Top 8 fat burning foods

Certain food can help you lose weight and burn fat faster than others.

Everyone knows that you need to cut kilojoules to lose weight, but this is often easier said than done. If you want to lose weight, keep it off and maintain your health, you need to eat satisfying, nutrient-dense food.

If you find yourself hungry all the time and unable to lose weight, then you’re probably not getting in enough nutrients. Your body will keep sending hungry signals until you get the nutrients you need. And if you keep reaching for high-kilojoule, low-nutrient foods (i.e. junk food), you will stay hungry and probably gain weight.

These foods will feed your body what it needs, and your body will respond gratefully by becoming lean and healthy.

Cinnamon

This spice may prevent the post-meal insulin spike that can trigger your body to store fat rather than burn it. Plus, cinnamon brings out the natural sweetness in foods without adding kilojoules. All spices and herbs help you lose kilograms when used to add flavour to foods instead of butter, oil, or salt. Sprinkle some in your coffee or oats.

Beans

Because beans provide the ideal combination of fibre and protein, plus a type of fat-fighting starch, called resistant starch, they satisfy your hunger for relatively few kilojoules (about 500-600kJ per 1/2 cup). Studies show bean eaters weigh less and have slimmer waistlines.

Eggs

According to a Saint Louis University study, dieters who ate eggs at breakfast lost more weight than those who picked a high-carb meal with the same number of kilojoules. Other research shows that having a big breakfast helps you control your kilojoule intake all day long.

Mushrooms

These contain the amino acid glutamate, which gives them a hearty, meaty taste referred to as umami. Umami foods (others include Parmesan, sweet potatoes, and olives) add a lot of flavour to foods, which helps up the satisfaction factor of smaller portions.

Nuts

All nuts are packed with fibre, protein, and healthy fat to keep your tummy feeling full longer. It’s a great snack between meals, but keep to small portions.

Fish

100 grams supplies a third of your protein needs for under 500 kilojoules. In one study, women who got 30 percent of their kilojoules from protein had more muscle, which boosts metabolism. Other options: tofu, yoghurt, chicken, lean beef, pork, and fish.

Wholewheat pasta

Yes, you can eat pasta and lose weight! Wholewheat varieties (and other whole grains, like quinoa and barley) take longer to digest than products made from refined flour, so they raise blood sugar more slowly. This can prevent excess fat storage, especially around your belly.

Broccoli

This superfood is one of the highest sources of vitamin C – about 150% of the recommended daily allowance in just a single 100g serving. Broccoli also has an unusually strong combination of both vitamin A and vitamin K and has a positive impact on the body’s detoxification system. And you get all this and more for only 130kJ per 100g!