Fruit is one of the most healthy and natural foods in existence. There are thousands of different types of fruit available to eat, all of which provide us with strong health benefits. Fruit contains a large number of naturally occurring vitamins, minerals and plant photochemical that help benefit health. It has also been shown that eating the whole fruit or juice is best to gain the benefits rather than taking supplements to provide each nutrient separately.

High levels of fruits, vegetables, greens and beans help you lose weight because they are low in calories, high in volume and high in critically important nutrients. On a very practical level they fill you up, without loading you up with fat and calories. And when your stomach is filled up with high volume, low calorie food, there is less room for other stuff. There is also a growing body of evidence that shows that plant-based foods help to control food cravings and overeating.

They are nutrient dense, which simply means they are packed with all sorts of good things for you, which is something most of us know. But what is new is the idea that a diet very high (much more than the recommended 5 servings a day) can help turn off our cravings for processed foods.

Another helpful food to eat in the aiding of weight loss is citrus fruits. The science behind this theory is that citrus fruits contain the essential fat fighter Vitamin C. We’ve always known vitamin C is a highly effective anti-oxidant but it can actually help to dissolve and liquefy fat to mobilize it and then rid it out of the body.

An uncommonly talked about and eaten fruit is the exotic papaya. Maybe it should be reconsidered since the weight loss secret lies in the skin of this unripe fruit. The skin contains a popular enzyme named papain. This enzyme, commonly used as a meat tenderizer, has also been used as a diet supplement for its effective aid in digestion. They can short circut the food addiction cycle, and help provide a jolt to your weight loss efforts.

Your Diet May Be Balanced- But Are You?

The average American diet is roughly 8% fruits, vegetables and beans. We are told to eat 5 or more portions a day, but to get real impact on your weight or health, you need to radically and dramatically increase daily intake, and put a special focus on green vegetables like spinach, broccoli and salad. Often what keeps us from doing this is that we are told to pursue a balanced diet and to eat sensibly. But what if your body is out of balance and overweight? In order to attain balance, might we need to pursue an unbalanced diet where we simply invert the ratios of fruits and vegetables in relation to everything else?

Why Fruits Fight Food Cravings:

Our body is really smart, and often sends us signals. Hunger is a big signal. It is your own body telling you to eat. If you have ever been pregnant (or known someone who has!) you are familiar with peculiar food cravings. It is the same thing with your body and nutrients. Your body is looking for specific nutrients and is not getting them in nutrient poor processed foods, and anything marked low fat or low carb. So you eat and you eat and you eat but the body still hasn’t gotten what it needs. It’s still looking for the nutrients available in fruits and vegetables. Learning to listen to your body will be a skill you develop as you log daily on Peer trainer or take part in our free coaching program. You will begin to see how you feel in relation to what you eat. You can test these ideas on yourself.

Best Fruits for Weight Loss:

Some fruits are more appropriate than others for weight loss. The best fruits for snacking are the most water-rich, like watermelon and honeydew. The high water content and low-calorie combination is great for combating mild hunger. The best fruits for satiety, on the other hand, include nutrient-dense and calorie-dense fruits like bananas and avocados. Bananas also have more calories than other fruits, but they contain a good combination of sugar and fiber: The body can turn sugar into energy instantly, and fiber burns the simple sugar at a slower rate.

What Fruits Speed Up Weight Loss?

There is a growing body of evidence that shows that not all fruits and vegetables are created equally. Certain fruits and vegetables contain more nutrients per calorie than others, and these nutrients help your body do what it needs and wants to. When your body is getting what it needs, you are going to feel better physically. And you just may feel better emotionally. The absolute best vegetables to help speed up weight loss are green vegetables- Collard Greens, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Cabbage.

If you are in a Chinese restaurant, pay very close attention to the vegetables they serve. And get in the habit of eating them. If you want to lose weight quickly, you need to eat a ton of these vegetables every day and start to get a sense of your portion sizes. Other things that will help you lose weight quickly are Romaine Lettuce, Vegetable Juice, Boston Lettuce, Carrot Juice, Tomato Sauce and Red and Green Peppers. If it grows, eat a LOT of it!!

Apples, Pears & Bananas:

I launched the fruit fasting effort with apples, pears and bananas. They were cheap and were just grab and eat which was convenient. I went to the supermarket and bought enough to last me a week, threw away all the junk from the refrigerator and pantry, and started fruit fasting. My friends thought I had gone nuts and constantly tried to make me break the fast, lest I get sick and die. I didn’t care. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired and was determined to give this a change. What about you, are you willing?

Potential Health Benefits of Eating Fruits:

• Potential for weight control
• More energy for exercising
• Reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases
• Reduced risk of developing cancers
• Lower blood pressure
• Potential to lower cholesterol
• Reduced change of developing type 2 diabetes
• Potential to slow down age process

Gaining the Benefits by Eating More Fruit:

It can be quite easy to slip 5 pieces of fruit into the diet. Here are some tips.

• Add dried fruit to breakfast cereal
• Prepare fruit salads to last few days
• Eat apple before leaving for work
• Eat small piece 30 minutes before / after light workout
• Drink more fruit juices
• Find recipes that contain fruit
• Always have a bowl of fruit in or near T.V

Easy Tricks for Weight Loss with Fruits:

• We know you’d rather order the cheesecake, but we’ve come up with a fair compromise. Many restaurants serve fruit dishes with a tasty indulgence like a sugar cookie, a scoop of sorbet or a selection of cheeses on the side.
• Feast away on apple slices throughout the day, and you’ll be less tempted to hit up the vending machine to satisfy your sweet tooth.
• Are late-night ice cream cravings your diet downfall? Snack on frozen grapes instead. They’re sweet, crunchy and cold and they’ll make you forget about the pint of Ben & Jerry’s in your freezer.
• When eating at fast-food chains, order a fruit cup instead of fries.
• Doughnuts and bagels may be the usual morning snack at work, but wow your colleagues with a parfait of frozen berries, yogurt and low-fat granola.
• If you usually eat chips with your lunchtime sandwich, try eating grapefruit instead. Peel and section a grapefruit in the morning before you go to work, and toss it in a plastic zipper bag.
• Jazz up your breakfast by tossing a handful of berries on cold cereal or adding sliced peaches to oatmeal.
• Need to whip up a tasty dinner party dish? Try making a fruity dessert. Slice strawberries and mix with raspberries and blueberries. Top with a quick syrup: Simmer 1/2 cup water with 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon amaretto until reduced to 1/4 cup. Cool and pour over the fruit for an out-of-this-world dessert dish.
• Appetizers can be a dieter’s downfall, packed with calories and loaded with fat. Amaze your friends with a delicious, colorful and low-calorie fruit kabob appetizer. Cut a variety of fruit to skewer on a bamboo stick, including red and green grapes, pineapple chunks, strawberries, sliced bananas, cubed pears the sky is the limit! If preparing in advance, drizzle the fruit with lemon juice to prevent the bananas and pears from turning brown.
• Keep a bowl of fresh fruit on your kitchen counter. You’re more likely to grab an apple, tangerine or peach if it’s in sight.