1. Will Eating Fewer Vegetables Help Me Lose Weight?
Diets that restrict or eliminate all carbohydrates in the early stage of a weight loss program, do so to place the body in ketosis, where the body starts to digest muscle tissue. This is known as the catabolic stage, as opposed to anabolic, or building stage.
2. What Works For Permanent Weight Loss?
For long-term weight loss, one wants to preserve as much lean muscle tissue as possible. This is best done by following a diet of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, low-fat proteins, high fiber, whole grains, and unsaturated fats. High-protein diets that restrict or ban carbohydrates from grains, fruits, and vegetables are hard to sustain and some studies suggest a high-protein diet can leach calcium from
bones.
3. Most Americans Eat One Vegetable A Day
The American Heart Assn. recommends that most adults strive to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day to receive the variety of vitamins, minerals and fiber these foods provide. For those interested in a weight loss plan, it is acceptable to initially restrict your diet to low-carb, low-sugar vegetables. However, during the maintenance phase, you should resume eating other vegetables.
4. What Vegetables Are Low In Sugar?
Alfalfa sprouts
Asparagus
Avocado
Bamboo sprouts
Bean sprouts
Beet greens
Bell pepper (sweet green)
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage -- all kinds
Carrot
Cauliflower
Celeriac (celery root, knob celery)
Celery
Collard greens
Cucumber
Dandelion greens
Eggplant
Endive
Escarole
Garlic (1 clove)
Kale
Leek
Lettuce -- all kinds
Mung bean sprouts
Mushroom
Mustard greens
Okra
Onion (1 oz.)
Radish
Red-leaf chicory (Arugula)
Romaine (cos)
Shallot
Spaghetti squash
Spinach
Squashes -- summer
String bean
Swiss chard
Tomato
Turnip greens
Watercress
Zucchini
5. What Vegetables Are High In Sugar?
Why are carrots listed in both categories? Carrot juice is high in sugars (about 5 gm), while
cooked carrots are low (about 3 gm).
Beets
Carrots (depends on diet)
Corn
Parsnips
Peas
Plantains
Potatoes in all forms
Winter Squashes (particularly acorn and butternut)
Even if you were to live dangerously and eat corn and peas in one day, it should not spell
disaster. French fries are another story.
