Everyone knows that the food we eat affects the weight we gain or we don’t gain. What matters is the food itself. Even when you can name a couple of healthy ingredients from your diet, you would be surprised how many are actually helping you burn your calories, additional to your exercise routine. The most important thing to know is that losing weight starts in the kitchen!
How is fat stored in your body?
In order to understand how certain fat burning foods help you burn more calories and how certain ones will just get stored in your body as extra, you have to understand how fat storing works.
The food you eat is basically energy for your body. You need this energy for your system’s basic functioning, as well as to do your everyday chores. Energy is measured by calories. The more calories there are in your meal, the more energy your body will receive. You have probably already heard of the macro-nutrients that are present in your food – Carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Your body will use these components to generate energy for you. Naturally, when you consume more calories than what you actually need for your daily routine, eventually your body will start storing the extra fuel in the form of fat cells. These fats are most commonly stored in your waist, belly and hip area first and more will get built up on your upper body later.
The general advice for people who are trying to lose weight is to consume less calories than what they burn. So if you are sitting in front of a computer all day then it’s not necessary for your body to receive two pizzas, countless bars of chocolates and unhealthy soda pop. If you stick to a healthy diet with a wide variety of fat-free foods (consuming fat is still important, however, as it still has to be a part of a healthy diet) and you exercise at least once a day, you will start seeing (and feeling) the results in a week!
To accelerate this process, it’s a good move to try eating more of those specific foods that will help you burn your calories faster even when you have a limited time for exercise.
What are some fat burning foods?
You would be surprised how many yummy foods there are on this list. For many of them, maybe you would have never thought of having any nutritional value to them, but in the end, they turn out to be one of your lifesavers when it comes to dieting and losing weight. Maybe you will find a couple of foods that you have been craving forever but you were afraid to eat because you didn’t want to ruin your diet. Have a look at our list below. We categorized the foods into “healthy breakfast” and “healthy meals”.
The best healthy breakfast foods to lose weight:
Almost everyone likes berries! They are small, they are sweet and they can be used in so many ways! Now you know that berries are actually your allies in fighting weight gain. They will make you feel fuller for a longer period of time and also satisfy your hunger.
Pears and apples are fruits which naturally contain some water. It’s recommended to eat them instead of drinking them as juice because chewing itself can help further ease your hunger, as well as burn a few more calories.
Watermelon is a rich source of antioxidants, Vitamin A and C. This is probably one of the most watery fruits available. Imagine a hot summer day, with a fresh and juicy slice of watermelon waiting for you! Grapefruit is full of fibers that will fill up your stomach. It also lowers your insulin level and regulates your blood sugar. The fleshy white membranes are the most nutritious parts, so make sure not to skip them.
Both the low-fat and the regular type of yogurt can actually do miracles for you. The containing probiotics will help the amount of fat that your body wants to absorb.
Oatmeal contains fiber-rich whole-grain oats and lots of water. When consumed hot, it will cause greater fullness and longer satisfaction. Add cinnamon, as it is also an ingredient that helps reducing your fat storage.
It’s known to be helping with your testosterone level, which is a good thing even for women. It builds muscle while burning your fat.
Tea and coffee are not foods but most people like to have them with their breakfast. Studies show that green tea stimulates the body to burn abdominal fat faster.
Coffee has little effect in helping the body burn fat but it is certainly enough to wake you up to start the day. Be careful with the extra calories in a mocha cappuccino!
The best healthy meals to lose weight:
Lettuce, spinach, broccoli and other green vegetables contain a lot of water, and they also help building muscles.
The process of digesting protein requires more calorie burn than it does for carbs or fats. These will also help you build muscle and strengthen your immune system.
A small doses will prevent your body from storing more fat.
Their protein and fiber content make beans the perfect diet food. You will feel full for longer, without consuming too much calories. They are also great for muscle building and regulating digestion.
Nuts are perfect for in-between snacks. They are high in protein, fiber and heart-healthy fats. They can also improve your cholesterol levels. Nuts will help you build muscles and soothe your cravings.
Summary
In the end, it doesn’t matter which category these foods fell into. You can always mix and match them by adding nuts and fruits to your salad or eating berries with your yogurt. The choice is up to your taste, but don’t forget the one and only golden rule: the more calories you take in, the more fats will get stored in your body. Less calories and more exercise equal weight loss.
