An Apple A Day

Recent research from Brazil indicates that adding an apple or pear to a fruitless diet will help melt away pounds.

Researchers from the State University of Rio de Janeiro studying the impact of fruit intake on weight loss report that overweight women who ate just 300 grams of apples or pears lost more weight on a low-calorie diet than women who didn't add fruit to their diets. In addition, the fruit eaters ate fewer calories overall, boosting their weight loss efforts.

Researchers suggested several theories as to why apple and pear consumption might promote weight loss. First, fruits like apples and pears have a relatively low calorie count compared to non-fruit foods. Second, research has shown that eating a high-fiber diet promotes feeling fuller for a longer time after eating. Apples and pears are both important sources of fiber, delivering 5 grams per medium-size apple and 4 grams per medium-size pear.

Research also has established that eating a high-fiber diet decreases total caloric intake, thus contributing to weight loss. In other words, eating a high-fruit diet tends to make it more difficult to overeat, because eating a lot of dense fruits like apples and pears crowds out other foods.