Foods that Burn Fat: Speed Up Weight Loss.

Are there actually foods that burn fat? This is a perennial topic and for good reason. When we go on a diet, we want to make sure that what we are consuming is going to help us in our efforts.

Foods that provide high amounts of fiber and water content are best, as they are low and relatively low in calories and also are quite filling. Let’s take a look at these.

Non-starchy vegetables. You can eat virtually unlimited quantities. In fact it is really almost impossible to binge on broccoli or kale for instance — even if you managed to eat four or five cups that would set you back at most 100 or so calories.

A list of non-starchy vegetables is below.

Lettuce, spinach, kale, chard, bean sprouts, cabbage, cucumber, yellow squash, zucchini squash, bell peppers, tomato, eggplant, watercress, onions, garlic, shallots, chives and leeks. carrots, turnip, horseradish, beets, parsnip, radishes, chicory, celery, fennel, parsley, asparagus, Swiss chard.

Whole grains. Yes, despite what you may hear, complex carbohydrates and whole grains are great for fat burning and this is backed up by science. Now we are not talking about processed cereals with thin claims of “whole grains” or of whole wheat bread, nor are we talking about white rice. 

We are looking for the whole, intact grains. By intact we mean that the grains have not been altered and contain all of their nutritious components the endosperm, germ and bran. 
Some great examples: brown rice, steel cut oats and rolled oats, barley, rye, kasha, millet, and quinoa are among the wholesome cereal grains which are perfect for dieters. The high fiber content and the nutrient value is superb.

Beans and legumes. Again, great sources of complex carbohydrates and fiber. Beans are also very filling. Foods high in fiber and water, as noted, are your best friends as they will curb your hunger and keep you satisfied. You know the feeling you get, in contrast from munching on snack crackers or potato chips, you eat and eat and are never satisfied. Here are a few of the tremendous variety from which to choose!

Black beans, red beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, black-eyed peas, split peas, Lima beans, lentils, fava beans, chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans), and many more.

Lean protein. Avoid fatty cuts of meat, red meat and dairy products high in fat. Instead, there is a tremendous variety from which to choose that is lower in calories and fat. Let’s look at the possibilities.

• Egg whites. A bodybuilder’s mainstay. Using just the egg whites you can easily whip up lean versions of the majority of favorite egg dishes including omelettes, scrambled eggs, poached eggs and more.

• Tofu. Stick with the soft versions of tofu which have less fat. It is nourishing and satisfying and can be used in a variety of recipes.

• Fish. For dieting you can stick with some of the leaner fish such as tuna. But don’t rule out salmon which has omega-3 fatty acid essential to your diet and of itself a great boost to metabolism.

• Lean turkey and chicken. Again, a favorite of fitness pros and bodybuilders. Take advantage of the reduced calories as well as the thermogenic effects of protein consumption.

There you have it, a list of foods that burn fat and can help you jumpstart your diet and increase your metabolism.