Most people are either fighting the bulge or struggling to get rid of those last few kilos, and no matter how hard they try that last bit of added padding just won’t budge. Are you one of them? Well, we have some good news for you! the foods in your pantry could help you fight that last bit of fat.
Certain foods increase your body’s use of fat for energy, meaning they force it to burn fat instead of carbohydrates. These foods can also help to decrease chronic inflammation and can improve your cell’s sensitivity to insulin so that more glucose is used for energy, instead of being stored as fat. They also improve the body’s internal detoxification system to enhance the elimination of waste products and toxins that could slow down our metabolism and improve the endocrine response to food.
Here are some common foods that could help you with your fat loss:
Egg Whites
Egg whites are a valued high-protein food source. During any weight loss regime, it’s essential to consume enough protein to recover from intense exercise. Egg whites have a high protein content, and are highly bioavailable, which means the amino acids are immediately absorbed and available to start rebuilding damaged muscle tissue. Egg whites are also the ideal weight-loss food as they’re low in calories.
Apples
Low in calories, fat and sodium, apples contain many vitamins, minerals and fibre. The fibre found in apples makes you feel full for longer, meaning you’ll need less food to satisfy your feelings of hunger. The high fibre content and the low-calorie density of apples means they have a high thermic effect – it actually takes more energy to digest them than they provide. Their vitamin content increases your overall health and vitality.
Lettuce
Adding more vegetables such as lettuce to your diet will help you to control your caloric intake, lose weight and improve your health. Lettuce is naturally low in calories and has no fat or cholesterol. In fact, lettuce has fewer calories per serving than most other vegetables. It’s also a great source of several important nutrients and has a high water content, which keeps you hydrated.
Almonds
Almonds may not be considered a typical diet food because they have a reputation for being high in fat and calories, however, they don’t contain any bad fats. The heart-healthy unsaturated fats found in almonds will help you feel fuller for longer, which makes them an ideal snack. Just watch your portion sizes.
Strawberries, Raspberries and Blueberries
Besides being so delicious, berries are great for fat loss because they contain loads of fibre and antioxidants. Raspberries, in particular, contain antioxidants called ellagitannins, which have been proven to improve our brain’s sensitivity to leptin, thereby making you feel less hungry. Berries also help to lower our insulin response to meals that contain higher GI foods. The best thing to do is have multiple servings of berries daily.
These are just some of the foods that can help you win the war against fat, and achieve that physique you’ve always wanted. This is, of course, assuming you’re training regularly and following a balanced, nutritious diet.
To ramp up your fat loss, try out this HIIT kettlebell workout, and try to avoid these 8 ways you might be slowing your metabolism.
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Author: Tanja Schmitz
Founder and Editor of Fitness Magazine. You’ll find her behind her computer or on her bike, dreaming up new ways to improve or create content for you.
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