There are hundreds upon hundreds of diet plans in the market which promise speedy weight loss. Out of all these strategies only a few are effective and the rest are all but diet fads that offer short term results. The only scientifically proven way to lose weight and keep it off for good is to include whole foods in your daily meals. There are no shortcuts. Straight up healthy eating is key to effective weight loss.
What are whole foods?
Whole foods are basically unprocessed foods that can be consumed as is. These dietary food items have not undergone any type of refinement methods and processes. Fruits and vegetables are perfect examples of whole foods.
They can be eaten raw and without having the need to alter or modify them in any way. A unique feature of whole foods is that they can be eaten fresh. Tomatoes, strawberries, and vegetables can be plucked from the garden and eaten right away.
One benefit of eating whole foods is the fact that they are not stripped off of nutrients. Those that are grown using organic methods are safe and contain a handful of health benefits; that which cannot be found in produce that were grown with the aid of artificial fertilizers and pesticides.
Whole grains and raw foods
Whole grains are a good example of whole foods that should be a part of everyone’s meal plan. Aside from being healthy, they are also proven to facilitate fast and permanent weight loss. Obviously whole grains are natural products that include the entire grain kernel. The skin, bran, germ, and endosperm are not removed with the use of refinement. These components are left intact as they are proven to contain more nutrients than those found in processed grains. During the refinement process, the bran and germ layers are removed to improve the shelf life of grains.
Although this is deemed a benefit, the process of grain refinement strips off nutrients that aid in weight loss such as dietary fibers and vitamins and minerals. Although most refined grains are enriched with vitamins and minerals, the fiber content remains low as this component is difficult to replicate and manufacture.
What makes whole grains healthy?
Due to their raw and pure nature, whole grains are filled with nutrients and dietary fibers. Whole grains are perfect examples of low-energy density foods. They contain minimal calories but are highly-dense with nutrients as well.
Low-energy density food consumption provides that feeling of fullness or satiety, thus making it less likely for you to crave and go hungry for a long while. You feel fuller on fewer calories when you regularly consume whole grains. This perfectly coincides with the weight loss rule of low calorie intake in order for the body to utilize the stored fat as energy source.