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When it comes to losing weight, many people turn to processed foods and fad diets in search of a quick fix. However, these options often do more harm than good in the long run. In contrast, real, unprocessed foods offer a multitude of benefits when it comes to shedding pounds and improving overall health. Today, we will go over why opting for real foods can help you lose weight and feel your best.
Fewer Calories
First and foremost, real foods are typically much lower in calories than their processed counterparts. This is because real foods are often less dense and contain more water and fiber, which can help you feel full and satisfied with fewer calories. For example, a serving of fresh strawberries may contain only 50 calories, while a serving of strawberry-flavored snack bars may contain upwards of 150 calories. By choosing the real food option, you can enjoy a larger portion size for fewer calories, which can help you stay on track with your weight loss goals.
More Nutritious (and Delicious!)
Who doesn’t want more nutritional “bang for their buck”, so to speak? Real foods are typically more nutrient-dense than processed foods. Nutrient density refers to the amount of essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients a food contains relative to its calorie content. Real foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins are packed with vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial compounds that support overall health and weight loss. On the other hand, processed foods are often stripped of these nutrients during manufacturing and may contain added sugars, sodium, and unhealthy fats that can contribute to weight gain and chronic diseases.
No Hard to Pronounce “Ingredients”
Sometimes, self-care is as easy as picking the right food. A huge benefit of real foods is that they are less processed and therefore contain fewer additives and preservatives. Many processed foods contain artificial flavors, colors, and other chemicals that can have negative effects on health and metabolism. By choosing real foods, you can avoid these potentially harmful additives and focus on nourishing your body with whole, natural ingredients, and rest easy knowing that you know everything you’re putting in your body.
Whole Foods are Good for The Whole Body
In addition to being low in calories and high in nutrients, real foods can also have a positive impact on metabolism and weight loss. For example, studies have shown that a diet rich in whole foods and low in processed foods can increase metabolism, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce inflammation in the body. These benefits can translate to improved weight loss and better overall health over time. Who wouldn’t want that?
Wide World of Flavor!
If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a million times. Variety is the spice of life! Natural foods offer a greater variety of flavors and textures than processed foods, which can help you enjoy your meals and feel satisfied after eating. When you eat real foods, you are more likely to experience the natural flavors and textures of each ingredient, which can enhance the pleasure of eating and reduce cravings for unhealthy processed foods.
Trust Your Gut
Sometimes, you’ve gotta go with your gut. And yours is probably telling you that you should pick natural foods, isn’t it? Real foods can also improve gut health and promote healthy digestion, which is important for weight loss. Real foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and probiotic-rich foods like yogurt and kefir contain prebiotics and probiotics that can support the growth of healthy gut bacteria. These bacteria can help break down food more efficiently, reduce inflammation in the gut, and even affect hormones related to appetite and weight regulation. By incorporating more real foods into your diet, you can promote a healthy gut microbiome and improve digestion, which can ultimately support weight loss efforts.
Curb Those Cravings
Real foods can also help reduce cravings for unhealthy processed foods and sugary snacks. Many processed foods contain high levels of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, which can stimulate the reward centers in the brain and lead to cravings and overeating. In contrast, real foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins can help stabilize blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, and promote feelings of fullness and satisfaction. By choosing real foods over processed options, you can reduce cravings for unhealthy foods and make it easier to stick to your weight loss goals.
Healthy Means Happy
In a happy coincidence, real foods can also help improve mental health and mood, which is important for overall well-being and weight loss. Research has shown that a diet rich in whole, unprocessed foods can improve mood, reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, and even promote better sleep. In contrast, a diet high in processed foods and unhealthy fats can have negative effects on mood and mental health. By choosing real, nutrient-dense foods, you can support your mental health and well-being, which can ultimately lead to better weight loss outcomes and a happier, healthier life.
Consult The Experts
Real, unprocessed foods offer a multitude of benefits when it comes to weight loss and overall health. By choosing whole, natural ingredients over processed and packaged foods, you can reduce your calorie intake, increase your nutrient intake, improve your metabolism, and enjoy a wider variety of flavors and textures. While it may take some effort to incorporate more real foods into your diet, the benefits are well worth it in the long run. So next time you’re faced with a choice between a processed snack and a real food option, choose the latter and feel good about nourishing your body with whole, natural ingredients. Seeking the help of weight loss professionals and nutritionists can greatly improve your chances of success in improving your health. A professional can help you create a personalized plan that takes into account your unique needs and goals. They can also provide you with the support and guidance you need to stay on track, and make safe, healthy lifestyle changes. At Olivera Weight Loss, this has been our mission for over 40 years. We have a team of experts that are here to help and guide you every step of the way. Taking care of your heart health is essential, and it’s easier than you think. Our team is still passionate about helping our patients live the healthier lifestyle they dream of and remains dedicated to providing you with the care, hope, and support you need to succeed. When you’re ready to start your journey to a healthier you, contact us to schedule a consultation.
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