Eat Yourself Skinny

Stock up on these fat-burning wonders and lose weight                                                    

Some foods have a high thermogenic effect, so you burn calories just by eating them, while others contain compounds and nutrients that boost your metabolism, helping you to burn fat fast.

Here’s what to stock up on…

 

Chillies

Capsaicin, the compound that gives chilli peppers their heat, raises the body’s temperature and fires up the metabolism. Studies show that eating just one tablespoon of chopped red or green chillies can achieve a temporary metabolism spike of 23%. So spice it up!

 

 

Oily fish

Omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish help to boost the body’s fat-burning enzymes and regulate metabolism. According to scientists in the US, eating oil

 

 

 

 

Celery

Fed up with water retention and bloating? As well as having a diuretic effect, celery has a slight negative calorie count, which means you use more energy eating it than it contains. Plus it’s full of fibre, so it fills you up

 

 

Oats

Oats are high in soluble fibre, which lowers cholesterol and fat in the blood. And because they digest slowly, they don’t raise your blood sugar, and so keep you feeling full for longer. Even better, because they’re a whole grain, the body burns lots of calories just digesting them

 

 

Green Tea

Celebrated for its thermogenic (fat-burning) properties, green tea also contains the amino acid theanine which helps reduce stress. Why is this good for dieters? Stress leads to raised levels of the hormone cortisol, which encourages fat storage, especially around the middle

 

 

 

Feekeh

Freekeh is packed with protein and has four times as much fibre as brown rice and twice as much as quinoa (so the body has to work hard and expend energy to digest it). As well as acting as a prebiotic, promoting good bacteria along your digestive tract, it is low on the glycemic index – so keeps you feeling full

 

 

Apples

Apples are high in the soluble fibre pectin, which helps limit the amount of calories your cells can absorb. And because they’re high in fibre, they help fill you up and curb appetite too

 

Chicken

Protein has a high thermogenic effect. When you eat something like lean chicken, your body burns about 30% of the calories it contains during the digestion process.

 

 

Brown Rice

The body uses twice as many calories to break down whole foods compared to processed foods, where the breaking down has already been done for you. Eat whole grains, like brown rice, and you’ll burn lots of calories just digesting them

 

 

Cinnamon

A study of diabetics found that eating cinnamon can help the body metabolise sugar. You only need to eat a quarter to two teaspoons of cinnamon a day to reduce blood sugar levels and cut cholesterol from 10 to 25 percent

 

Low Fat Dairy

Studies show that the calcium, vitamin D, and low-fat protein in skimmed milk and zero-fat yogurt can trigger weight loss and help build and maintain lean muscle. And the more lean muscle you have - the more fat you burn

 

 

Grapefruit

Eating grapefruit helps lowers insulin levels, regulating your blood sugar and metabolism. According to one 12-week study, dieters who ate a grapefruit with each meal lost 3½lb (1.5kg) more than those who ate the same calories, but didn’t eat the fruit

 

 

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is high in medium-chain triacylglycerols, a chemical compound that encourages the body to burn fat for energy

 

 

Eggs

The body expends more energy processing protein than carbohydrates or fat. Eggs are a great choice – they’re packed with healthy protein and actively reduce the level of bad cholesterol in your blood

 

 

Blueberries

Blueberries aren’t just packed with powerful antioxidants. The fruit may also help fight fat. Researchers in the US found that blueberries can cut the number of fat cells in the body by up to three-quarters, breaking down existing fat cells and preventing new ones from forming

 

Watermelon

Studies show that eating watermelon could help promote weight loss. The magic ingredient is the amino acid arginine (also found in seafood, nuts, and seeds), which is believed to enhance the oxidation of fat and glucose in the body

 

 

Chia Seeds

 

Chia seeds are very high in soluble fibre - which, in addition to filling you up, helps prevent the absorption of fat in the body

 

 

Beans

Beans are high in resistant starch, which means that half the calories they contain are not absorbed. They also reduce blood sugar levels, and create the fatty acid butyrate, which may burn fat faster

 

 

Pumpkin Seeds

High in omega-3 fatty acids, pumpkin seeds are believed to decrease the body’s ability to store fat. They’re also rich in protein, which helps to keep the appetite in check.

 

 

Avocados

are high in fat but it's the healthy monounsaturated kind that's easily burned for fuel during exercise and actually encourages the body to burn fat. Avocados also blunt insulin release and promote calcium absorption, both of which are important for enhancing fat loss

 

Please note:  not all of us can have the same kind of foods because of our bodies allergic reaction to certain types of food due to medications / Hypertension / Hypotension / Diabetes etc.

 

For a Full Body Assessment
Dr Theresa

078 308 9907