There is a very common misconception about fat: “Fat is the enemy and should be avoided at all cost.” It is because of this misconception that we have a plethora of fat-free products that lead us to believe that when we consume them, we are avoiding putting on more fat. This is INCORRECT. If you’ve read my previous blog, 3 Natural Ways to Remove Sugar From Your Diet, then you already know that when you consume sugar that is not being used for energy it will be stored in your body as FAT. When a product is “free” of something like “fat-free” another ingredient in the recipe must be heightened in order to compensate for the difference in flavor. Nine times out of ten there is more sugar, which not only means there’s a higher chance you will store more fat, but it also means that you will most likely eat more. On the contrary, when you consume healthy fats, you actually will naturally eat less because fat helps you feel satiated not only more quickly when you’re eating, but will also help make feel satiated for a longer period—meaning you will eat less throughout the day. However, fat isn’t the only thing that helps you feel satiated.
Whenever I begin with any client, I always give them a fat burning diet cleanse.
Here is a list of some of the amazing fat burning foods to incorporate into your diet to help you burn more fat while you eat.
Apple cider vinegar is an amazing and underutilized fat burning food! There a so many health benefits to this delicious liquid. For one, the acetic acid in apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been proven to lower body fat accumulation. It can also rev up your metabolism, enabling your body to burn fat faster. In addition, it helps maintain normal blood sugar, which if you’ve read any of my blogs you know is essential for weight loss. In one study I found, ACV consumption proved to decrease blood sugar levels by an average of 31 percent after eating white bread! When you maintain a level blood sugar throughout the day your cravings for sugar and unhealthy foods are dramatically reduced. ACV has also been found to increase satiety, which can help reduce overeating resulting in weight loss. Ingesting apple cider vinegar before a meal may help you feel fuller with less food.
Cayenne pepper is known to boost metabolism by causing the body to produce extra heat and burn more calories for fuel, making this an amazing fat burning food! Studies show daily consumption of one of the compounds found in pepper (capsaicin) speeds up abdominal fat loss by boosting the body’s ability to convert food into energy. It also acts as a natural appetite suppressant. And you don’t need much to reap these health benefits! All you need is use a pinch of cayenne pepper to season anything from salads, to grilled fish, meats, eggs, I even mix it in with my lemon water and drink it throughout the day.
The fat-burning equation is simple: Protein builds muscle and the more muscle you have = the more fat you burn. Fish and Chicken are the healthiest sources of lean protein therefore making them great fat burning foods. For fish, wild salmon is the best option, because it’s also a rich source of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, which fuel fat burning, block fat storage and aid weight loss.
It is hard to believe, but leafy veggies are an incredible fat burning food. Leafy greens are full of fiber. Fiber is an essential part of detoxification and fat burning. It gathers all the toxins and leftover pieces of food, after the nutrients have been absorbed, and pushes them out of the body via the bowels. Leafy greens like kale, spinach, broccoli and bokchoy are packed with nutrients including iron, which helps keep muscles functioning properly, enabling you to keep burning calories long after a workout! Among the many health benefits, they’re also packed with vitamin K, which helps bones stay strong warding off osteoporosis. In addition, they are an amazing source for calcium. For example, kale offers 139mg per 100g serving of the vegetable and offers very absorbable calcium. Kale also contains over 45 different flavonoids, offering ultra-potent antioxidant benefits.
Not only are almonds are a wonderful source of protein, they also have powerful fat-burning properties making them an easy fat burning food to add to your daily diet. Studies have shown that eating almonds every day is associated with greater weight loss and higher fat metabolism. Almonds are high in healthy monounsaturated fats, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and protein. The fat content in almonds helps with feeling satiated, which may reduce overeating. Of course, like any healthy fat, portion control is very important.
Weight loss is not only a combination of regular exercise and portion control, but also healthy choices. Try incorporating these fat burning foods into your everyday meals and see how much quicker your weight loss efforts are accomplished!
Disclaimer
Although my blog topics can be very beneficial to your overall health, they are not intended for the purpose of providing medical advice. All content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of published information on or through my website, blog, e-mails, programs and services. However, the information may inadvertently contain inaccuracies or typographical errors. Every effort has been made to present you with the most accurate, up-to-date information, but because the nature of diet, fitness and health research is constantly evolving, we cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of our content.
