People who adhere to the principles of proper nutrition or people on a diet always have a question: how to diversify their diet without adding extra calories. A drink familiar since childhood, compote, is best suited for weight loss. To prepare it, simple, affordable fruits, dried fruits, berries, and spices are used. It is easy to prepare and suitable for a diet.
Beneficial features
The berries and fruits included in the compotes are saturated with useful vitamins and microelements. The best sources of vitamins are fresh fruits, but frozen and dried fruits are also used. It is only important to monitor the boiling time. The longer its ingredients are cooked, the less useful remains in them.
It would be great to add spices to the compote, which will add a new taste and new beneficial properties. For example, cinnamon is included in many dietary recipes for its diuretic properties. Cinnamon increases activity and speeds up metabolism. And the body receives calcium, iron and manganese.
Thanks to fruits, vegetables, berries and spices, compotes can have various beneficial properties:
- improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract,
- reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases,
- strengthen the immune system,
- fight excess weight,
- improve the condition of the genitourinary system,
- activate the body's metabolic processes.
Types of compotes
There are many recipes. Add to traditional compotes:
- Fruits. The most commonly used fruits are apples, pears, plums, quinces, apricots, and peaches. And dried fruits from them: dried apricots, prunes, raisins.
- Berries. Popular berries include cherries, cherries, cranberries, strawberries, wild strawberries, currants, dogwoods, gooseberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries.
But there are tasty and healthy non-traditional recipes:
- from unexpected fruits and berries such as oranges, melon, watermelon, banana, kiwi,
- from vegetables: beets, rhubarb, cabbage, carrots, pumpkin.
Depending on the amount of ingredients, the drink can be:
- one-component,
- multicomponent.
General rules for preparing compotes
Has many options for preparing dietary compotes. However, as a rule, there are 2 main methods: compotes with and without sterilization. Some people prefer to throw food into jars and boil for about half an hour, while others prefer multiple fillings. However, you should remember some general rules.
Check all ingredients for compote for rot and any damage. Fruits and berries must be sufficiently ripe. Remove the seeds. The fact is that the seeds contain harmful substances, which after about a year of storage of compotes pass into the fruit. Sterilize the jars over steam or in the oven. Before pouring syrup over fruits and berries, rinse them thoroughly. Rinse compote jars with hot water and a small amount of baking soda. Then rinse them and set them to sterilize. Lids for jars should be varnished, with tight-fitting rubber bands and without scratches.
Is it possible to drink compote while dieting?
The only thing you should be afraid of in compote when losing weight is sugar. He is the main enemy of a good figure.
But different recipes make it easy to solve this problem. Some people add sweeteners, but this is not the best option, some of them cause even more damage to the figure.
You can use natural sweeteners - honey or maple syrup. They are healthier, but also contain a lot of calories. This is worth considering.
Fruits themselves contain sugar, so they do not require additional sweetness. For example, dried apricots or raisins. You can add a few spoons of raisins and the compote will become sweeter.
Spices can often replace sugar or change the flavor so much that sugar is not needed. Cinnamon, vanilla, mint, ginger, etc. are actively used.
There is one more feature that is worth paying attention to: the healthiest fruits, berries and vegetables are fresh. But in winter we have to replace them with dried fruits. You need to know that the calorie content of dried fruits is higher. This means that the same volume of water will require a smaller volume of dry fruits and berries than fresh ones.
It is best to take dried fruits yourself, because industrial production uses sulfur dioxide. To completely wash it off from dried fruits, they need to be soaked in water and washed well.
Canning drinks is popular in Russia. But canned compotes contain a lot of sugar, so they are not suitable for dieting. When choosing between store-bought drinks and home-canned ones, you should give preference to homemade ones, they will bring more benefits.
How to prepare dietary compote
PREPARATION OF DIETARY COMPOTE, WITHOUT SUGAR
Fruit compotes are usually prepared from various berries and fruits with sugar syrup. But such preparations with sugar are not recommended for some people who have health problems associated with the thyroid gland and some other diseases. Compotes prepared with sugar are not advisable for overweight children and adults . Therefore, for those who follow the principles of healthy eating and are on a diet, we recommend making fruit preparations without added sugar. Of course, diet compotes have an unusual taste, because they do not contain sugar.
It is better to prepare compotes without sugar from fruits that have their own rather sweet taste. Fruits and berries with a high acid content are not suitable for such preparations; compotes from them will turn out too sour and will not be suitable for consumption. Sugar-free compote can be prepared from peaches, sweet summer varieties of apples, grapes, pears, and cherries.
Dietary compotes without sugar are not prepared with sugar syrup, but are filled with water or fruit juice without added sugar. Fruit compotes made using juices are much tastier than those filled with water. The calorie content of compotes prepared with juice is not too high, higher than the calorie content of compotes prepared with water. And they are not particularly sweet, but they can be consumed with honey. Prepared compotes without sugar can be used to prepare jelly, mousse and jellies; they retain the pleasant taste of fresh fruit. In winter, syrup and juice from compote can be used to prepare hot drinks, mulled wine, grog, and punch.
For dietary nutrition for diabetes, you can prepare a compote with the addition of sorbitol or xylitol; such sugar substitutes will improve the taste of the product and make it pleasant to eat. To prepare fruit compote with xylitol syrup, you need to take 300g of sugar substitute per liter of water.
Prepared fruits are placed in jars and filled with hot syrup. The jars are sterilized as usual and sealed.
You can prepare fruit compote in your own juice. Wash the intended fruits, apples, pears, or cherries, cut them if necessary and place them in a saucepan, add a third of a glass of water and heat well while stirring. When heated, the fruits will give juice, in which they must be boiled for 10-15 minutes. Place hot fruits and juice into prepared jars, cover with lids and sterilize, 0.5 liter jars for 10 minutes. Cork.
Dietary compote can be prepared with fruit and berry juices. Place fruits prepared for processing into jars. Prepare juice filling. You can use the same fruit juice, or you can mix juices from several different fruits. Juice filling without added sugar, heat to a boil and pour over the fruits placed in jars. Sterilize and seal jars.
Contraindications
Certain components of the compote can cause allergies or an unhealthy digestive reaction. It depends on these individual characteristics of the body which recipes are best to choose. For example:
- some compotes are difficult for the body to digest if you have thyroid disease,
- cranberry compote is contraindicated for liver disorders and gastritis,
- plum and prune compote may cause diarrhea or flatulence,
- apple compote can cause stomach cramps if consumed in large quantities,
- compotes are contraindicated in case of high acidity if they contain fruits saturated with acids.
People suffering from diabetes should drink compote with caution, choosing only diet-approved recipes.
Danger comes from drinks made from low-quality products, from fruits and berries that were grown using prohibited chemicals and dried fruits containing large amounts of sulfur dioxide.
Cooking technology for weight loss
When preparing compote for weight loss, it is better to give preference to fresh fruits and berries. They are lower in calories and healthier. But during the diet, compotes from dried fruits are also allowed. In this case, their volume should be smaller. No sugar is added to the compote; it should be replaced with sweet berries or fruits.
During cooking, all vegetables and fruits lose their beneficial vitamins and microelements. In 15 minutes in boiling water, more than 80% of tocopherol, 85% of thiamine, 90% of ascorbic acid and 98% of folic acid are destroyed. Therefore, it is recommended to immerse the prepared fruits in already boiling water and cook them for 3-5 minutes. Then cover with a lid and let it brew.
Be sure to add spices during your diet. They have properties that help with weight loss. Cinnamon speeds up metabolism. Ginger speeds up metabolism, promoting the absorption of fats and reducing cholesterol levels. Cloves help solve digestive problems. Oregano helps digest food.
What can you eat?
There is an opinion that food restrictions and radical reductions in diet can cure dermatitis. In fact, eliminating all potentially hazardous foods may not only be ineffective, but also dangerous to health. A diet low in allergenic foods does improve skin condition, but doctors are extremely careful about developing the right diet for each patient. In addition, there is scientific evidence that the frequency of exacerbations and severity of dermatitis is influenced not only by food, but also by other factors directly or indirectly related to the therapeutic diet. Therefore, when developing diets, doctors propose the following approach to treating the disease:
- Maintaining normal body weight. Among adults who are overweight or obese, the risk of the disease is 29% and 56% higher, respectively, compared with adults of normal weight.[2]
- Prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics. Research has shown that the use of synbiotics (a combination of prebiotics and probiotics) also has a positive effect on skin health.[3]
- Fatty acids and vitamin D supplements: There is evidence that taking vitamin D and omega acids improves skin conditions in people with eczema. This is due to the fact that these substances have anti-inflammatory activity.
Therefore, if we talk about the correct diet for dermatitis, you need to understand that diet is only part of the treatment. It is important not to get hung up on what you can or cannot eat, but to concentrate on the principles of a healthy lifestyle. Dietary nutrition for dermatitis has its own characteristics, so patients will have to adjust their lives to them. The basic principles include:
- meals 5-6 times a day in small portions;
- exclusion of allergenic foods such as nuts, citrus fruits, chocolate, exotic fruits and foods with dyes and harmful food additives, red vegetables and fruits;
- boiling, stewing, baking or steaming foods;
- reducing salt consumption, avoiding sweets, spices, spicy and fatty foods;
- increasing the volume of fluid consumed to 2-2.5 l;
- daily calorie content of food is at the level of 2500-2800 kcal.
Authorized Products
When following a diet for dermatitis, it is better to bake, boil and stew foods with a minimum of oil. To control your diet, we recommend keeping a food diary in which you write down everything you eat during the day. Patients with dermatitis can freely eat:
- boiled or steamed beef meat, boiled;
- cereal, vegetarian or recycled beef broth soups;
- sunflower and olive oil.
- boiled potatoes;
- buckwheat, rice and rolled oats;
- natural yoghurts without additives;
- fermented milk products - cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, yogurt;
- baked apples;
- dried fruit compotes (except raisins);
- whole grain bread and crispbreads.[1]
Prohibited Products
First of all, it is necessary to completely exclude fried foods, smoked foods, everything spicy and salty, as well as semi-finished meat and fish products from the diet.
To successfully treat dermatitis, patients should eliminate from their daily diet:
- coffee and sweet carbonated drinks;
- alcoholic drinks;
- spices and sauces (vinegar, mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise);
- horseradish, radish and radish;
- hot and sweet peppers, tomatoes, eggplants;
- milk;
- eggs;
- chocolate and chocolate confectionery;
- baked goods, yeast;
- honey;
- fish and seafood;
- poultry and dishes from goose, duck, chicken;
- nuts;
- citrus fruit;
- berries and fruits of red or orange color.[1]
Basic principles of use
Compote can be drunk in several ways. The most common one is to drink it as a dessert after the main meal. This is how the body receives useful substances.
Compote can act as a complete snack. It contains a minimum of calories, but due to its sweetness it will saturate the body between breakfast and lunch or lunch and dinner.
You can drink the drink half an hour before meals. It will curb your appetite and fill your stomach, thereby reducing the portion size.
Each person losing weight chooses which method to prefer independently. It depends on your personal eating habits, and on how much you want to lose weight and for how long.
Compote diet menu
Before breakfast you need to drink 1 glass of compote.
Breakfast - from the daily norm of rice porridge and 1 glass of compote. Second breakfast – 1 glass of compote. Lunch – 1 glass of compote. Dinner – the remaining half of rice porridge and 1 glass of compote. At night, drink another glass of compote. You can also drink clean water in any quantity. You cannot drink tea, various juices, alcohol, coffee and other drinks during the diet. You are not allowed to add products to the menu at your own discretion. This diet may seem too difficult for some, but after the allotted time you can lose up to 3-4 kg - and all this in a few days! So the compote diet is suitable mainly for those who have sufficient willpower.
Dietary recipes
There are several dietary recipes for preparing this drink.
Beetroot compote
Beets are great for those on a diet. It contains iron, potassium, magnesium, iodine, B vitamins and other useful microelements. The organic acids it contains accelerate metabolism. A large amount of fiber normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and saturates the body. Dietary fiber and pectin prevent fluctuations in glucose levels and thereby help control appetite.
Betaine contained in beets prevents the deposition of lipids in liver cells. And curcumin speeds up metabolic processes and prevents the formation of fat on the stomach and thighs.
Ingredients:
- sugar – 250 g,
- beets – 1 kg,
- lemon juice and zest,
- cloves, cinnamon.
Wash the beets, peel and chop. Add spices, sugar and vegetable pieces to boiling water. Cook over low heat until the beets are done. After removing the pan from the heat, add lemon juice to taste. If the natural sweetness of beets is sufficient, it is better to reduce the amount of sugar or remove it.
Rhubarb compote
For people on a diet, rhubarb can be beneficial. It contains a large amount of fiber, acids (malic, oxalic, citric, ascorbic), vitamins B, A, C, E, K, sodium and potassium, calcium, zinc, selenium, iron, phosphorus, pectins.
Cleansing the intestines will provide a laxative effect. Rhubarb helps normalize metabolic processes and improves the absorption of nutrients. It increases the secretory activity of the stomach, that is, it increases the secretion of gastric juice. This promotes better digestion of food.
Ingredients:
- rhubarb stems – 1 kg,
- sugar – 200 g,
- lemon – 1/2 pcs.,
- water – 4 l.
Peel the rhubarb stems from the top layer and cut into 2-3 cm pieces. Add sugar to boiling water and boil for a couple of minutes. Then add rhubarb and cook for 10 minutes. Then add the lemon cut into thin slices and leave on the fire for 3-4 minutes. Before serving, it is better to strain through a sieve.
With so much sugar, the drink turns out sour. You can increase its amount to taste. Lemon can be replaced with orange.
Plum compote
When losing weight, plum not only helps improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, but also improves the condition of the skin and internal organs.
Plum contains B vitamins, vitamin K, and in smaller quantities vitamins A, C and E, as well as phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron. The acids contained (malic, citric and oxalic) help the functioning of the stomach. It helps cleanse the body due to its diuretic and laxative effect.
Ingredients:
- purified water – 3 l,
- plum – 500 g,
- granulated sugar – 5 tbsp. l.
Remove the seeds and, if necessary, skins from well-washed plums. Place the plums in boiling water and cook for 5 minutes. Add sugar and cook for another 2 minutes. Then cover well and let it brew.
Apricot compote
Apricot contains a record amount of vitamin A among fruits, vitamins P, C, B1, and PP. Apricots contain tartaric, malic and acetic acids, quercetin, salicylic acid and tannins. Pectin helps remove excess cholesterol and toxins. Apricots strengthen blood vessels and the heart, relieve nervous tension and help with liver diseases.
The only disadvantage of eating apricots during a diet is the high sugar content in the fruit. But this allows you to prepare a drink with a minimum amount of granulated sugar.
Ingredients:
- 250 g apricots,
- 1.2 liters of cold water,
- 120 g sugar,
- a pinch of citric acid,
- a pinch of ground ginger and cardamom.
Remove pits from clean apricots. Add prepared apricots, sugar and spices to boiling water. Boil for a few minutes and leave to infuse.
The composition of spices may vary depending on personal preferences. You can take ground cinnamon, cloves, star anise. It is permissible to use herbs - oregano, mint, tarragon, sage.
Orange compote
Eating oranges relieves depression, which is important when dieting. Red orange is considered the most beneficial because it prevents the accumulation of fat mass. The fiber contained in oranges removes waste and toxins and helps cleanse the intestines. The vitamin C contained is a powerful antioxidant.
Ingredients:
- oranges – 4 pcs.,
- sugar – 150 g,
- lemon – 1/2 pcs.,
- water – 3 l.
Peel the oranges and remove the white veins (they add bitterness). Cut into small pieces. Lemon can also be cut or simply squeezed out the juice. Pour water over the citruses, bring to a boil, add sugar. Cook for 15 minutes and leave to brew. It is better to strain the finished compote before use.
Berry compote
Berries contain few calories and many vitamins of various groups. For weight loss, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cherries, lingonberries, barberries, sea buckthorn, and cranberries are most often consumed. All berries contain flavonoids and antioxidants that help burn fat, minerals that help improve metabolic processes, and fiber. Regular consumption of berries helps speed up metabolism and burn fat reserves.
Ingredients:
- any berries – 1 kg,
- sugar – 200-250 g,
- water – 3-3.5 l.
Prepare the berries: wash, remove the stems. Place the berries in boiling water; when it boils, add sugar again. Boil the drink for about 5 minutes and leave to infuse.
You can add apples, pears, plums, both fresh and dry, to the berries.
Frozen berries are also suitable for compote. But best of all, they preserve useful substances during shock freezing.
You can add your favorite spices to the berry compote: cinnamon, mint, sweet peas and others.
Compote of dried apricots and prunes
When carefully dried, dried apricots and prunes retain all the beneficial properties of apricots and plums.
Ingredients:
- water – 2 l,
- prunes – 150 g,
- dried apricots – 8-10 pcs.,
- lemon – 1 slice,
- sugar - to taste (up to 200-250 g).
Prunes and dried apricots with pits give the compote a richer taste and aroma. Wash dried fruits thoroughly and soak in water. Add sugar to boiling water and boil a little. Then lower the prunes and dried apricots. Then add a slice of lemon. Cook for about 7-10 minutes. Let it brew for at least an hour.
Compote with ginger
Ginger has excellent fat burning properties. It contains vitamins A and C, B vitamins, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, iron, zinc, potassium. Ginger improves digestion and stimulates the stomach, increases the secretion of digestive enzymes. It has a mild laxative effect, removes excess cholesterol and prevents its accumulation. Stimulates blood circulation and vasodilation, increases the tone of the heart muscle.
Ingredients:
- ginger root – 5 cm,
- cinnamon – 1/2 sticks,
- honey – 1-3 tbsp. l,
- water – 1 l,
- lemon – 1 pc.
Cut the ginger and cinnamon into small pieces. Add to hot water and cook for 25 minutes. Cool the resulting drink a little and add honey and lemon juice to it.
This compote has a specific taste, but has an excellent fat-burning effect.
If this option seems too bold, you can add ginger to a classic apple compote or mixed fruit compote.
Reviews
Evgeniya, 26 years old, Voronezh : When I first read about beet compote and its wonderful properties, I definitely wanted to try it. But what scared me was what it might taste like. I decided to take a risk. And it turned out that this drink is delicious. Now I actively drink it when I’m hungry, and it’s still a long time before dinner. It allows me not to overeat, and thanks to this little thing my weight has moved for the better.
Marina, 36 years old, Kursk : I don’t like diets, but my love for sweets makes me think about them often. I tried to limit myself to my favorite cakes, but it was difficult. Until one day a friend suggested a great idea - drinking homemade compote after meals. It cooks quickly, does not require complex ingredients and contains almost no calories.
At first, I prepared my usual compotes from my favorite berries: cherries, raspberries, currants. Then she began to add fruits: apples, plums, oranges. A recent discovery is rhubarb compote. My favorite sour taste and excellent effect made it my favorite.
Galina, 41 years old, Moscow : I love juices and sodas. Recently, a doctor forbade drinking them, saying that they cause obesity. For several days I couldn’t think about anything else except my favorite juice. And then I saw compote among the juices. I called my doctor and she said that compotes are okay, but only homemade ones, and if you add less sugar to them. I decided to try it. Now I prefer sweet compotes from dried apricots, prunes, apples with raisins. But I hope to gradually add variety to my diet. The main thing is that they replaced store-bought drinks.