Vegan diets, also known as plant-based diets, consists of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and whole grains. These foods tend to be rich in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Only a few items like coconuts, avocadoes, olives and nuts are high in fat and should be eaten in moderation for weight loss, but there are three vegan foods that actually promote rapid weight loss.
1. Matcha Green Tea
Matcha green tea is a powdered form of green tea in which the whole leaf is ground up and mixed with warm water to form a smooth frothy liquid. It is high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and can promote detoxification, better digestion and blood sugar regulation.
It’s also high in epigallocatechin gallate, (or EGCG) which increases the body's thermogenesis or fat burning capacity. The rich chlorophyll content in matcha acts as a natural detoxifier to cleanse body toxins and it has 80 times more antioxidants than green spinach.
Matcha also gives a “relaxed alertness” or an “alert calm” as it has the rare amino acid, L-Theanine, which has a relaxing effect in addition to the stimulant, caffeine. The caffeine also acts as a diuretic to remove excess water stored in the body.
2. Green Leafy Vegetables
Green leafy like spinach, kale, lettuce, cabbage, mustard green, and collard greens contain compounds called thylakoids. The thylakoids in these foods reduce the feeling of hunger and our carvings to eat. It also affects the hormones that are related to satiety and helps to maintain blood sugar levels to give steady clean energy.
Green leafy vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients that help to reduce blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Consume green leafy vegetables in salads or sautéed in olive oil as a side dish or toss them into a morning smoothie.
3. Berries
Berries have multifunctional benefits in weight loss. They are rich in fiber, have a high water content and are full of antioxidants. The fiber gives a feeling of fullness and keeps the colon healthy. The water content is good for hydration and again for satiety and the antioxidants reduce belly fat and lower cholesterol. Berries also activate leptin, a fat-burning hormone, that suppresses appetite and increases the body’s metabolism.
Strawberries, blueberries, acai berries, goji berries, blackberries, and raspberries each have their unique compounds that help reduce body weight. From enzymes that trigger fat burning processes to antioxidants that boost the body’s metabolism by reducing free radicals, berries have a huge nutritional impact.
Furthermore, raspberries are distinctly beneficial to weight loss as they have a unique compound called ketones which is powerful in lipolysis, a fat breaking process.
These three vegan foods are a great source of nutrients that help reduce body weight naturally without any side effects. Besides being delicious, they also improve immunity and can prevent against certain diseases. The easiest way to enjoy these three foods is to blend them up as a smoothie. Add some banana for sweetness and hemp seed for a complete protein and some good fats and you’ll be set! Enjoy these foods and watch the pounds melt away.
Written by: Erika Long
