Top 10 Fat-Burning Foods

Top 10 Fat-Burning Foods
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Some foods can help your body burn fat. When you eat these foods, your body is slimming down. The key is to replace the fat-laden foods you would otherwise eat with these fat-burning foods. That way you are doubling your fat-reducing efforts.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is packed with soluble fiber. This not only gives you lots of energy, but it also cleans out fat hiding in your digestive system and the cholesterol clogging your arteries. Avoid flavored oatmeal with sugar. Sweeten with honey or fruit instead, or add a scoop to a fruit shake. You won't even know it's there.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is a fat that fights fat. It can do this, because olive oil has monounsaturated fat that helps you burn body fat. It also helps lower cholesterol. Use olive oil in place of butter or vegetable oil.

Low-Fat Dairy

Low-fat dairy products such as skim milk and non-fat yogurt are packed with calcium and protein. Both of those things help the body metabolize fat. Make sure you eat low-fat or non-fat dairy products. The high-fat varieties will make you gain fat.

Egg Whites

Egg whites have a lot of protein, which helps your body burn fat. Taking the yolks out of eggs removes most of the cholesterol and just leaves you with the protein. Use one full egg and two egg whites to make an omelet.

Lean Meat

Meat can help you burn fat, as long as you choose the right kind of meat. Turkey is packed with protein and contains little fat. Avoid basted turkeys and those injected with fat and salt for taste. Beef from loin and round cuts are lean and high in protein. Avoid fatty cuts.

Fish

Fish such as salmon and tuna are high in protein and contain the good kind of fat. They are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, which boost your immune system and clean cholesterol out of your arteries.

Whole Grain

Whole-grain bread, pasta and rice contain nutritious fiber that cleans out your arteries and digestive system. They provide you with slow-burning energy. Avoid white bread, white rice and plain pasta. They are mostly sugar, which quickly burns up in the body and encourages fat storage.

Beans

Beans are high in protein, have no fat and are full of fiber. They are an ideal fat-burning food. Beans clean out your system and keep your digestive system efficient. The best fat-burning beans are kidney beans, lima beans, navy beans and white beans. Eat them plain without added fat and sugar found in products such as "pork and beans."

Broccoli

Broccoli is a super food. It has few calories, no fat, plenty of vitamins and has even been shown to fight cancer. Broccoli helps burn fat by filling your body with nutrients, while its fiber flushes out the fat.

Berries

Berries are a sweet treat that is good for you. The sugar in them is fructose, which is processed by the body much more efficiently than the sucrose of white sugar. The fiber in berries provides nutrition, while blocking the absorption of fat. The best berries are blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries.

References

Article reviewed by Liz Smith Last updated on: Apr 26, 2011

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