10 Fat-burning Foods You Should Be Eating

Posted On Dec 16, 2014 By Joe Vennare

The 10 powerful fat-burning foods to try this month

What if you could trick your body into burning more calories? Sounds like something you could get into, right?

Let's say that you're already exercising regularly. And you're also watching what you eat. Of course you're not on a starvation or crash diet. Just eating real foods that deliver a bunch of beneficial nutrients to your body. Go you!

Now let's say that you want to get a bit more bang for your buck, better outcomes for your effort. OK, I like where your head is at. Let's see if we can make that happen.

The Basics

We've said it before, but it's worth repeating. EAT. REAL. FOOD. That means loading up on fruits and vegetables. If you're an animal eater, stick to lean protein sources. Then fill up on healthy fats like coconut oil, grass-fed butter, avocados and nuts. Got it? Good! On to the next.

Top 10 Fat-burning Foods

Now for the really good stuff — foods that work for you and with you en route to weight loss. That's right, simply working these foods into your diet can help boost your metabolism, burn more fat and up your antioxidant intake.

  1. Cayenne Pepper: If you can handle a little spice in your life, this pepper will heat you up, literally. It increases lipid oxidation, meaning it will promote burning fat for energy. It also decreases appetite and slows the growth of fat cells.
  2. Cinnamon: Adding this spice to your coffee, tea or snacks adds flavor and has been found to lower blood sugar levels.
  3. Ginger: Known to be a metabolic activator, ginger increases metabolic function, suppresses the appetite, helps improve digestion and even relieves an upset stomach.
  4. Apples and Berries: Packed with pectin, quercetin, vitamin C and malic acid, these fruits regulate energy levels, and because they are water-based and high in fiber, they help satisfy your appetite.
    Apples
  5. Wild Salmon: Fresh, wild salmon, not farmed-raised, contains essential fatty acids or EFAs a key nutrient for overall health.
    Salmon
  6. Citrus Fruits: Vitamin C oxidizes body fat, increasing the use of fat for energy.
  7. Garlic: Keep vampires away and enhance your body's thermogenic properties — your body's ability to burn fat — with garlic. Garlic has also been linked to lower blood sugar levels.
  8. Raw Almonds: Almonds build muscle, keep you full, and stay healthy with their protein, fiber, vitamin E and magnesium.
  9. Green Tea: Tea tastes good and is better for you. It's actually EGCG, a chemical in green tea, that revs up the heart, metabolism and fat-burning abilities. Catechins, the powerful antioxidants found in green tea, are known to increase metabolism.
    Green Tea
  10. Eggs: For breakfast or throughout the day, scrambled or hard boiled, eggs supply vitamin B12, protein, and amino acids and help build muscle and burn fat.

Make It Happen

Preparation is part of any successful diet and exercise regimen. When it comes to sneaking these foods into your snacks or meals, planning ahead is your best bet. Plan and prepare your meals for the week by creating a shopping list that includes these fat-burning foods, batch-cooking meals the weekend before and keeping healthy snacks on hand to prevent a binge-eating episode when hunger sets in.