Eating fruit can be very good for you in many respects. Fruits and vegetables contain the nutrients that our bodies need to function properly and repair damaged tissues. Not only that, but these foods also fill you up while being low in calories, making fruits a great option if you are trying to lose weight.
Benefits of Eating Fruit for Weight Loss
You don’t need special foods or a restrictive diet to lose weight. Buying foods that are designed to aid in weight loss – including foods that follow a specific diet regimen – can be pricy and impossible to maintain long-term.
Fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, can become a daily habit. They are affordable, accessible and sustainable for any lifestyle.
By eating more whole foods, specifically fruits, you can achieve your weight loss goals.
Here are a few of the great reasons to incorporate more fruit into your diet if you want to drop some pounds:
Fruit is low in calories, but it is high in nutrients and antioxidants.
You get a major payoff for your overall health and weight loss goals without consuming tons of extra calories. Processed foods fill you up, but due to the abundance of carbohydrates and calories in processed foods, you won’t see weight loss results. Most fruits are low calorie compared to other quick snacks, and some fruits, like berries, are proven to help prevent cancer and reduce signs of aging.
Fruit has high water content, so it hydrates you and fills you up.
You get some of your water intake from the foods you eat as well as the liquid you consume. If drinking enough water each day is hard for you, this is a major benefit. Melons are known for high water content, which can make you feel full and provide your body with valuable fiber, without needing to drink a gallon of water every day.
Fruit’s sweet taste of fruit can satisfy your sweet tooth.
This means you won’t crave sugary snacks as often. You may even find after a while that you don’t crave sweets as much and actually prefer the natural sweetness of fruits. If you struggle with cutting down on sweet treats when you are trying to lose weight, reach for fruit instead of candy or a baked treat.
Fruit is a great snack to tide you over until your next meal.
A big part of why many people’s weight loss goals fail is because they feel deprived. If you always feel free to snack on fruits, you won’t have a chance to get hungry and binge on foods you shouldn’t. Of course, you do need to practice portion control, as with any other food, but fruit is a much better option that chips or cookies.
When is the best time to eat fruits for weight loss?
There is no best time to eat fruit. Treat yourself anytime to enjoy all the benefits above, in addition to meeting your weight loss goals.
You should be more concerned about keeping your calorie intake lower than your output. This is a caloric deficit, and it’s the only reliable way to lose weight. Fad and restrictive diets don’t work because they are hard to maintain, as are the results gained from them.
The most reasonable way for most people to diet is to find their optimal caloric deficit and try to achieve those numbers each day.
With that said, replacing a meal (like breakfast) or a dessert with fruit is an excellent time to eat fruit because it saves calories while still allowing you to feel full and satisfied. Fruit is also a great snack between meals.
Which fruits should be avoided for weight loss (if any)?
Fruits are generally healthy, and all can be enjoyed in moderation if you are trying to meet a weight loss goal.
There are a few things to be mindful of, though:
Avocados – Avocados very satisfying and perfectly fine in moderation. However, they are high in calories, so unless you need to incorporate more healthy fats, eating a lot of avocado isn’t going to help you lose weight.
Dried fruits – Dried fruits don’t have any water content, which is one of the main benefits of eating fresh fruit. You’ll also be eating less volume for the same amount of calories (or more). In addition, commercially dehydrated fruits can have tons of added sugar, but if you dehydrate fruits yourself, you won’t have to worry about added sugars.
Mangos, bananas and grapes – All of these fruits are rich in nutrients and can help you lose weight, but they should be consumed with caution because they have higher sugar, calorie and carbohydrate counts that other fruits. But if they keep you full, a little won’t hurt!
Is it good to eat fruits at night?
Absolutely! You can eat fruit any time of the day or night as long as you maintain a caloric deficit.
Those who fight cravings at night, after a full day of eating right and exercising, can stay on track for the day by snacking on an apple, a small bowl of mixed fruit, or citrus fruits.
As with any other food, the later you eat, the more your body has to work overnight to process this food, but it’s better to have something light and healthy than a snack that is heavy, greasy or high in sugar.
