Fat Burning Foods & Foods That Burn Fat

Here’s a list of specific foods that raise your metabolism and help burn body fat:-

Cayenne Pepper – It not only stimulates the body’s metabolic rate, but also cleans fat out of the arteries. Cayenne pepper also adds great zip to foods such as spaghetti sauce and soups. 

Salsa – Salsa is a natural thermogenic food that increases your metabolism. Of course, the hotter the better, but only choose what best suits your taste buds. 

Hot Peppers – Hot peppers are very effective at stimulating the metabolism. By adding just 3 grams of chilli peppers to a meal consisting of 766 calories the peppers lead to a diet-induced thermo effect. It doesn’t take much. 

Chilli Sauce / Mustard – Mustard and hot sauces such as Tabasco, can help burn off those extra calories with their positive effects on the metabolism.

Ice Water – High water intake reduces fat deposits and rids the body of toxins. Ice water will burn more calories since your metabolism will increase to warm the water to body temperature. It is also very effective for reducing cravings. If you’re not a water fan, we suggest you experiment with purified or spring water. If you’re still not convinced, add a little juice for flavour. Don’t drink Ice Water with meals as it dilutes digestive enzymes. A little warm water or herb tea is a good choice then. 

Green Tea (Iced or Hot) – Studies have shown that some green teas reduce absorption of sugar into the blood, and lessen the craving for sweets. More importantly, green tea inhibits the action of amylase, a primary digestive enzyme of carbohydrates and therefore, moves food more quickly through the digestive system, raising the metabolism quicker, and burning more calories. Green tea is best consumed before a meal to aid digestion. Other advantages include links to cancer prevention and health benefits for people with diabetes. 

Apple Cider Vinegar Drink – An excellent fat burner, apple cider vinegar assists in the reduction of excess weight. Make a potent cocktail consisting of: 1-2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar (unpasteurized) in a glass of pure water. Take twice daily. Organic apple cider vinegar has the best flavour. It is best to drink for 2-3 weeks, and then go off for a week, so your body does not become immune to it. Do not use this drink if you have Candida.

Not all fat burning foods have to be hot, though. Vegetables (preferably raw) and most fruits also increase your metabolism. All vegetables are good, but the most effective for flushing out the system are the following: 

Cabbage – Red or green cabbage should be shredded, raw or steamed. Start including cabbage in your diet as it is a longevity food. Studies have shown that people who eat a lot of cabbage are less likely to develop colon cancer, and also have a lower incidence of disease-related death.

Celery – Celery takes more energy from the body to absorb and digest than the calories it provides. Celery has also long been used as a nerve tonic; it’s a good, crunchy raw vegetable to chew on if you are stressed out. Celery will calm your nerves, help flush fat out of your system, and make you sleep better. Try eating celery with low-fat yogurt dip. 

Brussel Sprouts – We absolutely love these! Brussel sprouts are an ultra-nutritious vegetable, extremely high in vitamin C and richer in protein than any other vegetable, and improve the functioning of the metabolic system.

Broccoli and Cauliflower – Your bones will love them, as they are one of the few calcium-containing vegetables.  A cup of broccoli provides over 150 mg of calcium. 

Lemon or Vinegar – A small amount of vinegar or lemon juice (1 tablespoon), because of its acidity has a powerful slowing effect on stomach emptying, thereby slowing down the rate of starch digestion. Have a glass of water with lemon in the morning. It’s a great way to keep your blood sugar balanced. 

Vinaigrette Dressing – A vinaigrette dressing (1 tablespoon vinegar and 2 teaspoons of oil) with your salad can lower the blood sugar response to the whole meal by up to 30 percent. Best vinegars for this are red or white wine vinegars. 

Apples – A low-glycemic, low-insulin food loaded with pectin, apples leave you feeling fuller, longer. Apples prevent hunger pains by guarding against dangerous swings or drops in your blood sugar levels. An average-sized apple lowers blood sugar and blood pressure. Because of their high fibre content, apples are also a heart-healthy food. 

Grapefruit – Grapefruit help dissolve fat and high cholesterol. Grapefruits are loaded with over 15 grams of pectin, which helps curb your appetite by expanding in the body and making you feel fuller, longer. It is rich in natural galacturonic acid, which adds to the potential to fight fat and cholesterol. Try sprinkling cinnamon on your grapefruit to reduce the tart taste. For a unique taste, sprinkle the grapefruit with cinnamon and broil for a few minutes; it makes a nice appetizer for a meal. 

Berries – Berries are one of the best weight reduction foods. They have a natural fructose to satisfy your cravings for sweets, but enough fibre so you can absorb fewer calories than you eat. Berries are an excellent source of potassium which is effective for your blood pressure control. Enjoy berries; they make a great dessert when topped with low-fat yogurt. In the summer, drink fresh berry juice with a protein powder, for a light snack..

Fatty Fish – Fighting fat with fat may sound paradoxical, but not all fats make people fat. Omega 3 fatty acids, found in salmon, mackerel, tuna and other fatty fish, can increase the metabolic rate, rid the body of excess fluids and increase energy levels. Other essential fats for a healthy metabolism are Omega 6 fatty acids, especially Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA). Good sources are evening primrose oil, borage seed oil and black current oil. If you are not a fish lover, fish oil capsules and flaxseed (either in seed form or as an oil) are great sources of Omega 3 essential fat. In fact, flaxseed may play a role in the prevention of heart disease and cancer. You can also use flaxseed oil as a salad dressing. 

Oats – Oats drive down cholesterol. 23 out of 25 studies prove that a large bowl of oats did the job. Oats are a great, long chain molecule food that expands in the body and makes you feel fuller, longer. Oats also release glucose into the blood stream, slowly but surely. Add buckwheat to your bowl and you’ll get a double whammy. 

Lean Protein – The most thermogenic food is lean protein from solid foods, especially; chicken breast, game meats (kangaroo etc), lean red meats, almost all types of fish, seafood, egg whites. 

Mixed Grain & Pumpernickel Bread – Studies show that some breads reduce the appetite and others do just the opposite. The reason for these study results is that white and whole-wheat varieties are high on the glycemic index, and elevate the blood sugar greatly, which in turn stimulates fat production in storage. Breads that are dense, high fibre breads, do just the opposite. Researchers found that subjects who ate dark, high fibre breads, compared to those who ate white bread, were less hungry on a daily basis and …. Remember the 80-20 Rule in Weight Loss.

Details are important and little things can make a difference, so it doesn’t hurt to eat spicy foods, drink tea and drink ice cold water. However when you put too much attention on the small stuff, you’re not only being inefficient, you’re also putting yourself at risk of falling for the latest fad diet.

When you combine both aerobic training and anaerobic weight training with thermogenic lean protein foods, the right amounts and types of essential fats, plenty of green vegetables and just the right amount of natural starchy carbohydrates and whole grains, your body will turn into a turbo-charged fat burning machine!!!