Many foods contain natural substances that act as hormones, boost fat-burning hormone levels or normalize your hormonal environment for better fat loss. Hormones like testosterone, DHEA, growth hormone, insulin, cortisol and melatonin impact your body composition and rate of fat burning. Moreover, many of these hormones naturally decline with age, setting you up for weight gain. Add these natural fat burning foods to your diet to get lean and stay that way for life.
Cherries
Tart cherries contain the sleep hormone melatonin, reports "Life Extension" magazine. Produced by the pea-sized pineal gland of the brain, melatonin acts like the conductor of your hormonal orchestra, triggering hormone release by regulating sleep cycles. Melatonin can directly increase human growth hormone, or HGH, a potent natural fat burner. Cherries also have low-glycemic carbohydrates, which prevent large spikes in the fat storing hormone insulin.
Fish
Fatty fish like salmon contain omega-3 essential fatty acids, including the fat burning substance DHA, or docohexaenoic acid, says Matthew Kadey in "Five Fat Fighters." DHA produces hormone-like compounds called prostaglandins that act as fat-burning hormone precursors to substances like testosterone, which positively alter metabolism. Like low-glycemic carbs, these fats also help to control insulin levels. Eating fish a few times per week can supply plenty of omega-3s to support weight loss.
Dairy
Dairy products contain several potent fat-burning substances, including vitamin D, calcium and CLA, or conjugated linoleic acid. Vitamin D increases the thermic or fat-burning effect of meals and acts like a hormone in the body, preventing fat storage, says Kadey. Calcium directly increases fat burning and inhibits the formation and storage of fatty acids associated with body fat gain, says "The Fat Burning Bible" by Mackie Shilstone. CLA comes from grass-fed dairy products and further supports fat burning over several months of use.
Broccoli
Broccoli has a direct impact on estrogen levels due to its content of indole-3-carbinol, according to "The Usual Suspects" by Jordana Brown. This natural substance from fibrous vegetables helps the body metabolize excess estrogen. Too much estrogen can lead to weight gain, water retention and formation of glandular breast tissue in men. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts support fat burning by improving the testosterone-to-estrogen ratio.
Kelp and Seaweed
Kelp and other seaweeds contain high amounts of iodine, which naturally boosts thyroid output, according to "Life Extension" magazine. Located in the neck, the thyroid acts as the body's thermostat, regulating the rate at which you burn fat. Increased intake of dietary iodine directly triggers more production of the important fat burning thyroid hormones. A brown seaweed extract known as fucoxanthin also boosts metabolic rate through different pathways.
Coffee and Green Tea
Coffee directly stimulates fat burning by increasing levels of the hormone norepinephrine, which signals fatty acids to release their stored energy, according to "Supplements 101" by Jim Stoppani, PhD. Green tea contains an antioxidant known as EGCG, or epigallocatechin gallate, a substance that prolongs the activity of norepinephrine in the body. For this reason, coffee and green tea extract make a natural fat-burning combination.
References
- Life Extension Magazine: Superfoods: Cherries
- "Five Fat Fighters"; Matthew Kadey; January 2010
- "The Fat Burning Bible"; Mackie Shilstone; 2005
- "The Usual Suspects"; Jordana Brown; January 2010
- Life Extension Magazine: Don't Fall Victim to Frailty
- "Supplements 101"; Jim Stoppani, PhD; January 2010
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