Weight loss doesn’t only boost your confidence and emotional wellness; it can actually save your overall wellbeing from the risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. As part of a balanced diet, cucumbers and pears could be your secret weapons to control your fat and calorie intake, as well as getting many vitamins and minerals. For safe and effective weight loss, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recommend losing 1 to 2 pounds per week, which means cutting 500 calories from your diet a day. Low calorie foods like cucumbers and pears are great tools to help you do this.
Fruits and vegetables supply less than 100 calories per serving and contain plenty of fibre, which means your weight benefits because you digest the fibre slowly and so you feel fuller for longer and are less inclined to snack even though you’ve not had many calories. Cucumbers and pears are particularly low in calories, as half-a-cup of sliced cucumbers contains only 8 calories, and a medium pear has only 103 calories. They are also cheap, easy to prepare, versatile and make great snacks.
You can use cucumbers and pears alone, but they also pair well with other foods which means you’ll never be bored and fall off the weight loss wagon. Cucumbers are easily added to sandwiches, salads and wraps, or served with a small amount of soy sauce and sesame seeds for a side dish. For an extra crunch and flavour to your tuna or chicken salad, throw in some chopped cucumbers, and sliced pears also add to tossed salad, or chicken salad or fruit salad if they’re sliced and chopped. For a low-calorie and low-cost pudding, why not bake your pears with a sprinkle of cinnamon?
Finally, though pears and cucumbers are incredibly beneficial, you should always remember to include them in your diet along with foods from all the food groups. Having whole grains, low-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables and proteins alongside your cucumbers and pears will ensure that your nutritional needs will be met and your appetite will be satisfied. Also, remember that exercise is an important part of a healthy weight loss plan. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise each day, and you should always talk to your doctor before beginning a new weight loss routine.
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