Foods like apples, peppers can help maintain weight

Foods like apples, peppers can help maintain weight


What foods you should or shouldn’t eat is an enduring question for people trying to lose weight and maintain their health. With age comes the likelihood of gaining weight due to the slower metabolism, hormone changes, lack of exercise, eating too much and eating the wrong foods.

So what should you be eating to maintain your weight?

A recent study analyzed data collected from more than 124,000 adults. Information about the participants’ weights and diets were collected for 24 years, with most participants between the ages of 36 to 46 when the study began. The findings by Harvard University researchers were published recently in the journal BMJ.

On average, men gained two pounds every four years and women gained three to four pounds. But for those who gained the least amount of weight, the studies found that their diets consisted of similar foods.

Foods high in flavonoids, a nutrient group known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory health benefits, were associated with the least amount of weight gain. Antioxidants have also been associated with better cardiovascular health.

High-flavonoid foods include apples, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, grapes, cherries, and citrus. The researchers did not determine how the high-flavonoid foods work, although other studies have suggested that it affects fat absorption.

Researchers suggest eating three or more ounces of high-flavonoid foods a day to maintain a stable weight and improve overall health. These recommendations also fall in line with the new U.S. dietary guidelines that were updated last year.

Even for those not trying to lose weight, eating these foods will help you maintain your current weight and reap the benefits of a nutritious diet!

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