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We all know that eating lots of fruits and vegetables is ideal for weight loss. But do you really know what health benefits those foods give you? While they of course aid in helping you shed a few extra pounds, many vegetables have a ton of secret nutritional value that you might not know about.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using fruits and vegetables to help manage your weight. Adding fresh produce into your diet will help give you the essential vitamins, minerals, and fibers that your body needs. According to the CDC, diets rich in these foods also may reduce the risk of some types of cancer and other chronic diseases.
One particular vegetable is great for targeting bloating and zapping it away. Cucumber, although botanically is a fruit, is widely considered a vegetable. This vegetable actually contains flavonoids that help to reduce swelling.
According to Kristen Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, LD, cucumbers are a great tummy-flattening snack because they are high in water and low in fiber. Kirkpatrick says that this content in the vegetable causes increased urination, which makes you feel slimmer.
Of course, you can easily add cucumbers to lots of different meals during the day. We recommend trying this Easy Cucumber Salad recipe from The Stay At Home Chef. This light side dish makes the perfect pairing to a tasty grilled chicken lunch or dinner.
Another great way to mix in cucumber into your diet is by adding cucumber to water. Not only will you get the nutritional value that cucumber has to offer, your regular cup of water will start to taste seriously amazing.
What's your go-to bloat-busting food? Let us know your favorite in the comments below!
