Why Should You Eat Pulses to Lose Weight?

1. What Are Your Options?

Pulses are simply beans or legumes, such as lentils, chickpeas, beans or peas. Research shows that eating about ¾ cup of pulses each day can help you lose mega weight without a ton of extra effort or time. By adding them to your weight loss meal plan, you may be able to start seeing the results pretty quickly.

2. Pulses Are Low on the Glycemic Index

This means that pulses are digested more slowly than foods high on the glycemic index. When food digests slowly you feel full longer, which translates to a reduced appetite. By adding pulses to your diet, you may feel satisfied enough that you won’t feel the urge to hit the vending machine in the afternoon or reach for the tub of ice cream while you watch television at night.

3. You Get Tons of Fiber and Protein

Another reason why pulses are so great is because they are loaded with fiber and protein. Fiber satisfies your appetite and is one of the best nutrients for weight loss. People who eat a lot of fiber are better able to control hunger so they don’t snack too often or too much. Protein is also important for weight loss because it helps build lean muscles and gives you energy.

4. Pulses Are Low in Calories

The bottom line when it comes to weight loss is that you have to burn more calories than you consume. Filling your plate with low-calorie foods makes it easy to shed some pounds. Pulses are low in calories, which makes them an ideal addition to a weight loss meal plan. Combined with their high fiber content, pulses are a pretty powerful way to drop some pounds.

5. Burn Some Belly Fat with Pulses

Research shows that eating pulses can burn fat from your belly. Since that’s a trouble spot for many women, it’s a great way to slim down and get the body you’ve been craving. The trick is to make sure you’re eating the pulses every day or you won’t get the maximum benefits they have to offer.

6. You’ll Lose More Weight with Pulses

According to several studies, obese women who added pulses to their daily diet lost significantly more weight than women who were on a diet that did not include pulses. Not only that, but these women also experienced a boost to their healthy cholesterol levels, helped regulate their blood pressure and improved their overall heart health. Sounds pretty good to me!

7. A Pulse Diet is Similar to a Low-Carb Diet

In research studies, experts found that people on a pulse diet lost a similar amount of weight as did participants on a low-carb diet. The difference was that the pulse eaters also noticed a significant improvement in overall health. If you’re trying to decide between the two, I think the choice is obvious.

Have you ever tried a pulse? What’s your favorite way to eat them?