Fat Burning Foods - Salmon

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.