5 seasonal vegetables you must eat in winters to lose weight and boost immunity
Winter veggies for weight loss
Keeping oneself warm is not the only challenging task in winters. The cold weather also makes us lazy, decreases our metabolism and increases the craving for unhealthy foods, all of which can slow down the weight loss process. While there is no alternative to physical inactivity, you can tackle your slow metabolism and craving by including more winter veggies in your diet.
Winter brings a whole lot of greens and nutritional value foods. These vegetables can keep you warm and add flavour to your food during this time of the year. Winterizing your diet can help you survive the cold weather by increasing your immunity and even help you shed kilos by boosting the metabolism. Here are 5 winter veggies that you must eat at this time of the year.
Carrot
Rich
in vitamin A, carrots are one of the healthiest and versatile winter
veggies. It is low in calories and rich in fiber, which can keep you
fuller for a longer time. You can make salads, smoothies or soup. There
are so many ways to include this amazing vegetable in your diet. The
root vegetable is also loaded with vitamin B, B2, B3, C, D, E and K and
beta-carotene. Including carrots in diet can contribute to better
vision, slow down the ageing process, prevent heart disease, healthier
skin, hair and nails.
Spinach
The
green leafy vegetable is loaded with iron, zinc and magnesium, vitamin
K, vitamin A. Having spinach daily in winters can boost your immunity,
help you build muscles, keep you energised and can even aid in losing
weight. It is low in calories, contains no fat and rich in fiber. You
can add a few leaves in your omelette, salad or can even make spinach
smoothies to curb the mid-day hunger.
Beetroot
Beets
contain a high amount of water and are low content. Both of these
properties are beneficial for weight loss. Studies even suggest that
having this root vegetable after the workout session can help in speedy
muscle recovery. The earthy and slightly bitter tasting beet can be
added in a salad or can be blended to make smoothies. It is rich in
vitamins A, B, and C, as well as potassium, iron and folate. It is a
great detoxifier, helps to manage the blood sugar level, cut down the
risk of obesity and heart diseases. Apart from this, it increases the
number of white blood cells (WBC), which helps to fight disease-causing
pathogens.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet
potatoes are a good source of protein, potassium, magnesium, calcium,
vitamin C, vitamin A and vitamin B6. Besides, it also contains
antioxidants like beta carotene and chlorogenic acid. The root vegetable
can make a perfect mid-meal snack when trying to lose weight. Dietary
fiber in it can reduce the level of hunger hormones and promotes
satiety, slows down digestion and improves blood sugar level. It also
contains resistant starch that keeps you fuller for a longer time,
preventing you from overeating and unhealthy munching. For weight loss,
one must only have baked or boiled sweet potatoes as they are low in
calories.
Turnips
Turnips belong to the cruciferous family, which contains some extremely healthy nutrients. The purple-and-white bulbs are packed with vitamins C and K, folate, potassium, fiber, calcium and cancer-fighting glucosinolates. The fiber content in it can help you feel fuller for longer and keep your blood sugar level in check. They are low in calories and can be easily included in the diet. You can make turnip soup, salad or can just roast them.