Best Fat Burning Foods
Best Fat Burning Foods
It doesn’t matter how many hours you put in down the gym if you are neglecting to consider what goes into your mouth. As the old saying goes, six packs start in the kitchen. If you really want to see results and get ripped and lean in record time, then you need to work with, not against your metabolism.
Boost Your Metabolism
By boosting your base metabolic rate, you can assist your body to burn more fat. Sure, cardio training, high-intensity workouts, and strength building weight sessions can also help torch fat, especially in conjunction with sound nutritional goals. However, while some of you might believe the marketing spiel behind so-called “fat-burning” supplements, why spend that money on pills that are more times than not either ineffective or worse still, unsafe?
Best Fat Burning Foods
Fortunately, there are a whole host of popular foods and beverages that have been scientifically proven to promote weight loss by raising your metabolism. We’re not talking about going on a restrictive diet either. This isn’t some kind of fad that you’ll find it difficult to follow. We’re just talking about honest, clean foods that are naturally able to burn more calories by posting your metabolism and putting your body into better balance. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, it’s not. This is all evidence-based research, so grab your notebook and pen and get ready to prepare your new weekly shopping list as we run you through the best fat burning foods.
Your New Weekly Grocery List
In no particular order, let’s take a look at the healthy food sources you need to add to your basket if you’re on a mission to reduce your overall body fat.
Eggs
Eggs are an excellent source of protein and a nutritional powerhouse. Put them onto your weekly shopping list immediately! An egg-based breakfast will successfully set you up on your fat burning journey for the day, promoting feelings of fullness for several hours, unlike that Danish pastry! They’re an eggcellent source of high-quality as well as cost-effective protein and could increase your metabolism by up to 35%. Eating just as few as three eggs a week could help you burn some of that unwanted fat you’re carrying around your middle!
Fatty Fish
Everyone knows the benefit of fatty fish. It’s incredibly good for you on so many levels and always tops the superfood lists. It’s also delicious too. From salmon to sardines, mackerel to herrings, you should be aiming for at least three portions of fatty fish a week. It’s packed with omega-3 fatty acids that can help promote fat loss. It also helps fill you up faster because it’s packed with protein, which also boosts your metabolic rate during digestion. Omega-3 is further shown to reduce inflammation and decrease the risk of heart disease. What’s not to love?
Coffee
Arguably one of the most popular beverages around the world, coffee contains caffeine and is an excellent mood enhancer. It also promotes improvement in both mental and physical performance. If you’ve ever spent any amount of time in a commercial gym, you’ll notice just how popular the espresso machine is! Studies suggested that caffeine can increase the metabolic rate by as much as 13%, according to the amount consumed and individual physicality and tolerance. Of course, caffeine is also a known stimulant, so to get the fat burning benefits without sacrificing your sleep, no more than 400 mg a day are recommended, which is equivalent to around four regular sized cups of coffee.
Green Tea
Sticking with beverages, our next best fat burning food recommendation is green tea. It provides a moderate amount of caffeine, alongside being an excellent source of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is an antioxidant promoting the loss of belly fat in particular. As with coffee, four cups a day are recommenced to experience health and fat burning benefits.
Coconut Oil
Increasing in popularity, just a few tablespoons of coconut oil per day could have a positive effect when it comes to reducing that waistline. Coconut oil contains good “HDL” cholesterol and is credited with having beneficial appetite suppressants as well as fat-burning properties. Coconut oil also remains stable at high temperatures, which makes it ideal for cooking with, perfect for preparing healthy and nutritious stir-fries. It’s rich in MCT’s and could not only increase your metabolism and promote fat loss but also reduce heart-related diseases.
Apple Cider Vinegar
So much more than just an ancient folk remedy, there is evidence to support it’s health benefits, lowering of blood sugar and insulin levels being just two. The key component, acetic acid, is what’s thought to promote fat burning and, in particular, targets fat stored in around the belly. Nutritionists recommend starting with one teaspoon a day in water and gradually work up to as much as two tablespoons according to individual digestive tolerance.
Whey Protein
Time to grab yourself a blender, a handful of berries, a banana, and some whey protein powder. Whey protein, especially when combined with exercise, can help both preserve as well as recover muscles while working out and also through any period of weight loss. What you don’t want to happen is to burn fat but at the expense of losing muscle mass. That’s where whey protein can help. It increases the metabolic rate, keeps you feeling fuller for longer, and promotes healthy weight loss. A protein shake is a quick and easy whey to get more protein into your diet and is the ideal snack to grab and go.
Chili Peppers
Time to spice up your life, not just your mealtimes. Chili peppers do more than just add an element of heat to your food. They can also dial up the metabolism, promoting weight loss and helping you to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. They’re a powerful antioxidant that may promote a reduction in inflammation and contain something called capsaicin, which assists with reducing appetite. Use either fresh chili peppers or powdered cayenne pepper to spice up mealtimes at least three times a week.
Full Fat Greek Yoghurt
The final fat burning food we’re singling out for special mention today is full-fat Greek yogurt, which is an excellent source not just of protein but also of potassium and calcium. It also contains probiotics which can help maintain healthy gut functioning and may ease the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. It contains something called conjugated linoleic acid, which is thought to promote weight loss and has fat-burning potential. Just be sure to select the full-fat Greek variety as opposed to non-fat and low-fat options, which don’t deliver the same fat-burning benefits.
Alongside all of the foods that we’ve mentioned above, other items to stock up on when you next do your weekly shop include olive oil, mixed berries, avocados, kale, nuts and seeds, quinoa, grapefruit, brown rice, and oats. Small changes to your diet could help you to fast track those weight loss goals.
Sources:
- Fat-Fighting Foods, Web MD
- 12 Healthy Foods That Help You Burn Fat, Healthline
