| Weight loss fads come and go, and oftentimes | | | | during digestion. This means with a typical |
| you see the same tired fads circulating over and | | | | boneless skinless chicken breast, containing 300 |
| over again, passing from one generation to the | | | | calories (with negligible fat or carbohydrates), |
| next like Aunt Mildred's heirloom china. On the | | | | roughly 100 of these calories will be burned away |
| other hand, we live in an age of rapid scientific | | | | during the process of digestion. Now let's discuss |
| development, and an undying thirst for nutritional | | | | the special properties of some foods that are |
| knowledge to combat the rising epidemic of | | | | easily included into your diet and which promote |
| obesity. So oftentimes these "heirloom fads" | | | | weight loss. |
| recirculate through the population with a new | | | | Cayenne Pepper - Stimulates the metabolism and |
| "scientific" twist. | | | | cleans fat out of the arteries. This food should be |
| However, it would be foolish to dismiss the fruits | | | | eaten with protein since protein is required to |
| of scientific research altogether. Let's cut through | | | | transport and eliminate fat through the body. |
| the hype of various weight loss fads and present | | | | Ginger - Expands the blood vessels, increases the |
| the principles of nutrition that are backed by the | | | | metabolism, and stimulates circulation. |
| latest research. The topic of today is "fat burning | | | | Olive Oil - It is a good monounsaturated fat that |
| foods", a somewhat general term which we'll | | | | has health benefits and helps burn fat and reduce |
| define and then put to practical use. | | | | cholesterol. |
| Let's start by defining what a fat burning food is | | | | Ice Water - Not technically a fat burning food, but |
| not. A fat burning food is not a negative calorie | | | | indispensable to those trying to shape up. Drinking |
| food. The theory behind negative calorie foods | | | | eight 16oz glasses of cool water throughout the |
| states that some foods require more calories to | | | | day burns the equivalent of walking 3 miles at a |
| digest than the number of calories they contain, | | | | moderate pace. Cold water burns more fat |
| thereby causing a caloric deficit in the body which | | | | because the body must work harder to heat it to |
| leads to weight loss. Celery is often toted as | | | | internal temperature. |
| falling into this category. While it is true that some | | | | Citrus Fruits - They contain Vitamin C which can |
| foods, especially plant foods, contain energy | | | | liquify fat and allow it to exit the body faster. |
| content (cellulose) that cannot be broken down, | | | | Eggs - This fat burning food contains lots of B12 |
| the amount of energy it requires to digest is, | | | | which helps the body break down fat and also |
| unfortunately, negligible. In fact, even if you were | | | | excites the metabolism. |
| to eat nothing but celery (an unsustainable and | | | | Garlic - A natural antibiotic, it regulates insulin and |
| dangerous diet), your "calorie deficit" would only | | | | kills bacteria, purifying the blood. |
| add up to a few dozen calories at day's end. | | | | Oatmeal - This is a great breakfast food because |
| However, the news is not all bleak. Yes, it is | | | | it slowly releases glucose into the blood without |
| impractical to eat foods that burn more calories | | | | causing an insulin spike. |
| than they contain. However, there are fat burning | | | | Now that we have covered the basics behind fat |
| foods that cause the body to work harder during | | | | burning foods, you have the components for a |
| digestion, thereby increasing the number of | | | | successful diet which will work for you even |
| calories expended during the digestion process. | | | | hours after the meal has ended. Some of these |
| These fat burning foods are termed | | | | foods work even better when consumed |
| "thermogenic", and some foods are proven to | | | | together. For example, if you combine olive oil |
| burn more calories through assimilation than | | | | with chicken breast and cayenne, the olive oil will |
| others based on calorimetry readings. | | | | work synergistically to further slow down the |
| The most thermogenic macronutrient is protein. | | | | absorption of protein, and the cayenne will help |
| Reducing your overall carbohydrate consumption | | | | transport and eliminate fat. While this list may not |
| and increasing protein intake will not only cause | | | | be enough to help you design the perfect diet, I |
| hormonal changes that promote weight loss, but | | | | believe these explanations will help point you in the |
| will also boost the metabolism through | | | | right direction while simultaneously guiding you |
| thermogenesis. In fact, it is estimated that 30% | | | | away from "heirloom fads". |
| of calories consumed from protein are burned off | | | | |