Kickstart Metabolism and Burn Fat with these foods

Your body will thank you for adding these super foods and will burn fat at an accelerated rate.

  1. Artichokes-In addition to being tasty and filled with cancer-fighting phytochemicals, artichokes contain oligofructose and fructooligosaccharides (also known as FOS), a type of soluble fiber that’s linked to weight loss.
  2. Berries are rich in ketones, which are aromatic compounds responsible for their pleasant smell. Ketones in berries can help increase adiponectin, a protein hormone that helps to burn fat for energy and stabilizes blood sugar levels. Research from the University of Pennsylvania Health System shows that adiponectin helped to spike metabolism and suppress appetite in mice. 

  3. Tea-Enjoying a cup or two (or three!) of tea may be the easiest way to peel off pounds. An October 2013 review article about tea and weight loss, published in the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,” reported that bioactive compounds called polyphenols in tea have been shown to increase energy expenditure and fat burning. Population-based studies show that tea drinkers have lower BMIs and waist-to-hip ratios and less body fat compared to non-tea drinkers. The results of one meta-analysis suggest that the increase in caloric expenditure among tea drinkers is equal to about 100 calories over a 24-hour period. Researchers have also found that subjects consuming green tea and caffeine lost an average of 2.9 pounds within 12 weeks, while sticking to their normal diet. HOW TO ENJOY: For the most health benefits, enjoy your green, black, oolong or white tea steeped for several minutes and avoid adding sweeteners or milk to keep it calorie-free. Adding lemon to tea may also boost its benefits.
  4. Oats– are very high in fiber, and when your body needs to break down fiber-rich whole foods, it burns up to twice as many calories during the digestion process. Dietary fiber also helps regulate your appetite, giving you a lasting feeling of satiation and helping ward off hunger throughout the day. This makes you less likely to reach for sugary or fatty snacks, especially in the hours between breakfast and lunch.Experts recommend eating oatmeal for breakfast, but watch out if you’re buying quick-cooking or instant oatmeal. Many of these products contain added sugar, which will effectively neutralize its healthy effects. Instead, reach for unsweetened whole-grain oats, and add some honey or fresh fruit to boost its flavor appeal. Pair it with protein-rich nuts and you’ll have one of the healthiest breakfasts on the planet. You can also sprinkle oat bran on your soups, salads and stir fry dishes to give your body an internal workout!
  5. Chances are you’ve heard that one of the best fat-burning breakfasts you can eat is half a grapefruit with a cup of black coffee. This can be a great start to your day, especially if you follow it up a couple of hours later with a healthy “second breakfast,” containing fiber-rich, high-protein foods. Grapefruit helps your body dissolve fat and cholesterol, which fighting hardening of the arteries (a process known as “arteriosclerosis”).A medium-sized grapefruit has only 74 calories, but packs a whopping 15 grams of belly-filling pectin fiber. This fiber helps you feel full for a longer period of time, regulating hunger levels throughout the day and making you less likely to snack between meals. Grapefruit it also very high in both vitamin C and potassium, and it contains absolutely no fat and no sodium. Add it to your breakfast regimen and watch your waistline shrink!
  6. Turkey and chicken- are both very lean sources of protein, and both have what is known in dietary circles as a “high thermogenic effect.” In essence, this means that it fires up your body’s internal furnace during the digestion process, sending your metabolism into overdrive. Because turkey and chicken are both very low in fat, they are also much lower in calories than fattier meats like beef and pork. It’s a win-win situation for your body, which gets all the nutrients and benefits of meat from far fewer calories, all while burning more energy during digestion.However, turkey and chicken both come with an important caveat. If you want to maximize the fat-burning potential of these meats, it’s important to take the skin off. Poultry skin is very high in fat, and it will significantly alter the nutrition content of the meat. Get rid of it, and flavor the meat with spices or low-calorie, low-sugar sauces.
  7. Coffee-Sure, caffeine has its drawbacks – excessive consumption can cause an elevated heart rate while potentially triggering anxiety and insomnia. However, moderate coffee drinkers can take solace in the fact that their morning cup of java provides a big metabolic boost, meaning that this stimulant naturally speeds up your metabolism and helps you burn more calories than normal. It also helps get you up and moving more quickly in the morning, providing your energy levels with a helpful push in the right direction.In addition to moderating consumption, you should also be careful about what you add to your coffee. Piling on the sugar and heavy cream will turn this metabolism-boosting beverage into a fat trap. Instead, use low-fat milk and sweeteners instead of sugar, or avoid sweetening it altogether. Coffee is healthiest when it’s consumed black, so if you can make that transition, your body will thank you for it.
  8. Apples and Pears are rich in fiber and form a gel like substance in the stomach. To help curb appetite and control hunger. They are also a great energy source.