Aside from exercising in order to raise your body's metabolic rate, there are certain foods you should be eating in order to complement your exercise program. These food are referred to as thermogenic, thermo meaning "heat" and genic meaning "producing." So, there are certain foods we can consume on a regular basis that will heat up the body and cause it to burn more fat.
Following are some of the best fat burning foods you should be eating to rev up your metabolism and get into fat burning mode 24/7.
Vegetables - For the most benefit, eat these raw or lightly steamed. You can eat as much of these veggies as you like, they will not make you fat. Cabbage, celery, cauliflower, artichokes, beets, green beans, cucumbers, leeks, onions, string beans, sauerkraut, pumpkin, radishes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, corn, asparagus, carrots, okra, mushrooms, kale, lettuce, red cabbage, turnips, scallions, peppers and eggplant.
Fruits - The following fruits are packed with vitamins, LOW in calories, and will really get the old metabolism revved up. Fruit is also high water-content, which is great for the digestive system. Don't hold back, fill up! Cranberries, peaches, pineapple, tangerines, prunes, honeydew, blueberries, apricots, apples, cherries, limes, pears, raspberries, tomatoes, strawberries, lemons, cantaloupe, blackberries, grapefruit, papaya, grapes, watermelon, mangoes and nectarines.
Protein - Eat lean meats, such as chicken, turkey, beef, pork, fish ( most kinds are fine). Also, you can use tofu in your cooking, as it's a great plant based protein. There is lots of variety of beans, legumes, nuts and seeds which are also great sources of protein.
Spices - Chili powder, cinnamon, fennel seeds, ginger, garlic, parsley. All of these spices have great fat-burning properties.
The Top 10 Fat Burning Foods - cold water, green tea, soup, salad, milk, veggies, oatmeal, fresh fruits, grapefruit, whole grains.
Create a Meal - planning a meal is quite simple.
1. Choose the vegetable/s you want to eat.
2. Choose a protein (make the serving size the size of the palm of your hand.)
3. Add some complex carbs, such as whole grains, brown rice, sweet potatoes, or oats.
A good combination of the right types of fat-burning foods and a good exercise program can really ignite your body's fat burning activity and help you to lose weight fast while maintaining your lean muscle mass.
If you'd like more help with your fat loss sign up for my free Fast Fat Loss Secrets eCourse.
Michael Allison is an expert on weight training, nutrition and fat loss. He is also a former competitive bodybuilder. If you'd like more information to help you with your health and fitness goals, visit;
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_D._Allison