When low-carb diets become popular, fruit was shunned along with other high-carbohydrate foods like oats and sweet potatoes. But while it’s true that fruit is high in carbohydrates, it’s also true that certain fruits can help you lose weight, rather than preventing weight loss. As long as you’re not overdoing it, fruit can be an essential part of your weight loss plan.
Apple
We’ll start with the apple because it’s in season. Plus, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ve heard the old adage “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. In addition to their vast health benefits, apples contain a lot of fiber. This fills you up faster, keeps you full longer, and boosts your metabolism. Most of the fiber is in the apple’s skin, so try not to peel before eating.
Grapefruit
Several studies show that eating half of a fresh grapefruit before meals helps boost weight loss and reduces visceral fat, the type of belly fat that’s the most problematic. Grapefruit can also help balance your blood sugar levels and reduce insulin resistance, a metabolic condition that can progress into Type 2 Diabetes. Specifically, ruby red grapefruit contains lycopene, a phytochemical that can reduce your risk of developing heart disease.
Tart Cherries
A study done by the University of Michigan reported that rats that ate tart cherries over a period of 12 weeks showed a 9 percent greater reduction in belly fat than rats who didn’t consume the cherries. Tart cherries can also change the way your fat genes express themselves.
Berries
Raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries contain lots of polyphenols. These are antioxidant substances that help you lose weight and also stop fat from forming. In a study done by Texas Woman’s University, mice that ate 3 servings of berries per day experienced a 73 percent decrease in the formation of fat compared to mice who didn’t eat any berries.
Stone Fruits
“Stone fruit” is the name for any fruit that contains a large pit in the center. Examples of stone fruits include plums, peaches, and nectarines. Stone fruits can help prevent metabolic syndrome, the name for a group of symptoms (high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess visceral fat, and high cholesterol levels), which increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. The polyphenols in stone fruits affect the way fat genes express themselves, which reduces belly fat.
