If food literally burned fat, we’d all be injecting it directly into
our hips and love handles! Unfortunately, biology doesn’t work that way.
There are certain foods, however, that create more of a thermogenic
effect than others. In other words, they turn up the heat your body
generates during digestion, allowing you to torch calories quickly. That
doesn’t mean you can ignore eating a balanced diet overall, minding
your portions, and exercising regularly (nice try!).
Use the following seven foods to turn your metabolism into a furnace.
1. Green tea
Substances called catechins, which are abundant in green tea, may
stimulate the metabolism, studies show. Drinking 4 cups daily should be
enough to do the trick, experts say. If you’re sensitive to caffeine,
you may want to opt for a decaf variety.
2. Lean protein
Eating lean protein helps you feel fuller longer and build muscle,
and digesting it turns your metabolism into a blow torch. But please
don’t eat steaks the size of your foot. The average woman only needs
about 46 grams of protein daily, and the average man requires 56 grams,
roughly.
3. Whole grains
Your body burns more calories digesting brown rice, quinoa, and whole
wheat pasta, compared to their highly-processed counterparts. According
to the USDA Dietary Guidelines, you should make at least half of your
daily grains whole. But why stop at half?
4. Almonds
Eating a handful of almonds, instead of less healthy snacks, showed a
reduction in body weight and greater satiety, research reveals. Can’t
stop at a handful? Separate 23 almonds, skin on, into snack-sized bags
to control portions.
5. Chili peppers
The active compound in hot peppers, known as Capsaicin, appears to
heat up your metabolism and your mouth, research shows. And the effect
sticks, whether the peppers are raw, cooked, or dried. Out with the
salt; chili pepper flakes, in!
6. Ice water
Your body burns more calories in cooler temperatures because it has
to work harder to stay warm. It can’t hurt to drop a few ice cubes into
your H20; you just might drop an inch as well.
7. Beans
Probably the most underrated items in the supermarket, beans are rich
in soluble fiber and help reduce fat and cholesterol in your blood.
They’re also high in protein, inexpensive, and convenient to cook. Add
them to salads, stews, or eat them cold as snacks.
