Food has a strong influence on the body's ability to burn fat. In fact, there are foods that better stimulate this process.
Keep reading to learn more about foods that can burn fat.
The 6 best foods to burn fat
Almonds
A study of obese adults found that consuming about a quarter cup of almonds for 6 months resulted in 62% plus weight loss.
Additionally, a 2015 study showed that eating just 1.5 grams of almonds per day led to a reduction in gastric and bone fat.
For a greater effect, eat almonds before exercise: The amino acid L-arginine (present in almonds) can help you burn more fat and carbohydrates.
Sweet potato
Sweet potatoes are packed with nutrients and can help you burn fat. In fact, sweet potatoes are rich in fiber and have a low glycemic index, which means they are absorbed slowly and keep you fuller for longer.
They are also rich in carotenoids, powerful antioxidants that help stabilize blood sugar and reduce insulin resistance, which prevents the conversion of calories into fat.
Furthermore, its high vitamin profile (especially A, C and B6) provides more energy to burn calories during exercise.
Salmon
The equation is simple: protein builds muscle. More muscle = more fat burned. Salmon is a great food for this, as it has been shown to be effective in turning off fat genes.
Fish is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which burn fat and block its storage.
Therefore, add two servings to your diet each week to get the recommended amount of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
Green Tea
For a morning fuel to burn fat, swap coffee with green tea. Studies show that people who drank four to five cups of green tea daily and worked out for 25 minutes lost more fat than people who didn't drink it.
What makes this drink so powerful? It contains catechins and antioxidants that increase metabolism, increase the rate of fat release from cells (especially gastric fat) and increase the fat burning capacity of the liver.
Pepper
Capsaicin, a substance present inside peppers, burns belly fat, suppresses appetite and increases the body's ability to convert food into energy.
Daily consumption of capsaicin increases abdominal fat loss, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Additionally, another study by Canadian researchers found that men who ate spicy foods consumed 200 fewer calories at subsequent meals than those who did not.
Whole grains
Not all carbohydrates turn into fat. Eating whole grains can have the opposite effect.
In fact, studies show that people who ate at least three daily servings of whole grains (such as oats, quinoa and brown rice) had 10% less fat than people who ate the same amount of calories from processed white carbohydrates.
This is due to the high fiber present in whole grains and their slower digestion properties.
