The number of people in the United States who are obese or overweight continues to reach shocking highs, with some estimates that more than 66 percent of American adults are now obese or overweight.
Factors that may lead to weight gain among adults include eating habits, genes, physical inactivity, medical conditions, or sleep habits.
People who are obese or overweight are at a higher risk of chronic diseases, such as – type 2 diabetes mellitus and heart disease.
Here are 5 veggies that destroy stomach fat:
#1 Red Cabbage
Red cabbage is a delicious and nutritious vegetable that has become very popular throughout the world for numerous reasons. For instance, it is low in carbohydrate and caloric content and may have some merit for lowering body weight.
It also increases the human body production of two hormones: leptin (appetite-suppressing) and adiponectin (fat-burning).
Furthermore, one cup of red cabbage provides about 26.7 mcg of vitamin K, an amount which represents approximately 22% of men’s and 30% of women’s daily intake. Also, it contains 39.9 mg of vitamin C which helps in the creation of the protein collagen as well as it inhibits melanin to help you get better-looking skin.
The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of red cabbage can be a good natural treatment for eczema, a common type of skin disorder. Red cabbage also contains resveratrol, a strong antioxidant that may help lower blood pressure by increasing the production of nitric oxide.
#2 Broccoli
Broccoli belongs to the cruciferous family, which also includes cauliflower, kale, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, cabbage, turnips, and rutabaga. This vegetable was introduced to the US during colonial times, however, it did not gain popularity until the 1920s.
Broccoli helps get the human body into a fat-burning state instead of storing fat, and when combined with fruits and vegetables and a healthy lifestyle (that must include regular physical exercise and adequate sleep) you will see an improvement in your general health and you will notice that the fat dissolves fast.
Broccoli is also an excellent choice for a weight loss diet since it is so low in calories. In addition, this cruciferous vegetable is rich in lutein and sulforaphane, two potent antioxidants. For instance, sulforaphane has also been shown in studies to kill cancer stem cells, hence, striking to the root of tumor growth.
Broccoli even has some amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which can fight depression and anxiety.
Note – it is vital that broccoli is eaten raw since cooking and processing destroys some of its nutrients and antioxidants.
#3 Kale
It comes from the Acephala group of the Brassica oleracea species which includes collard greens. Kale is packed with weight-loss promoting nutrients, like – calcium and vitamin C, plus, it has no fat and just 50 calories per 100g.
Furthermore, this vegetable is regarded as an anti-inflammatory food, meaning that it should help reduce the inflammation levels in the human body that can lead to a variety of conditions and diseases.
Kale is rich in manganese, an essential mineral that helps boost the immune system and protects from the damage of free radicals.
Also, one serving of kale has about 92.4 milligrams of omega-6 fatty acids and 121 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acid combined with omega-6 fatty acid produces many health benefits, including – protection against heart disease, building cell membranes in the brain, reducing inflammation, and supporting mental health.
#4 Cauliflower
It is a member of the cruciferous vegetable family, along with cabbage, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, kale, and some other less common varieties.
This vegetable contains chemicals that tell the brain to burn fat instead of storing it since cauliflower fights leptin resistance. Leptin resistance is when this hormone doesn’t work correctly to increase energy expenditure or lower appetite.
Cauliflower is also packed with dietary fiber ( a 1-cup serving of cooked cauliflower has about 3 g of fiber), which is going to prevent constipation, trim stomach fat, lowering the risk of colon cancer, and maintain a healthy digestive tract.
More importantly, this cruciferous vegetable contains sulforaphane, a cancer-fighting phytonutrient, as well as vitamin C and vitamin B9, which also may be helpful for weight loss.
#5 Asparagus
Asparagus (botanical name – Asparagus Officinalis) belongs to the family of lilies and is valued for its therapeutic and nutritional properties.
For instance, asparagus contains asparagine, an alkaloid that affects cells and breaks down fat. Moreover, asparagus contains a chemical that helps remove waste from the body, which in turn helps reduce unnecessary fat.
As well as its pound-shedding properties, this vegetable is high in vitamin B9, which makes it an ideal food for pregnant women as this vitamin can lower the risk of life-threatening congenital disorders.
Lastly, it contains considerable amounts of inulin, a type of fiber that does not break down in the human digestive tract, however, it is used as a food source by the beneficial gut bacteria.
Image credit – Shutterstock
READ MORE: Famous People With Gigantism