Foods that Burn Belly Fat Fast
by joner11 on 16/01/11 at 4:19 am
Today, one of the most searched for weight loss secrets is not just how to lose overall weight, but what are the best foods that burn belly fat.
This may seem strange but most people are more conscious of their belly than any other part of their body. Is this YOU? So many people are content with the rest of their body but just wish they could lose those few extra pounds of belly fat, and get back in those jeans or that bikini. People are only now starting to understand that you can actually target and eat foods that burn belly fat. Yes, believe it or not some foods really do help to burn that stubborn layer of belly fat. But maybe not in the may you are thinking of, and we are not talking about pills and potions here!
For a healthy balanced diet our body requires 3 main food groups, carbohydrates, proteins and fats. From these foods our body requires energy for maintaining vital organs, repairing and renewing cells, tissue and muscles.
Now I’m afraid this bit is a bit technical, but you need to understand how the body works to ever appreciate what foods you eat and how they affects weight loss or gain.
OK, lets go. The body gets it’s energy by burning glucose, a process called metabolism, I’m sure everyone now knows your metabolism affects your weight, what people don’t understand is which foods affect your metabolism the most. Not all foods convert to glucose at the same rate, which is where the problem lies. Carbohydrates convert to glucose much quicker than protein and fats, which means the body does not have to work as hard to convert this glucose to energy, slowing the metabolism, and storing any additional glucose as fat. This may seem simple enough but, unfortunately not all carbohydrates are created equal. There are 3 main types of carbohydrates:
- Simple Carbohydrates: These are mainly sugars, corn syrups and the sort of things found in cakes and pastries. These are the worst types of carbohydrates as they hold no real nutritional value and are the easiest of the carbohydrate groups to convert glucose and energy.
- Refined Carbohydrates: These are the grains, cereals, breads and pasta’s. These are much better than simple carbohydrates, but still convert to glucose/energy quite easily.
- Complex Carbohydrates: These are your vegetables, legumes such as lentils, peas, beans (not baked beans!), nuts and seeds. These carbohydrates are the hardest to convert into glucose/energy, meaning your metabolism has to work much harder, burning more calories to try and get enough energy from these foods and dips into your fat reserve for additional energy required. Bingo, exactly what we are after, keep dipping!!
These complex carbohydrates are really the foods that burn belly fat along with your proteins and healthy fats such as olive oil.
Below is a list of 15 of the most important foods that burn belly fat, that you should be eating on a regular basis.
Food List
1. Oatmeal
- High in Fiber, oatmeal stays in your stomach for hours, making you feel fuller and wards off those morning cravings.
- Many oatmeal brands are now boasting that eating more oatmeal will lower your cholesterol level. This is because oatmeal is full of soluble fiber which helps reduce blood cholesterol by flushing those bad digestive acids out of your system.
- Always eat natural unsweetened and unflavoured oatmeal. It maybe tempting to select the apples and cinnamon flavour and add a dollop of butter and sugar, but you definitely lose out on all the health benefits. If you must sweeten your bowl of oatmeal, do so by adding fruit, Stevia or honey (much better for you than sugar) or some dried raisins.
- Oatmeal is also beneficial in fighting colon cancer and heart disease.
2. Almonds and other Nuts
- Nuts can help in your weight loss by keeping you feeling fuller longer. A Purdue University study showed that people who ate nuts felt full longer than those who ate rice cakes. Stick to 24 almonds a day to satisfy your hunger pangs without overloading on calories.
- DON’T eat salted nuts; too much sodium raises blood pressure.
- Nuts such as almonds and peanuts are very rich in essential fatty acids as well as a good source of protein with just the right amount of carbs (the good ones), these are great to replace your Doritos or other chips!
3. Protein powder (like Whey)
- I’m normally against pills and powders but Whey protein is not just for gym junkies! Rich in amino acids, whey protein helps build lean muscle and helps get rid of body fat. Muscle uses more energy than fat causing your metabolism to increase.
- Studies are currently being done for the investigation on the reduction of heart disease and cancer by taking Whey Protein.
- Add two teaspoons to a healthy smoothie for a fat-busting drink. You can find it at health food stores and most large supermarkets. Take Care: Make that smoothie with fruit, yogurt, and low-fat milk — adding protein powder to a chocolate shake doesn’t make it health food (we wish).
4. Olive Oil
- We all need a little fat which helps control hunger. Always go for monounsaturated fats like olive oil. They will help keep your cholesterol under control and satisfy cravings, as well as help burn body fat, yes that is right it’s not a typo, Olive oil can help burn body fat.
- Take Care: Steer clear of hydrogenated vegetable oils; they’re loaded with unhealthy trans fat.
- Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fat, a type of fat that researchers are finding provide outstanding health benefits. One ounce of extra virgin olive oil contains about 85% of the daily value for monounsaturated fat.
5. Berries
- Berries add a lot of filling fiber into your diet: Just one cup of raspberries has six grams.
- Naturally full of fiber, which aids in metabolizing fat, berries make a great tasty healthy snack.
- Berries are also known to be full of anti-oxidants.
6. Eggs
- Eggs contain vitamin B12, which your body needs to metabolize fat and breaking down fat cells. In fact, researchers at Louisiana State University found that people who ate eggs for breakfast every day lost more weight than those who ate bagels.
- Eggs are super high in protein and can help you burn that unwanted belly fat.
- You may have heard all the warnings about eggs and your health. That’s because a couple of eggs will put you over the recommended daily amount of cholesterol. Well, more recent studies have shown that dietary cholesterol has a minimal impact on blood cholesterol. Dietary fat is the real culprit. It’s what raises your bad cholesterol levels. So go for the eggs, they are great for you.
7. Beans and Legumes
- Beans are low-cal and packed with protein and fiber, which help you tone up and lose weight. Make a bean-heavy dish, such as burritos, instead of meat once a week. You’ll cut a lot of saturated fat and replace it with fiber.
Be aware that refried beans are high in saturated fat. Choose plain black, pinto, or other varieties instead. - While beans are often associated with the gastrointestinal embarrassments they may cause J, they are also very good sources of protein, fiber and iron.
- Some of the best kinds of beans to eat are:
Cannellini Beans
Navy Beans
White Beans
Kidney Beans
Lima Bean
Chickpeas
- And of course there are always those other beans that you should limiting in your diet, the like of baked and refried. Refried beans contain tons of saturated fat while baked beans are normally full in sugar. Sure, you’ll be getting your protein but you’ll also be consuming a lot of fat and sugar you don’t need.
- Here’s something else to remember. Be sure to cook your beans thoroughly because our digestive tracks are not adapted to breaking down some proteins that are contained in certain beans.
8. Lean meats and fish
- As you now know your body burns more calories digesting protein than carbs or fat. Turkey and chicken are naturally leaner than red meats, but choose leans cuts of red meat and you will be fine. Take Care: Cured meats and sausage have a lot of saturated fat.
- Lean meats are great for building muscle and boosting the immune system, but always try to eat organic and grassfeed meats.
- Fish like Salmon and tuna are also good sources of protein. They both contain omega-3 fatty acids which may sound bad, but are actually healthy fats, and helps prevent stress chemicals that promote belly fat. Fish is also a good way to give your immune system a nice boost and should be consumed at least 2-3 times a week.
9. Whole Grains
- As you now know the right carbs are actually good for you. Choose whole grains because their fiber keeps you from getting hungry.
Watch out: Sometimes bread labeled “wheat” has been stripped of all of its fiber and nutrients. Look for “whole grain” or “100 percent whole wheat.” - It seems that everyone is crying out “No carbs!” Well the truth is, your body needs carbohydrates. If you go without them completely your body will start to crave them. So it’s not a good idea to exclude all carbs because the right kinds are actually good for you.
- The key is to eat “whole grain” foods because they haven’t been processed and contain the fiber and minerals your body needs.
- Regular wheat breads are lacking in vitamins and minerals. Manufacturers add molasses to it so it turns brown. Look for 100% wholegrain.
10. Peanut Butter
- Who would have thought that a kid-friendly snack could be healthy, too! Peanut Butter is packed with niacin, which keeps the digestive system on track and prevents belly bloating. Though you do need to watch portion size: Peanut butter does have a lot of fat, so limit yourself to no more than two tablespoons a day.
Pick all-natural organic Peanut Butter, which doesn’t contain added sugar. - Organic Peanut Butter is rich in protein and essential fatty acids. Eat 1-2 tablespoons daily for better digestion. Non organic peanut butter can have hydrogenated oils in it, which makes your belly fat.
11. Green Vegetables
- If their vitamins and minerals haven’t already sold you, maybe their belly blasting powers will do it. Veggies like spinach and broccoli are loaded with fiber and very few calories.
- Have a salad before a meal and you’ll be satisfied with smaller portions later.
Iceberg lettuce has almost no fiber so go for romaine, arugula, or spinach instead. - These are the best foods that burn belly fat.
12. Avocados
- As well as containing lots of heart-friendly monounsaturated fats, avocados are a great source of filling fiber (11 to 17 grams per avocado!), making them a great food for staving off hunger.
13. Iced Tea
- Tea, especially green tea, is rich in antioxidants that have been proven to speed metabolism.
In fact, according to Swiss researchers, tea-drinking subjects burn a whopping 266 more calories per day than those who abstain.
14. Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
- This low-cal, calcium-rich treat activates the body’s fat-burning hormones. Plus, because of its high protein content, it contains more than any other dairy product, you’ll stay full longer.
15. Water
- Though not a food in the true sense, water is probably the most important part of your daily diet. Drinking plenty of water (2-3 litres daily) not only increases your metabolism but also aids in flushing out those nasty toxins in the body.
- Water is vital for healthy looking younger skin, something we all want, so no more really needs to be said on that!
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