase the hunger hormone that makes you snack more. Thus, it is better to go with real foods because they do not contain refined sugar.
They are higher in soluble fiber
There are numerous health benefits of soluble fiber, one of which is aiding in weight loss. It forms a thick gel when it mixes with the water in your gut and this reduces your appetite because the movement of food is slowed down. Soluble fiber also has an impact on the production of hormones that help in managing hunger. It also boosts the production of hormones that keep you feeling full. There is more soluble fiber in real foods than processed foods, making them a better option.
