Happy Monday!  Hope you all had a great weekend.  I did!  We had our big ‘date night‘ that I talked about a couple weeks ago. Dinner was fabulous, and it was nice to be out child-free!

Today’s post is a continuation on last weeks post on Fat Burners…

Many people don’t realize that food can actually help you accelerate fat loss, but it can (if of course, eaten in proper portions)

Top 10 Fat Loss Foods

1. Lean Protein

Protein takes longer for your body to digest than simple carbohydrates, so it takes more calories for your body to process it. So naturally, its a fat loss food.  Your body also utilizes protein more than carbs or fats, so its less likely it will get stored as fat.  I didn’t put whey protein into this category, since its not a whole food like chicken for example, you’ll find its not as filling as a food meal, but they are still great to have on the go if you aren’t able to sit and eat.

2. Green Vegetables

Green veggies are very low in calories, but very high in nutrients and fiber.  If you find you’re hungry after meals, incorporating more green veggies into your diet will fill you up and help you lose fat.

3. Cayenne and Spicy Peppers

Cayenne (aka. capsicum) and hot peppers rev the metabolism and the concentrated form is in many fat burning supplements. Cayenne and ginger both can increase body temperature. This thermogenic effect is great for fat loss. Cayenne can also lower cholesterol and acts as a natural diuretic to reduce bloating.

4. Cinnamon

Cinnamon can naturally balance blood sugar, and in studies has been found to lower the glycemic index of your meal by 18-29%. People who add cinnamon to their diets are also at less risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. If your blood sugar remains stable, this puts your body in a great position to lose fat, as your insulin levels aren’t spiking and crashing.

5. Berries

Compared to other fruits, berries are lower in calories and higher in fiber. Especially raspberries, which contain the most fiber.

6. Oats

People on grain-free diets would argue that grains lack nutritional value, and I do agree with that.  But they do contain fiber, and what doesn’t do a better job of keeping you full in the morning than a bowl of oatmeal along with your protein.  For even more fiber, oat bran is a great option, and/or wheat germ and wheat bran. Many people eat a lot more grains and carbs than needed. I personally believe, more people can benefit from eating more vegetables and less grains.

7. Grapefruit

The latest research on grapefruit tells us that naringenin, an antioxidant flavonoid derived from the bitter flavor of grapefruits and other citrus fruits, may cause the liver to break down fat while increasing insulin sensitivity.

8. Essential Fatty Acids

The healthy fat found in fish like salmon, walnuts, flax seeds, and even medium chain fatty acids found in coconut oil can help promote fat loss.  There’s been a HUGE misconception that fat makes you fat. Not true. That is, if its the right kind of fat (not saturated animal fats and trans fats) and eaten in proper portions, it can help you lose fat.

9. Sweet Potatoes/Yams

Sweet potatoes/yams are great for losing fat.  High in vitamins, fiber and water. They are much more nutritious than white potatoes and contain less calories and carbs.

10. Pumpkin

Quite simply, pumpkin rocks. It is super filling, and ridiculously low in calories.  For a 1/2 cup of canned pure pumpkin, its only 40 calories, 0.5g fat, 9g of carbs and 5g of fiber.

QUESTION! Do you already incorporate a lot of these into your diet?