A calorie is defined as the amount of heat energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by 1°C. Calories are normally used to describe the amount of energy our body gets from what we eat and drink.
Calories are fuel for your body and essential to be active and energized. We have to watch the calories we intake to stay fit and slim.
Fitness freaks and nutrition conscious people are always on a lookout for low-calorie foods loaded with fiber and protein. Foods which can keep us satiated for a longer time and curb hunger pangs for unhealthy foods.
So, here are some foods with zero/or less calories that could be helpful in your fat loss or health goals.
Apples: An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Since, they are wholesome and nutritious, apples could break down easily in the digestive system and make you feel full for a longer time. So, you could consume the slices of the fruit without any guilt.
Broccoli: One of the most nutritious vegetable. It’s a member of the cruciferous family of vegetables. One cup up (91 grams) of broccoli has only 31 calories and over 100 per cent of the amount of vitamin C that most people need per day
Cabbage: A vegetable which comes in various colors- green and purple. It’s a common ingredient in slaws and salads. Fermented cabbage is known as sauerkraut.
It’s very low in calories and contains only 22 calories per cup (89 grams).
Cucumbers: Available round the year, Cucumbers help us in staying summer hydrated and beats the heat during the scorching weather. Used as a salad and a detoxifying agent stirred well with herbs and fruits as well. The water content in cucumbers is high and so it is a low-calorie food to consume.
Spinach: How could you forget about leafy greens? Spinach is here to help you throughout your slimming goals. Loaded with minerals, vitamin A, K, proteins, and folate, spinach is good to go. It is also extremely low in calories.
Beets: Being a root veggie, beets are naturally in a deep-red color. This blood-red veggie is helpful in reducing blood pressure, and even enhance your mental performance with the help of nitrates. Also, it comes under low-calorie veggie.
Papaya: Papaya has been a tremendous fruit that has multiple benefits. Appears like a melon embedded with black seeds, Papayas contain zero calories in it. Rich in vitamin A and potassium, Papayas are highly beneficial for your body and support your slimming goals.
Carrots: Carrots are the orange tuber veggie packed with vitamins and beta-carotene. Best for eye health, carrots are great to consume by adding them to your everyday diet.
Asparagus: Is a flowering vegetable that comes in green, white and purple varieties. The purple asparagus has compounds called anthocyanins that may help prevent heart disease.
One cup (134 grams) of asparagus has only 27 calories and is rich in vitamin K and folate, providing 70 per cent and 17 per cent of the DVs, respectively
Grapefruit: As grapefruits are extremely nutritious and delicious citrus fruits, they could be used for garnishing over salad, yogurt, and even fish. It also consists of essential compounds that would lower cholesterol levels and boosts the metabolic rate of your body.
Cauliflower: Cauliflower has become very popular as a substitute for higher-carb vegetables or grains.
One cup (100 grams) of cauliflower has 25 calories and only five grams of carbs
Radishes: Are crunchy root vegetables with a somewhat spicy bite. Found in white, dark-pink or red colour they can be grown in a variety of colors. Radishes have several beneficial nutrients and only 19 calories per cup (116 grams)
Tomatoes: They can be served raw, cooked or pureed in a tomato sauce. Highly nutritious and contain a beneficial compound called lycopene. Research has shown that lycopene may protect against cancer, inflammation and heart disease
One cup (149 grams) of cherry tomatoes has 27 calories
Watermelon: Contains some of almost every nutrient and a high amount of vitamin C. There are 46 calories in one cup (152 grams) of diced watermelon