Fat Burning Foods

Fat Burning Foods - Chiles

2010-07-26T07:03:00.000-07:00

Another simple way to lose weight is by including a variety of fat burning foods in your diet. Some of the most effective fat burning foods are chile peppers. These spicy vegetables can boost your metabolism by up to 25% by speeding up your heart rate. This increase in metabolism and heart rate is due to the chemical, Capsaicin, found in both jalapeno and cayenne peppers. When the Capsaicin is ingested, it causes the release of stress hormones that stimulate the metabolism, and the resulting energy being burned is manifested in weight loss. The thermodynamic properties in Capsaicin can even reduce the level of cholesterol in the body.

The majority of chiles are grown in Mexico and western Texas. They are readily available in most supermarkets, and won’t put a dent in your budget. Jalapenos become red when matured, but are usually eaten when they are green. When grocery shopping, try to purchase of variety of different chile peppers to spice up your cooking. Although associated with Mexican cuisine, chiles can be added to almost any dish, making it bolder and more flavorful. Add chopped chiles to soups, casseroles, dips and salads, and see if your family doesn’t jump out of their seats and yell “Olé!” (The jumping part comes from that boost of energy they will feel as a result of this wonderful fat burning food!)

When preparing jalapenos, be wary of how you handle the vegetables. The “heat” in this fat burning food is concentrated in the veins located inside the chiles. If you touch the veins or the seeds, called “picante”, Spanish for hot, attached to them, you will feel the heat. Then, if your hands come into contact with your eyes or mouth, you will experience a redness around the areas and an intense burning sensation. The best remedy for this situation is to rinse your hands immediately with either milk or dish washing liquid and to avoid contact with other parts of your body.

Despite the “risks” involved, it is a wise decision to include fat burning foods like jalapenos or other chile peppers in your weight loss regime. The consumption of these vegetables can lead to a major increase in the calories you burn each day. And many chiles are, in fact, negative calorie foods. Habanero and Scotch bonnet are the most popular chiles used in cooking, but
jalapeño and cayenne pepper included in your diet will help trigger weight loss if used regularly.

Chiles are just one example of an effective fat burning food. Most of these foods are healthy alternatives to the over processed, fatty foods in which many Americans tend to overindulge. By adding such foods as chiles, green leafy vegetables and lean protein to your diet, you will not only have a substantial increase in energy, but you will also finally be successful in shedding those extra ugly, unhealthy pounds.

Fat Burning Foods - Cinnamon

2010-07-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

It is a well known fact that cinnamon is an effective fat burning food. The essential oils in this sweet smelling spice enhance digestion and burn belly fat. That in itself should convince you to include this spice in your weight loss regime. Cinnamon, however, not only helps dieters shed those extra pounds, it can actually significantly improve your health.

Just how does cinnamon accomplish improving you health while promoting weight loss? First of all, this “wonder” food helps to metabolize sugars by slowing the digestion process of food from the stomach to the intestines, lowering blood sugar levels and controlling insulin levels, thus lessening the occurrence of blood sugar spikes. By increasing the heart rate, it also decreases blood glucose, triglycerides and the “bad” cholesterol in certain diabetics.

This fat burning food is a potent antioxidant that prevents bacteria and fungi from spreading in the body. The chemicals in cinnamon help to eliminate the clumping of blood platelets, causing it to have an anti-clotting effect on the blood, and, in the process, lessening inflammation.

Cinnamon is a good source of manganese, dietary fiber, iron and calcium. Calcium and fiber assist in washing bile salts from the body; these bile salts can cause damage to cells in the colon. The result of eating cinnamon is manifested in a decrease in the possibility of contracting colon cancer.

What other fat burning food can also lower high cholesterol levels, help prevent atherosclerosis and heart disease? None that I know of. Even people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome can benefit from eating cinnamon, since it can relieve the symptoms of constipation and diarrhea. Let us not forget that cinnamon can also alleviate the pain caused by arthritis. The Chinese really knew what they were doing when, for centuries, they used cinnamon to relieve the symptoms of colds or flu. And physicians during the Middle Ages used cinnamon, as well, to treat coughing and sore throats.

If that weren’t enough, would you believe that cinnamon can actually make you smarter? Studies have shown that just smelling the fragrant aroma of this spice can increase brain activity. Participants in several studies had improved test scores, especially in tasks that required memory retention, after being exposed to cinnamon.

Because cinnamon is naturally sweet, by adding it to your morning coffee or oatmeal, you can avoid those empty calories and leave the sugar bowl in the cupboard. It is also a wonderful preservative; add it to food to reduce bacterial growth and prevent food from spoiling. This remarkable fat burning food even fights the E. coli bacteria in unpasteurized juices. So what are you waiting for? Start changing your life today by simply adding a tablespoon or two of cinnamon to your menu daily. You’ll be astounded by the results…both inside and out.

Fat Burning Foods - Cabbage

2010-07-26T06:56:00.000-07:00

Cabbage is a universally popular food,…that is, everywhere except the United States. When Americans think of cabbage, their senses are inundated with the memories of foul smells emanating from a pot set to boil on the stove. Although this hearty vegetable is readily available and not hard on the pocketbook, most Americans turn up their noses at a vegetable that is one of the most nutritious fat burning foods available in your supermarket.

So why should you include cabbage as part of your weight loss regime? Well, for one thing, cabbage is a prime example of a truly effective fat burning food. The sulfur and iodine contained in this leafy, green vegetable assist your body in cleansing the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, which enables it to break up and eliminate belly fat. So why spend your hard-earned money on expensive colon cleanses, when, for a few pennies a serving, you can have the same results…and, cabbage is also very good for your health.

With a mere 15 calories per cup, cabbage is chock-filled with vitamins. It is an excellent source of vitamins A and E, which protect the eyes and skin. Vitamin B, a main component in cabbage, keeps nerve endings healthy as well as increase the rate of metabolism. The Vitamin C contained in cabbage is an important anti-oxidant; it can lower the risk of several types of cancer, in addition to burning fat, for studies have shown that cabbage can be effective in decreasing the rate of both prostate and breast cancer.

This fat burning food is a natural diuretic. It cleanses the body of many viruses and certain bacteria. Cabbage can also alleviate the symptoms of constipation, and, thus prevents indigestion, headaches and stomach ulcers, which are sometimes caused by this ailment. Cabbage can do wonders for your skin, as well, by slowing down the visible signs of aging, and even protecting you from a multitude of skin diseases such as eczema.

Do you suffer from frequent colds in the winter? Try adding cabbage to your diet; it will strengthen your immune system and keep your body resistant to infections. Cabbage also speeds up the healing process of damaged tissues and wounds. This fat burning food even removes the toxins from blood that can cause maladies like rheumatism, arthritis and gout, to name a few. It stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies. The iodine in cabbage assists the nervous system to function soundly. Cabbage has even been proven effective in the treatment of varicose veins.

Since cabbage aids in keeping the endocrinal glands healthy and performing at their peak levels, it has been shown effective in the treatment of certain neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. And, finally, cabbage can actually help you fight depression.

So as you can see, cabbage is not only a wonderful fat burning food, but an efficient tool in maintaining a healthy body and mind. Add this vegetable to your weight loss regime and reap the health benefits as well. There are many varieties to choose from: red cabbage, Savoy cabbage, Bok Choy or Napa cabbage. Try them steamed or stir fried to obtain the maximum results. You will be amazed by how much better you look and feel.

Fat Burning Foods - Salmon

2010-07-26T06:51:00.000-07:00

The salmon is a migrating fish found off both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America, and in some of the larger lakes to the north. Born in lakes or rivers, it spends the majority of its life in ocean waters, returning only to lay and hatch its eggs, and dies soon after spawning...or… finds its way to your dinner table.

Popular for its tasty flesh, the salmon is also an amazing fat burning food that can not only help you lose weight, but also keep you healthy. By regulating the level of leptin, a hormone that affects metabolism, salmon can be an effective tool in shedding those extra pounds. It is a lean protein that is loaded with vitamins, minerals and Omega-3 fatty acids. Although previously shunned, research has shown us that certain fats, like Omega-3, are actually good for us. This fat can actually protect us from heart disease, improve our immune system, and even reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.

Omega-3 fatty acids influence the production of insulin needed to improve blood sugar levels. This inhibits food cravings. These fats facilitate the body’s ability to burn calories rather than transforming and storing them as fats. In addition, they also stimulate the production of leptin, which is a natural appetite suppressant. And if that weren’t enough, eating this fat burning food also reduces chemicals in our body that cause both stress and belly fat.

There are three different types of Omega-3: ALA, DHA and EPA. Wild salmon is a good source of DHA and EPA, which help in brain function, and thus contribute to the benefits of eating this fat burning food. Farm-raised salmon, on the other hand, may contain contaminants, so the better choice would be the wild caught variety. Most wild salmon is caught in the Pacific Ocean. If you can not readily find wild salmon where you live, try Alaska canned salmon as a healthy alternative. Canned salmon from Alaska is comprised of 20 times more calcium and over four times the omega-3 fatty acids contained in other canned fish. But the health benefits you will get from eating farm-raised salmon fished in the Atlantic far out-way the risks from increased toxin levels.

Salmon can stimulate weight loss for a variety of reasons. Salmon, either wild caught or farm raised, is low in calories. It is a fat burning food that will leave you feeling full when you leave the table. As the rate of your metabolism increases, you will have more energy to exercise and take part in activities that will help in weight reduction.

For maximum results, add salmon to your menu three or four times a week. Try poaching or baking salmon steaks or filets. Add left-over or canned salmon to soups and salads. By adding salmon to your weight loss regime, you will not only watch the pounds disappear, but improve your overall health.

Fat Burning Foods - Turkey

2010-07-12T17:20:00.000-07:00

Dieting is big business. You can’t turn on the T.V. or log onto the Internet without being bombarded with ads promoting one diet or another. With all the diets on the market, it’s difficult to decide which one will give the best results without sacrificing your health. Whether you choose to go low fat, low carb or low cal, there are several fat burning foods that can both contribute to weight loss and be nutritions at the same time. One of these foods is turkey.

Why should you include turkey in your weight loss regime? The answer is simple. Turkey is one of the must effective fat burning foods available. It has fewer calories than any of the other lean meats and less fat than chicken. As with most proteins, turkey causes your body to use up to 30% of its calories during digestion and builds muscle in the process. As the protein in turkey is broken down, it also stimulates the liver in its elimination of toxins and fats in the body. In addition, it is more filling than either fats or carbohydrates, so you can leave the table feeling satisfied.

Since it is a good source of vitamins B6 and B12, turkey helps your body regulate blood sugars and convert nutrients into energy. Turkey can also increase your metabolism because it contains leucine, an essential amino acid. And that’s not all. Turkey also contains a trace mineral called selenium, which can repair DNA and damaged cells in the body, as well as helping your thyroid’s metabolism and your immune system.

So it is no surprise that the consumation of this fat burning food has increased over the past several décades, as Americans have learned more about its nutritional value and its weight loss potential. We are finding that, to assure weight loss, it is essential to reduce our intake of complex carbohydrates and eat more fat burning foods like turkey. With one four ounce serving of roasted turkey breast having only 175 calories and 3.3 grams of fat, and containing 33.9 grams of protein, it is one of the most effective fat burning foods.

Now that you know how good turkey is for you, the big question is: White meat or dark? The average turkey raised in this country consists of 7o% white meat and 30% dark meat. Since most Americans prefer white meat, the animals that are produced have much larger breasts than their ancestor, the wild turkey. In fact, because the turkeys that are bred have such big breasts, the male of the species can not fertilize the females; turkey eggs have to be fertilized artificially. But getting back to our question, the white meat of the turkey has less calories, so it is the better choice if you are trying to lose weight. If, however, you prefer dark meat, you will still reep the benefits of this fat burning food.

Even as the consumption of turkey has increased in America, this source of lean protein is still associated with Thanks Giving, when we consume approximately 45 million turkeys. The turkey is also considered to be a rather stupid animal. And although it is true that many a turkey has drowned to death by “looking up” during a rain storm, your friends and family won’t call you a “turkey” when you parade your slim new body…the result of including this most effective of all the fat burning foods in your diet: TURKEY!