Every month it seems there’s a new secret to weight loss. But truth is, we already know many secrets to burning fat and they’re all found right in your local grocery store. No, it isn’t as expensive as you might thing to eat healthy and you may be surprised at some of the “skinny foods” you’ve been missing out on. Remember we’re talking about real food here. Not diet foods. These are foods that will naturally help you lose weight and get rid of cravings. Foods that will burn fat and stop your body from storing new fat. Do you want to know what they are? Keep reading.
Beans, a True Fat Buster
Beans are the first one our list because of three reasons. First, they’re an exception fat burning food. Two, there are so many kinds of beans that finding ones you like and finding ways to use them is super easy. They’re so versatile! You can eat them as-is, you can make soup, add them to salads or use in meat recipes… the possibilities are almost endless. Three, they’re amazingly affordable. For a couple bucks you can grab a bag that lasts for weeks.
Beans have what we call resistant starch, which means that half the calories in them will never be absorbed by your body. So half the calories you get from beans will never have the chance of being stored as fat.
Eating beans has also been associated with a decrease in body fat, due to the fatty acid butyrate that’s found within beans. Fatty acid butyrate has also been known to control cell damage that can lead to cancer.
Gas? What gas? The gas you sometimes get from eating beans will go away as you start to include them more often in your diet. Your body will begin to build up the good bacteria that’s used to properly digest them.
Fool Yourself into Being Full with Pine Nuts
Pine nuts are on our list because of the fat in them called pinolenic. Pinolenic causes two other powerful hormones to be created: glucagon-like peptide and cholecystokinin. When these hormones are present, your body thinks it’s full because they tell your brain your stomach is full.
In one study that looked at how this worked, women who ate pine nuts started eating dramatically less. Their hunger subsided and they ate 36 percent less than they previously did. And you don’t have to eat a lot of them to get this effect, either.
Eating enough pine nuts to fill up a shot glass is plenty enough to get the benefits of them. Decrease hunger. Eat less. Lose weight.
Pine nuts are also a very good source of protein.
Skip the Morning Munchies with Fennel Tea
Fennel tea is an amazing late-night drink just before you head off to bed. Drinking fennel tea right before beddie-bye time has several benefits, actually. One of the main reasons people like to drink it is because it wards off those infamous first-thing-in-the-morning cravings. You don’t wake up as famished as you normally would and can therefore make a much more sensible breakfast decision.
Your body will absorb nutrients better, digest foods easier and more effectively and you won’t store as much fat. Pretty powerful stuff, huh?
Meaty Crimini Mushrooms Provide Massive Protein
Crimini mushrooms are the perfect mushroom to add to any kind of meat dish you create. By taking out some of the meat and replacing it with this yummy, meat-flavored mushroom you can instantly transform a dish. It becomes healthier and you don’t have to give up any taste. No blandness here. Crimini mushrooms are high in fiber, so it’ll fill you up quicker and you’ll be cutting fat at the same time.
These “baby-bellas” (little portabellas) have even been shown to ward off the possibility of breast cancer. Researchers say they just might be the answer to increasing your immune system so that your body can prevent the formation of tumors.
Apples Keep the Fat Away
Do you always eat a salad before dinner? If so, you should start topping it with fresh chunks of apple. Apples are powerful fruits for anyone who wants to lose weight. What makes apples so special is the pectin inside them – a fiber that reduces the amount of sugars and calories that your body absorbs when eating.
Maintaining a steady blood glucose sugar level that isn’t too high is important to your health and weight loss. Apples do this, too. You won’t go through spikes and crashes due to your blood sugar level jumping up and down, which means less cravings and sudden urges to eat.
Raspberry Ketone to Take Charge of Your Metabolism
Everyone wants to magically increase their metabolism and that’s just what raspberry ketone can do. You have something called adiponectin in your body, which is responsible for regulating your metabolism. Raspberry ketone, naturally found in raspberries, controls the level of adiponectin in your body.
It pretty much destroys fat cells and helps prevent new ones from forming in the first place. Though it’s naturally found in raspberries, you won’t get enough raspberry ketone from eating raw raspberries. There is only trace amounts of it found in each one, so you’d be looking at eating 90 pounds of raspberries per day to get enough raspberry ketone for these benefits.
Instead, you’ll need to find a raspberry ketone supplement to use.
Kill the Cravings with Chili Peppers
Have you ever noticed that when you’re eating something spicy with chili peppers that are you aren’t likely to be craving other foods? Chili peppers have a compound in them called casaicin, which will kick your metabolism up a notch because of the increase in body temperature they create. They also reduce your appetite.
Just add some good ole’ chili pepper sauce to your meals and enjoy a reduced appetite and increase in metabolism. Of course, you could eat them raw… but would you really want to?
Blocking Carbs with Vinegar
Vinegar helps you keep blood sugar levels under control. If you love starchy foods then vinegar is a must-have addition to your diet. It helps slow down the absorption of carbohydrates. There are all kinds of different vinegars out there, as well as delicious vinaigrettes that go well with a variety of foods. Find the one that you like and add it to your meals, especially pastas and potatoes. Making your own vinaigrette only requires a few ingredients in most cases and is simple and cheap.
The Skinny on Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are one of the newer foods that have been getting a lot of attention lately, especially among those who are trying to follow plant based diets. They’re little fiber superstars, they are. Including chia seeds in your food (or drinks) will help you stay feeling fuller much longer and can help reduce cholesterol levels. They also help prevent the storage of fat.
Chia seeds can be added to all types of dishes and many people simply make a refreshing drink to get their daily intake of them. One easy way is to throw a lemon slice in a bottle of water, add a touch of pomegranate juice or agave and throw in some chia seeds.
Old but Reliable Green Tea
At one time, green tea was the superstar in the weight loss world. Though it may not be plastered all over the evening news like it once was, that doesn’t mean that it’s lost any of its weight loss powers. To feel fuller and reduce the cravings/snacking that you would likely experience otherwise, just sip on green tea between meals.
Over time, its power is increased. So the longer you keep using green tea, the more it will help. Over time, your body will start changing how it deals with cravings. Your body won’t store as much fat as it once did and you’ll be metabolizing the food you eat more effectively.
Omega-3 Superstars – Pepitas
Never heard of pepitas? I bet you have. Pepitas are just pumpkin seeds and squash seeds. Both of these seeds can be roasted in the oven and eaten or added to your favorite salad for some hefty health benefits. First of all, they’re packed with omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are well known in the weight loss world, as well as the health industry as a whole.
Pepitas also give you lots of protein and magnesium. This is a powerful combination that decreases your appetite and cravings.
Red Lentils for a Fiber Fiesta
Getting your fiber each day is a breeze if you eat some red lentils. With as little as a cup of red lentils a day, you are getting three-fourths the fiber you should be getting. That’s a lot of fiber! Not only do you get a load of fiber with them, you will also be getting tons of protein. You can snack on them, replace the meat in one meal of the day or like a lot of people do, make red lentil soup.
Watermelon More than Just Fruit
Bet you didn’t know that watermelon was full of fiber and protein. Yep, this kid favorite packs a powerful punch that most people don’t even know about. In fact, they have so much fiber and protein that you could use watermelon in a meal instead of meat. Just like red lentils, a single cup will almost give you your daily allowance of fiber (three quarters of it).
Cinnamon & Spice?
Cinnamon is much more than sweet and spice. This spice is incredibly powerful for anyone trying to lose weight (who would have thought, right?). When you include cinnamon in your diet, food doesn’t pass through the stomach as fast. So next time you’re whipping up your favorite coffee drink, why not put a dash of cinnamon in there? Double up on the foods from this list by thinly slicing apples, sprinkling with cinnamon and toasting them in the oven.
Drop Inches with Avocados
Wonder why Subway makes such a big deal out of avocados during avocado season? They’re powerful little things for your health and affordable (especially during their peak season). Avocados are super skinny food because of the monounsaturated fat found in them. Eat them for an amazing energy boost, to lose weight, burn fat and drop stubborn inches.