Losing weight may feel like the weight of the world is sitting on your shoulders but it doesn’t have to be that way. Once you understand how to choose the right foods to eat at the right times of the day, you will begin to lose weight easily. Here are 17 fat-burning foods to add to your diet and start losing weight.
Your metabolism’s job is to keep your body, cells, and organs functioning properly. Having a sluggish metabolism is also responsible for weight gain. Skipping meals and eating unhealthy foods can cause your metabolism to lag and make you gain weight.
17 Fat Burning Foods To Speed Up Your Metabolism
When you consume foods that are high in protein, your body requires a lot of energy to digest these foods. When this happens, your metabolism goes into action and starts to work overtime. High fats and protein foods will have your metabolism working even when you are asleep!
According to Healthline, one of the best health and wellness websites on the internet, adding the following fat-burning foods to your diet daily can help your body burn fat faster by boosting your metabolism.
1. Peanut Butter
One of the best high-protein foods to add to your diet is peanut butter! 1 tablespoon of peanut butter has over 3.5 grams of protein, 3.5 grams of carbs, and 8,5 grams of fat. Adding peanut butter to your diet will help keep you feeling full longer during the day.
Yes, peanut butter is very high in fat but it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t add this particular type of nut to your diet. As you know, your body needs good fats and peanut butter is very high in monosaturated fats.
2. Pineapple
Pineapples contain a compound known as bromelain which helps your body break down and digest fats easily. Bromelain also helps reduce appetite and food cravings and prevents your body from storing fats. Pineapples are also very high in vitamin C which is essential for weight loss.
3. Oats
Just one cup of raw oats which measures around 81 grams contains over 8 grams of fiber and 11 grams of protein. As I mentioned above, foods high in protein and fiber increase the speed of your metabolism which forces your body to burn fat even when you are resting.
Oats are also great for people who crave sweets often during the day because they are very low on the glycemic index. Eating oats daily will help stabilize your blood sugar levels and prevent overeating and sugar cravings.
4. Apples
One of the best foods to eat while trying to lose weight is apples. Not only will eating apples help suppress your appetite but it will also provide your body with the sugar it needs to use as fuel and function properly.
Just 1 medium apple contains 3 grams of fiber, 19 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein. Apples are also very low in calories so try adding more apples to your diet daily if you want to lose weight.
5. Salmon & Fatty Fish
Salmon and fatty fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are vital for your overall health and weight loss. Research shows that eating salmon and fatty fish at least 3 times per week can help reduce inflammation in the body.
Inflammation is one of the leading causes of weight gain, water retention and it makes it nearly impossible to lose weight. Try adding some tuna, salmon, or trout to your diet 3 times per week for the best results.
6. Pumpkin
When trying to lose weight, you will need to snack on foods rich in fiber, and adding pumpkin to your diet is extremely powerful! You see, pumpkin contains soo much more fiber than most of the fiber-rich foods you know. Pumpkin is also very high in potassium which your body needs to function properly.
7. Green Tea
Yeah, I know, it’s hard to swallow but trust me, if you add in a little bit of ginger along with a dash of cinnamon, you will be loving every sip of your green tea! Not only does this amazing green leaf help with weight loss, but it also provides your body with some amazing antioxidants as well.
Green tea contains a fat-burning compound known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which is responsible for helping with weight loss.
8. Cayenne Pepper
Not only does eating spicy food cause your body to burn more calories by boosting your metabolism but it also helps keep you feeling full longer throughout the day. Research shows that adding cayenne pepper and hot jalapenos helps boost energy and promote weight loss.
9. Eggs
Stocking up on protein daily is one of the best ways to turn your body into a fat-burning machine! Foods rich in protein are harder to digest and require more energy to burn as fuel. This process causes your metabolism to work more than usual which leads to weight loss.
Adding eggs to your diet at least 3 times per week will also help your body build lean muscle which is vital for weight loss.
10. Black Pepper
Adding spices like black pepper to your foods can actually help prevent the formation of new fat cells from forming due to a compound called piperine. Black pepper also increases your body’s ability to absorb nutrients and vitamins from the foods you eat.
11. Mustard Seeds
Although not your typical weight-loss food, mustard seeds are very effective in helping you burn fat! Studies show that adding a single tablespoon to your diet daily can help boost your metabolism by over 25% for up to 4 hours!
12. Yogurt
Many studies have been conducted on the effect of yogurt on weight loss. Most of these studies found that overweight people who consumed fat-free yogurt along with a low-calorie diet lost 61% of body fat compared to those who didn’t.
Yogurt is rich in calcium and high in natural probiotics both of which help keep your digestive tract healthy.
You May Also Like:
13. Blueberries
Known as one of the best superfoods for weight loss, blueberries are a powerhouse of fat-burning antioxidants that help remove free radicals and toxins from the body. Free radicals and toxins are known to prevent weight loss and increase inflammation in the body.
14. Brazilian Nuts
Brazilian nuts are very high in fiber, protein, magnesium, and selenium, all of which help promote muscle building and muscle repair. Foods that help the body build muscle are great weight-loss foods because muscles increase the fat-burning process.
15. Green Peas
Green peas are known to be very rich in fiber, just 100 grams of green peas contain over 4 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein. Green peas are also very rich in other essential vitamins and nutrients that your body needs to function properly such as Vitamin A, K & C.
Snacking on some green peas when you feel hungry will help reduce your sugar cravings almost immediately. Oh, and did I mention that green peas are very low in calories? 1 Cup = 62 calories!
16. Avocados
According to this study, eating avocados regularly can actually help you lose belly fat! Avocados are rich in healthy monosaturated fats which help keep your heart healthy and promote weight loss. Avocados are also very high in fiber and carbs.
Fiber-rich foods help reduce and control appetite and reduce high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Just make sure you take into consideration the high-carb content of avocados. 1 medium avocado contains over 17 grams of carbohydrates.
17. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is making a name for itself but helping so many people lose weight around the world. This amazing liquid is very effective in reducing your appetite and preventing sugar cravings. If you do choose to use apple cider vinegar for weight loss, make sure you choose organic.
Research shows that adding just 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water daily can help you lose weight.
18. Bananas
Similar to sweet potatoes, bananas are great for keeping your digestive tract healthy but they are very high in carbs. 1 medium banana contains over 27 grams of carbs which is half of your RDV carb consumption.
With that being said, eating a banana at least 3 times per week will provide your body with minerals like potassium, magnesium, and natural sugars.
19. Sweet Potatoes
Whether you are trying to lose weight or maintain weight, sweet potatoes can help you achieve your goal. These tasty vegetables are rich in fiber and guess what, they won’t send your blood sugar levels through the roof!
Just make sure to consume them in moderation because they are very high in carbs. Just 1 5 inches sweet potato contains around 120 calories and up to 26 grams of carbs. The recommended daily carb consumption is 50 grams so eating a sweet potato provides half of your RDV!