Veggies that Pack a Weight Loss and Detox Punch

February 1, 2017
Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Award-winning nutritionist and New York Times bestselling author.

Fat Flushing favorites you’ll always find in my kitchen.

Even if you grew up eating your veggies last, as a Fat Flusher, I bet now you love—and even crave—them. My plates are always heaping with a variety of choices, each with their own respective health boosting benefits. Nutrient-rich veggies nourish your body, supercharge your weight loss efforts, and aid in critical daily detox. Here are five of my staples that you can enjoy in many cuisines.

Beans

Beans, though not technically considered a vegetable, surprisingly fall into this category as well! They are a fat flush food because they have a unique combination of fiber and protein that fills you up, decreases your appetite and helps you eat less overall. A 2014 meta-analysis found that people who consumed a cup of beans felt 31 percent fuller than those who didn’t. Beans’ primary health benefits come from their power-blend of protein and fiber.

A typical one-cup serving of cooked beans provides a whopping 15 grams of fiber and 15 grams of protein—a dose of protein equal to two ounces of meat, fish or poultry. It’s very rare, if not unheard of, to find this combination of fiber and protein in any other foods, which is why they’re included in my New Fat Flush Plan. Beans have been shown to provide benefits for your heart and digestive systems, and they’re dynamite for blood sugar regulation, which reduces your risk for type 2 diabetes.

I love them in savory soups and they’re also delicious sprinkled on a South of the Border inspired salad!

Asparagus

First cultivated in Greece about 2,500 years ago, asparagus offers a delicate, Fat Flushing flavor and tender texture. Originally, asparagus was used by ancient Greeks and Romans to relieve toothaches and prevent bee stings, but today it is well known as a diuretic. This vegetable’s ability to fight water retention comes from the fact that it is high in potassium and low in sodium and contains an amino acid called asparagine. This trio also helps prevent fatigue by neutralizing ammonia, a substance that can build up in our bodies during the digestive process.

While asparagus may be considered a luxury vegetable, it pays for itself in nutritional benefits. Asparagus contains a special carbohydrate called inulin that is not digested but that helps feed the friendly bacteria in the large intestine. When we consume inulin regularly, these friendly bacteria proliferate, keeping the intestinal tract clear of unfriendly bacteria.

Paired alongside a pasture-raised protein of your choice, asparagus grilled with avocado oil makes for a delicious dinner pick.

Jicama

With its increasing popularity across the America, more and more supermarkets are carrying jicama. Look for a brownish gray root vegetable, shaped something like a turnip—or ask the produce manager to point you in the right direction. Extremely nutritious, jicama is low in sodium and contains no fat, making it a dieter’s delight. A cup of jicama provides nearly 6 grams of fiber, which help to satisfy the appetite and aid the digestive process.

In addition, jicama is bursting with vitamin C. One of vitamin C’s important functions is to keep LDL cholesterol from oxidizing—for only cholesterol that has been damaged by oxidation causes heart disease. Vitamin C may also protect against heart disease by “relaxing” stiff arteries and preventing platelets from clumping together.

Jicama is delightful in salads and stir-fries! I also love to slice it up, drizzle it with lemon and lime, sprinkle it with cayenne, and enjoy it as a refreshing midday snack.

Spaghetti Squash

While research is ongoing, preliminary studies have shown that juice from squash has the ability to assist the body in fighting both cancer like cell mutations and prostate problems. Beta-carotene, one of the most abundant nutrients in spaghetti squash, has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It can prevent the oxidation of cholesterol in the body, regulate blood-sugar levels, and thwart insulin resistance. The potassium found in spaghetti squash helps to lower blood pressure, and its fiber keeps cancer-causing chemicals from attacking colon cells.

As an added bonus, spaghetti squash is an excellent source of folate, which is needed by the body to break down a dangerous metabolic by-product called homocysteine. Since homocysteine can damage blood vessel walls, consuming plenty of folate can decrease your risk for heart attack and stroke. So, while spaghetti squash has a hard shell that can be quite difficult to pierce, it is definitely worth the trouble.

Try using it in place of pasta in your favorite dishes—it will be your family’s new favorite!

Watercress

Perhaps it’s the pungent flavor, which is reminiscent of mustard, but the refreshing, rather than fiery “bite” makes watercress something of an acquired taste. If you have yet to make the acquaintance of this Fat Flushing vegetable, consider adding it to your grocery list. Watercress is still grown using traditional gravel beds fed by fresh flowing spring water and contains a bounty of blood-purifying phytonutrients. One such beneficial nutrient is the anticancer compound phenylethyl isothiocyanate, or PEITC. Whenever it is crushed, chopped, or chewed, watercress releases a peppery flavor, evidence of the PEITC content. The more pungent the taste, the more PEITC is being released, and the greater the health benefit.

In addition, watercress contains generous amounts of vitamins A and C, along with hefty doses of calcium, folic acid, potassium, and iron. Regular consumption of watercress boosts kidney efficiency and does away with hunger pangs. Best of all, watercress is a superb natural diuretic, serving as a powerful Fat Flushing tool for reducing water retention and bloating.

I am a huge watercress fan myself and adore them as a staple in my salads.

Don’t stop here. For even more delightful, delicious choices to add to this lineup, do pick up a copy of my New Fat Flush Plan.

Related Articles and Podcasts

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty books including The Fat Flush Plan series and her latest book, Radical Metabolism. She’s been rewriting the rules of nutrition for more than 40 years and is internationally recognized as a pioneer in the field of diet, detox and women’s health issues. 

For a FREE daily dose of tips and strategies for maintaining healthy weight, conquering insomnia, and much more…check out my Radical Health Tips.

I’d like to meet and greet you on my Facebook groups, so won’t you check us out at the Radical Metabolism RevolutionFat Flush Nation, or my Inner Circle!

7 Comments

  1. Andrea Cagney

    Does ALG have any thoughts on Lyme disease

    Reply
    • Team ALG

      http://amzn.to/2kO2vs7 Enzymatic Saventaro Cat’s Claw

      This is what we like for Lyme disease. Cats Claw is helpful to reduce the symptoms of Lyme as well as fight yeast, fungus and co-infections.

      Reply
  2. Shasha

    Lyme:
    Ozone/herbs/Far Infrared Sauna/cryptoplepis/AL complex and more may help Lyme. Probiotics may cause stomach pain sometimes, but gluten/GMO/antibiotics/Lyme/yeast may hurt the stomach. Gluten enzymes/LDN may help. Oolong tea may help parasites. Sugar/Starch may feed Lyme and soy may block thyroid. Eating pure organic food/good water and sunlight/exercise may help. Ask Alternative people who may offer ozone. I would not want a Lyme vaccine. I think they had it for dogs and it did not help and may hurt. Maybe the got antibiotics which hurt the mitochondria and no Celiac help/supplements of Mg/Mn/Fe etc. You can’t become resistant to ozone/Vit C/Far Infrared Sauna and herbs may help and not hurt. No gluten/dairy/soy/sugar/GMO…taking vitamins/good oils/minerals…probiotic…LDN…detoxing may help.

    Reply
  3. Leslee Rau

    I have just recently been introduced to the fat flush plan. Question: can we add certain things to the life long coctail such as powdered acerola , L- glutamine and / or liquid glucoasamine ? Is it ok to to take supplements with it also? Thank you!

    Reply
  4. Team ALG

    You may wish to pick up a copy of the New Fat Flush Plan. You will discover lots of helpful information and answer your questions about which supplements to take. You certainly can take additional supplements if you wish but you would want to take them at a different time then you take a fiber supplement.

    Reply
  5. Lynne V

    I recently bought her new book, and have completed the 3 day jump start and am currently in Phase 1 .
    I really liked the Far Flush Metabolizer Cocktail from the 3 day program . I am wondering if I can have this anytime during a given day while in Phase 1?
    I am seeing unexpected unexpectedly great results so far….. loving the plan !

    Reply
    • Team ALG

      Lynne, I’m glad you are doing so well. Feel free to enjoy the Metabolizer Cocktail whenever you wish. Just be sure to include the chia and flax oil in your count for the day.

      Reply

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