When you’re trying to lose weight, its essential to consume protein—yet it’s just as important to get the macronutrients your body needs to build lean muscle and be as healthy as you can be. These are the vitamins and minerals that your body can’t produce on its own but requires to function properly, which means they must come from your diet or supplements. The good news is, you can get them from an array of fruits and vegetables.
Our medical weight loss doctor recommends incorporating some of the following veggies into your diet to get closer to your weight loss goal while boosting your overall health.
1. Kale. There’s a reason this green leafy veggie is trending so hard—it’s loaded in vitamins A, C and K, a fat-soluble nutrient that helps proteins bond to calcium ions. It’s also rich in dietary fiber, so it helps satiate your hunger, and is an excellent source of other vitamins and minerals, including potassium, copper, manganese, calcium, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B6.
2. Spinach. This veggie’s rich color means it’s loaded in phytochemicals and nutrients that help reduce inflammation and build lean muscle. It’s rich in dietary fiber, so it fills us up, and packed with important nutrients including iron, calcium and vitamins A, E and K.
3. Brussels Sprouts. This cruciferous vegetable packs a serious nutrient punch, with fiber to promote healthy digestion and nutrients that contain sulfur to boost the body’s detoxification processes. These flavorful little veggies are also good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, minerals including folate, copper and manganese, and vitamins including B6, C and K.
4. Artichokes. These babies are surprisingly loaded with dietary fiber and minerals such as iron, potassium, calcium and copper. They are one of the best veggie sources of vitamin K and also contain strong levels of immunity-boosting vitamin C.
5. Broccoli. This leafy green is one of the most nutritious of them all—one cup contains more than the RDA of both vitamin C and K, in addition to high contents of nutrients including calcium, potassium and selenium.
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