Burning fat around your belly is usually accomplished with low-calorie diets and exercise. Exercise increases your body's metabolic rate, or energy consumption, which induces fat burning. However, you can also stimulate your body to increase metabolism with certain foods. Although scientifically proven to boost your metabolic rate, they are not miracle foods. But when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise, these foods can help burn belly fat.
Tea
Green and oolong tea contain molecules called catechins that may increase your fat metabolism. A study published in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in 1999 showed that green tea has thermogenic properties and improves metabolism and fat burning. A study published in the "Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine" in 2009 found that drinking oolong tea every day reduced body fat up to 6 pounds in six weeks. One cup of oolong tea keeps your metabolism up for two hours, according to Dr. Mehmet Oz, host of "The Dr. Oz Show."
Caffeine
Caffeine also increases your body's thermogenesis and metabolic rate. A study published in the "International Journal of Obesity" in 1994 showed that caffeine reduced body weight and body-fat content in obese women. Caffeine is present in many drinks, including soda, coffee, cacao and tea. But do not consume coffee drinks that contain large amounts of calories. Use calorie-free sweetener and fat-free milk instead.
Hot Peppers
Spicy foods not only make you sweat and thirsty, but they also increase your body's calorie burning. Chili peppers contain molecules called capsinoids that increase thermogenesis and metabolism. According to a study published in "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in 2010, daily consumption of capsinoids for a month increased resting metabolic rate by 50 calories per day, or about 1,500 calories a month. Black pepper contains a molecule called piperine that can also boost your metabolism, according to Dr. Oz.
Water
Water may not sound like a food that can help you lose belly fat, but according to Dr. Oz, cold water boosts your metabolism. Drinking eight glasses of cold water every day burns 70 calories, or about 2,100 calories a month. Your body needs to use energy to heat the water, increasing your calorie burn.
References
- "Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine"; Beneficial Effects of Oolong Tea Consumption on Diet-Induced Overweight and Obese Subjects; R.R. He, et al.; 2009
- "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Efficacy of a Green Tea Extract Rich in Catechin Polyphenols and Caffeine in Increasing 24-h Energy Expenditure and Fat Oxidation in Humans; A.G. Dulloo, at al.; 1999
- The Dr Oz Show: Boost Your Metabolism After 40
- "International Journal of Obesity"; Relationship Between Basal Metabolic Rate, Thermogenic Response to Caffeine and Body Weight Loss Following Combined Low-Calorie and Exercise Treatment in Obese Women; T. Yoshida, et al.; 1994
- "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Effect of Dihydrocapsiate on Resting Metabolic Rate in Humans; J.E. Galgani, et al.; 2010
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