Going on a green veggie diet is a healthy way to lose weight. Green vegetables are chock full of nutrients, and some green vegetables are a good source of protein. Many green vegetables are so low in calories you can eat lots of them without putting on a pound. Partake in a green veggie diet if you want to lose weight, but get the approval of your doctor before doing so.
Significance
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you need to consume foods that contain fewer calories than you burn off if you want to slim down. Green veggies are a good choice, but you need to know more about a green veggie diet if you want to get the most out of it.
Features
Broccoli, broccoli rabe, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, green beans, kale, mustard greens, peas, romaine lettuce and Swiss chard contain calcium iron and vitamins A and C. Kale contains the most vitamin A, supplying as much as 180 percent of your daily value per ½-cup serving. Out of these 10 vegetables, cooked broccoli and Brussels sprouts supply you with the most vitamin C. All of these green vegetables contain protein, but peas give you the most, with 4 g per ½-cup serving. Except for broccoli rabe, you will find fiber in a 1-cup serving of these vegetables.
Benefits
In addition to helping you lose weight, a green veggie diet may help keep you healthy. According to the Center for Young Women's Health, research indicates dark green vegetables may offer protection against some cancers, and dark green vegetables may contribute to a healthy heart. Another benefit of a green veggie diet is you never feel hungry since you can eat large quantities of green vegetables on this diet.
Solution
Eat enough green veggies to fill you up at lease three times a day, and look for different ways to prepare green vegetables so you will not get tired of eating them. Stir fry broccoli in a tablespoon of olive oil and flavor it with a minced garlic clove. Steam fresh green beans and add grated ginger and soy sauce to the beans. Make a salad with romaine lettuce or spinach, and season the salad with a tablespoon of olive oil and lemon. You can also add one of the many fat-free salad dressings to your salad. Brussels sprouts taste good steamed and dressed with fat-free Italian dressing. Peas are tasty steamed, with nothing on them, but ½ tsp. of margarine may make them even more delicious.
Warning
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, certain foods cause the formation of gas, which can result in flatulence, distention of the abdomen, pain in the area of the abdomen and burping. Peas are one of those foods. Although this is not a problem everyone experiences, you may want to exclude peas from your green veggie diet, unless you have eaten peas before without any problem.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Fruit & Vegetable Benefits
- United States Department of Agriculture Team Nutrition: Cooking Tips
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Gas in the Digestive Tract
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Fruit & Vegetable of the Month
- Minnesota Department of Health: Side Dishes
- Center for Young Women's Health: Dark Green Leafy Vegetables
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