Today’s Amazing Fact: Meet the ‘belly fat’ burners!

Food contains energy in the form of calories. Individuals who consume more calories than they burn through exercise gain weight. However, certain foods count as "negative calorie" foods, meaning they have fewer calories than it takes the body to digest them. When negative calorie foods are paired with fatty foods, they can burn some of the excess fat, and this helps people prevent weight gain. Many fruits and vegetables act as fat-burners.

Apples

An apple a day helps keep fat away. Apples contain lots of vitamin C, which dilutes fat and makes it easier to flush from the body. Apples also have pectin, a complex carbohydrate that limits the amount of fat absorbed into cells. Pectin even aids with water absorption, again helping flush fat.

Watermelon

Watermelon will support your fat-loss effort because it is low in calories and very filling. A cup of watermelon is 50 calories. True to its name, watermelon contains large amounts of water. According to Penn State University, by "eating water," you can lose weight. Foods with large amounts of water instead of extra calories can satisfy your appetite and keep you full without requiring you to eat a lot of food. Water from food is digested significantly slower than water that you would drink as a beverage.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit can support your fat-loss effort because it is low in calories and contains a unique compound that encourages further fat loss by improving your insulin resistance, according to the American Council on Exercise, as well as Dr. Jonny Bowden, Ph.D and clinical nutrition specialist, in his book "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth." A medium grapefruit contains only 40 calories. In a study published in the Spring 2006 edition of the "Journal of Medicinal Food," a team of researchers at the Scripps Clinic in San Diego California found that unique compound or compounds in grapefruit promote a fat-loss environment by improving your body's ability to control its blood glucose levels. Researchers admit they are still not certain why this occurs, but recommend grapefruit if you trying to lose body fat.

 

Spinach

Spinach is called the "epitome" of health food by the American Council on Exercise, and it will support your fat-loss effort. Dr. Jonny Bowden claims that there may not be a more low-calorie nutritious vegetable than spinach. A cup of spinach is only 7 calories and packed with vitamin K for healthy bones, vitamin C, vitamin A, folic acid, iron, magnesium and a powerful antioxidant called quercetin. Spinach can be your "go to" carbohydrate source, too. You can eliminate a significant amount of calories by substituting spinach for potatoes, corn, pasta and rice. If the taste is not appealing, you can add herbs, spices or olive oil with salt and pepper.

Artichoke

Eating artichokes can support your fat-loss effort, and it is also high in fiber. Artichokes have more fiber than just about any other vegetable, according to Dr. Jonny Bowden. A large artichoke has 9 g of fiber and only 76 calories. A medium artichoke has 6.5 g of fiber and only 60 calories. Dietary fiber is important for overall weight loss because, like water in food, it curbs your appetite without adding extra calories. Unlike food in water, however, dietary fiber help keeps your blood glucose levels stable and your body from releasing insulin, which contributes to added fat storage.

Asparagus

The alkaline chemical asparagine, found in asparagus, helps break down fat and stimulates the kidneys, improving the overall circulatory process. Asparagus also destroys the oxalic acid that glues fat to cells, allowing the fat to be removed from the system before it has a chance to be stored in the body.

Broccoli

A true super food, broccoli contains scores of vitamins and nutrients, including high levels of vitamin C, vitamin A, folic acid and calcium. Broccoli's fiber content forces the body to expend more energy during digestion, making it a highly effective fat-burner. Add in its disease-fighting antioxidants, and broccoli deserves a spot on every dinner plate.

Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts are high in fat-burning components like vitamin C and fiber, and also have a combination of minerals that stimulate the glands into releasing hormones that cleanse cells of fat. The leafy green vegetables also stimulate the kidneys, helping more fat to be flushed from the body.

Carrots

Carrots get their distinctive orange coloring from carotene, a form of vitamin A. Carotene prompts a fat-flushing reaction within the body. Once inside the intestines, carotene also transforms into vitamin A, helping raise the body's metabolism and burn more calories.

Oranges

Thanks to their high vitamin C content, oranges provide excellent fat-burning potential. Oranges also contain pulp and fiber, which require the body to spend more energy on digestion. As a result, more calories get burned, resulting in fat reduction. Other citrus fruits, such as limes and lemons, deliver the same fat-burning benefits.

Peppers

Peppers, and in particular chili peppers, contain capsaicin, the chemical compound that gives them their heat. Once ingested, capsaicin forces the body to produce more stress hormones, leading to an increase in metabolic rate and more expended calories. Mixing some cayenne pepper into fatty foods can help negate the caloric intake.

References

• "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth"; Dr. Jonny Bowden; 2007
• West Virginia University: 10 Dieting Myths
• CDC: How To Use Fruits And Vegetables To Help Manage Your Weight
• American Council on Exercise: Do Negative Calorie Foods Really Exist?
• Penn State University: Eat Water, Lose Weight; Heather L. Fletcher; May 2000
• Indian Child: Foods That Burn Fat
• Dr. Janet Starr Hull: Fat Burning Foods
• Fat Burning Foods: Fat Burning Foods