We all know that eating a diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables is extremely important for overall health, and that’s why produce is a big part of Svelte’s program for weight loss in Orlando. But did you know that consuming red and other dark-colored produce may provide some help when it comes to maintaining, and even losing, weight? Read on for details on an interesting new study.
It’s All About the Flavonoids
Flavonoids are natural compounds found in plants that help with things such as plant cell communication and the creation of plant color. According to a new study published by The BMJ, people who consume a diet rich in flavonoid-heavy foods tend to gain less weight over time.
In this study, researchers looked at data pertaining to diet, exercise, and other lifestyle factors of over 124,000 people who were middle aged and older. They found that those who ate diets rich in foods with a high amount of flavonoids maintained their weight better than people who didn’t, and some even lost a bit of weight.
Flavonoid-Rich Foods
There are a variety of flavonoid-rich foods – including bananas, strawberries, pears, grapes, onions, and peppers – all providing health benefits. But this study found that those foods containing a certain kind of flavonoid, anthocyanins, worked best in regards to weight maintenance and small amounts of weight loss. Anthocyanins are found in red and darker-colored produce such as strawberries, cherries, blackberries, blueberries, and grapes.
Flavonoid polymers, found in tea and apples, were also associated with people gaining less weight over time.
What Does This Mean?
While eating flavonoid-rich foods won’t result in a significant amount of weight loss, they can be helpful for maintaining a healthy weight over the course of your life, something that becomes more and more important as we age since most adults tend to slowly gain weight as they get older.
Maintaining weight over your lifetime is a critical part of a healthy lifestyle because being overweight increases your risk for chronic illnesses and can decrease your lifespan. So eat your fruits and vegetables, and be sure to include plenty of dark-colored ones as part of your regular diet.
Need help with your weight loss in Orlando to achieve a healthy lifestyle? Contact Svelte Weight Loss Center online, or call 407-804-5200, and we will be happy to help you start on your path to health.