My new celebrity trainer co hort Mr. Funk Roberts is presenting the top 10 foods you need on your quest to slash fat.
10. Cayenne Pepper
9. Cinnamon
8. Ginger
7. Citrus Fruit
6. Apples and Berries
5. Soybeans
4. Bananas
3. EFA’s
2. Garlic
1. Dairy Products
Foods that burn fat #10
Cayenne Peppers
This red spice will fit perfectly on my daily intake of chicken breasts. Known also as capsicum, capsaicum, red pepper, and chile peppers, cayenne pepper is considered one of the best fat-burning spices and is highly touted by Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen and singer Beyonce. Cayenne pepper not only helps you burn more calories by triggering a thermodynamic burn that lasts hours after eating, it also enhances the way cholesterol is processed by the body. This spicy additive needs to be coupled with lean protein to work its magic because protein is necessary to process and transport fat throughout the body adequately. Cayenne pepper makes you sweat and raises your heart rate, so your metabolism shoots up for a few hours after eating it.
Foods that burn fat #9
Cinnamon
Now I’m not one with that much of a sweet-tooth, especially for this sweet spice, but when I found out that it is on the list…hmmmmm. Research conducted by the USDA has proven that as little as a ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon added to food helps your body to metabolize sugar 20 times faster and lower your body’s blood-sugar levels.
So sprinkle this spice on fruit and coffee, or add it to your smoothies and watch the pounds melt away.
Foods that burn fat #8
Ginger
As Sushi is one of my favourite food types, ginger will be easy to include in my fat burning quest. A known vasodilator, ginger expands the blood vessels, increases body heat and metabolism by 20%. Whether you consume it ground, fresh or in a tea (found in your local health food store), ginger is a fat-burning beauty. If all this weren’t enough, ginger also detoxifies the body and stimulates circulation. So there’s a whole lot more to ginger than just the pickled variety on your sushi platter.
Foods that burn fat #7
Citrus fruit
I don’t know about you, but when ever I eat this stuff, the acid destroys my mouth, but hey, no pain no gain right. Lemons, oranges, grapefruit, and limes are incredibly high in vitamin C, which has a fat-burning component. The C vitamin reduces fat’s effectiveness and can liquefy or dilute it so that it exits the body. By adding citrus fruit to your diet, you will essentially increase your metabolism and control your cholesterol levels.
Foods that burn fat #6
Apples & Berries
A Macintosh Apple a day keeps Funk away from the doctor. Thank goodness it’s Apple Blossom in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia next week. Although all fresh fruit contain pectin, apples and berries have it in abundance. Pectin has a water-binding property and, when ingested, limits the amount of fat your cells absorb. The watery buildup that results from pectin drowns out the fat from the cells and keeps your body from absorbing it.
So pack on the apples and berries and watch the pounds come off.
Foods that burn fat #5
Soybeans
Beans, beans, they’re good for you heart…wait, wait, wait a minute, let’s try that again. Beans, beans are where it’s at…the more you eat, the faster you burn fat.
Packed with lecithin, this naturally occurring chemical in soybeans helps your body to keep your cells from accumulating fat. Ingesting a handful of soybeans (find them at your local health food store) three to five times a week will boost your body’s ability to eliminate fat more quickly.
Foods that burn fat #4
Bananas
During my years playing pro beach volleyball, I ate my fair share of bananas to help me from cramping. No wonder Roland and I were so slim. Found in milk and oranges as well, bananas contain potassium, a naturally occurring chemical that boosts your metabolism and regulates your body’s water balance. Bananas contain approximately 450 milligrams of potassium (a cup of milk contains about 350 and oranges contain about 250), and you should aim to have about 2,000 milligrams per day, every day.
Foods that burn fat #3
EFAs
With my love for Fish, fat Burner #3 is no problem. Essential fatty acids, or EFAs, should be a part of your dietary lifestyle. Women who consume fish regularly have lower levels of a protein hormone called leptin, which has been linked to a slower metabolism and obesity. Do your best to eat fish three to five times a week. The best fish to reach for are wild salmon, tuna, herring, and mackerel.
Foods that burn fat #2
Garlic
Watch out Dracula, Blade and all you other vampires…HERE COMES THE FUNK! It may leave your breath smelling somewhat undesirable, but garlic has many healing properties. Besides being a natural antibiotic, a bacteria destroyer and a blood sugar regulator, garlic also has the ability to speed up your fat-burning. Garlic works like a thermogenic in your body, boosts your metabolism and keeps your insulin levels low to maximize fat burning. It’s stinky, but worth it.
Foods that burn fat #1
Dairy product
While on my daily journey to the supermarket I could not help but to spot a beautiful, mouth-watering 1 litre bottle of Organic Milk., those damn marketing people. Take it from me, there is nothing like downing an ice cold bottle of milk on hot spring/summer day.The International Journal of Obesity published a study in April 2005 that concluded that calcium and protein that come from low-fat dairy products actually promote weight loss and help to maintain muscle mass. Try to eat three servings of low-fat dairy products a day, which can come in the form of milk, cheese or yogurt. I guess milk really does do the body good.
One cannot live on these foods alone; variety is, after all, the spice of life. But if you can incorporate these foods into an already active and healthy lifestyle, you will be leaner and sexier in no time.
www.FunkRoberts.com
