Rachel Macharia

7 Best Fruits for Weight Loss Struggling to fit into that sleek pair of skintight jeans you bought a while back? Almost everyone you know has at some point in their life needed to shed a kilo…or four. ‘You are what you eat’ is a well-known slogan. To lose weight, you need to consume fewer calories than your body uses, eat healthily, and exercise regularly. However, did you know that eating certain fruits could help you attain your weight loss goals faster? These fruits have low calories and contain fiber that is very filling thus curb your craving for unhealthy snacks. Read on to discover the best fruits to add to your diet to attain your desired weight. 1. Watermelons Does following a weight loss diet leave you feeling hungry? Reach for a slice of low-calorie watermelon for a low-sugar healthy snack. Watermelons are 92% water which makes them hydrate the body well, leaving you feeling full. They are nutrient-packed, refreshing, fat-busters. High in fiber, they aid your body in flushing out toxins thus promote good digestive health. They also keep you feeling full longer hence reduce your food cravings and help you stick to your diet. Finally, they reduce muscle soreness making them ideal post-exercise snacks. 2. Grapefruits Considered weight-loss superfoods, grapefruits are some of the best fat burning fruits available. Low-calorie and highly nutritious, they may reduce cholesterol and insulin levels which could lead to weight loss. They have high water content and could lower blood sugar resulting in weight loss. This plus their high fiber leave you sated for long, minimizing your urge for processed food. Grapefruits are also low-calorie hence suitable for weight loss. They have a low glycemic index (GI) thus slowly release sugar into the bloodstream. This may aid in weight management. 3. Berries Strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries are low-calorie superfoods that are rich in vitamins and minerals and may help lower cholesterol. Known to be excellent detoxifiers and bowel cleansers, a small handful is enough for you to reap these benefits. Berries are high in fiber, low in carbs, and may improve blood sugar and insulin levels. The high fiber helps in weight loss through reduced calorie intake. Berries also aid in digestion besides helping to eliminate extra fat. They increase your metabolic rate, fight cholesterol, and insulin resistance. Add them to your smoothies, pancakes or oatmeal for a delicious taste! 4. Apples Hailed as the best snack, apples are delicious, filling, crunchy, and easy to carry. They are also low in calories besides a high fiber content that helps you avoid unwholesome snacking. According to a 2017 review, including apples in your diet could help with weight loss. Therefore, apples are the most ideal fruit to include in your weight loss diet. Composed mainly of water, apples are best consumed whole. This allows you to get more fiber as well as manage your blood sugar better. They are also high in pectin, which feeds your gut bacteria, improves digestion and may help lower cholesterol. 5. Pears Craving something to bite? Grab a pear and consume its skin too and you will feel surprisingly full. Pears’ fiber content is higher than most fruits and controls your appetite thus supports your weight loss goals. They may lower cholesterol and stabilize energy levels hence minimize your risk of getting type 2 diabetes and heart diseases. Additionally, they cleanse the body and aid digestion. Since they consist of 84% water, they help soften solid wastes and help flush out toxins. Pears could also prevent weight gain since they create a feeling of satiety thus help to manage food cravings. 6. Kiwis Packed with fibre and a wide range of health benefits, Kiwis are very nutritious weight-loss superfoods. They contain black seeds which are an excellent source of insoluble fiber thus aid digestion. Additionally, plenty of soluble fibre exists in the tasty green part and this promotes satiety and lessens your appetite. Moreover, they support gut health, can help control blood sugar and improve cholesterol— all beneficial to weight loss. A natural laxative, kiwis stimulate movement of your digestive tract and help you lose water weight temporarily. Though they contain sugar, their low GI ensures that it’s released gradually and this leads to smaller blood sugar spikes. 7. Papaya And then there’s papaya, perfect for weight loss due to the enzyme papain along with fibre which enhance food digestion. Papayas help eliminate constipation and lessen bloating, thus aid digestion as well as make you feel more comfortable and lighter. They are great fat burners and help with poor digestion, skin damage, heart health, and acute inflammation. Also known to have anti-cancer properties, they lower cholesterol by preventing its build-up since they are high in fibre, vitamin C and antioxidants. Papayas are sweet but low in sugar and can be eaten ripe or added raw to meat as a natural tenderiser. Wrapping Up Fruits are nature's convenient snacks brimming with vitamins, fiber, and nutrients. They support a wholesome diet and may promote weight loss by decreasing your calorie intake. Opt for whole fruits over sugary fruit juice or dried fruits. Follow these tips for a sure path to your ideal weight!