While there are no miracle foods when it comes to weight loss, it is true that certain foods can help promote weight loss through the thermogenic effect, by stimulating metabolism, or by triggering hormones in the body that cause the body to burn fat for energy rather than store it. Adding the foods below to your diet is not only healthy, but also a great way to speed up your slim-down:
Chili Peppers: Any variety of chili pepper that can get you sweating can also help you lose weight. The capsaicin contained in peppers actually causes your internal temperature to rise, forcing your body to burn more calories even when you are just sitting around. Adding peppers or hot sauce to your dishes can aid in your weight loss goals while also offering a spicy flavor kick.
Green Tea: Green tea contains a potent compound known as EGCG which provides a temporary boost to your metabolism. Avoid processed or pre-packaged teas, since they contain far less of this fat-burning aid. Instead, reach for dried tea leaves or tea bags, which will release far more EGCG when steeped. As an added benefit, the caffeine in green tea has been proven to boost performance when exercising, letting you work harder and burn more calories.
Lean Meats: Lean meats, such as skinless fish filets, chicken breast, and lean cuts of beef, have a strong thermogenic effect, meaning that they require more energy than most other foods to digest. In fact, digesting lean meats can burn almost a third of the calories that they contain. Not only that, but protein takes longer to digest, meaning that you will feel more full and less likely to feel hunger pangs that can lead to overeating.
Whole Grains: As with lean meats, whole grains digest slowly and burn more calories when the body breaks them down. Studies indicate that digesting whole grains may burn twice as many calories as digesting processed grains, and the high fiber content of whole grains also increases satiety. Avocados: While avocados do contain large amounts of fat, this fat is healthy and promotes weight loss. The nutritious monounsaturated fat found in avocados shut down fat-storing hormones in the body and protect cells from oxidative damage. And because monounsaturated fats promote healthier cell membranes, the body’s natural fat-burning hormones become more efficient.
Coconut Oil: Page 2 of 2 Unlike other cooking oils, coconut oil is rich in healthy triglycerides that the body is more likely to use for energy than to store as fat. Because of this, coconut oil is a perfect option for cooking, frying, or using as a dressing. Studies have shown that those who swapped out margarines and other cooking oils for coconut oil lost more weight and more inches off of their waistline over time.
Grapefruit: Though grapefruit is often criticized for showing up in fad diets, it truly does deserve a place on the table for anyone seeking to slim down. The compounds in grapefruit lower levels of insulin, which is a fat-storing hormone. It is also high in fiber and water content, meaning that grapefruit makes you feel much fuller than other foods that contain the same number of calories. Adding half of a grapefruit to your breakfast is an excellent way to keep your metabolism running smoothly.
No single food will result in overnight weight loss, but adding these foods to your diet can dramatically increase your fat-burning potential. These foods help the metabolism stay in top shape, resulting in faster weight loss, fewer cravings, and better results from exercising
