Foods that trigger fat loss AND aid in weight loss?? It sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? Welp, I am here to tell you that it's totally legit. Not only can these foods boost your metabolism, but they also help burn fat and prevent weight gain. But heed my advice, these foods work their magic best when consumed along side a clean eating diet. I would hate for you to scarf a bunch of junk food, and expect to have radical changes by gnawing on some fat blasting chili peppers.
Hot Chili Peppers - If you prefer some mega heat in your meals, have I got a slimming surprise for you! I always spice up my meals when I'm leaning down or just when trying to drop some pounds. Actually, I usually I end up letting my husband make dinner if I want some serious spice in it. Doing a little research on this, you will find that chili peppers contain capsaicin. This is what gives them their spicy kick! It raises your core temperature and aids in fat loss. There is another possible benefit of capsaicin, and that is that it may convert your white fat cells to brown fat cells to burn stored fat. But not only does it aid in fat loss, it also helps prevent weight gain. I find that it works well in desserts also.
Additional Note:
A good example of this is whipping up some heavy whipping cream in a nutri-bullet with cocoa, stevia, and Chili Powder to your liking. Sweet chocolate whipped cream with a kick!! YUMMM!!
Green Tea - Besides being packed with antioxidants, green tea also helps in shedding the fat. When trying to lean out, I personally like to cut out the coffee and stick with green tea. This ends up being a lot less calories because I do not need a bucket of creamer and sweetener to make it to my liking. There have also been some studies that show, just drinking green tea on a regular basis can lower body fat percentages and boost your metabolism. I’ll take it. It’s also a lot more fun than just drinking water. Sometimes I add stevia, sometimes I don’t. Just depends on if I’m craving something sweet.
Additional Note:
We don't eat out a whole lot. I prefer to eat at home where I know exactly what is in our meals. But if we do go out to eat out, we prefer eating at a sushi house where they almost always have hot green tea (and some pretty delicious sushi too!)
Salsa- I almost always use salsa as a condiment for my meats (where the old me would just smother my food in a bottle of BBQ sauce) and salads (where I would usually use some kind of home made, calorie loaded, dressing). You can really use salsa on just about anything and it will help spruce it up. You can also make it spicy to raise your core temperature. Salsa is very low in calories and can really pack a punch in flavor. I can not go without it when really cutting down on my diet.
Additional Note:
A plus for me is that it’s really quick and easy to make my own salsa to have on hand. One of my favorite ways to make salsa is by dicing 4 medium tomatoes, dicing 1 onion, mincing 4 garlic cloves, and chopping 4 tablespoons of cilantro. Mix it all together and add salt and pepper to taste. You can even add some spice to raise your core temperature. Store it in a mason jar in the fridge and you’re set!
Chia Seeds - I always throw a pinch of these in my smoothies or salads. They are high in fiber, protein, and omega-3s. They are also branded as a super food (they had me at super), and help fire up the metabolism. When you are making shakes with almond milk or water, these will puff up and give your shake some thickness that really helps with the texture and filling aspect I need for my last meal. You can soak them in water for 10-15 minutes prior to using them and they swell up to 10 x's their size, which really helps fill you up, leaving you satisfied.
Additional Note:
If you soak these overnight, they can be used for a breakfast pudding. Just add unsweetened almond milk, stevia to your liking, and your favorite berries and you're good to go! Sweet treat first thing in the morning and the kiddos love it!
Spaghetti Squash - This is a staple in the Smith household. We absolutely love this as a side or sometimes even the main dish. Our kids love pasta (and so do we) and this seems to do the trick. Nowadays, I actually prefer this over regular pasta and love that it can be used in many ways. It is a very low calorie dish that leaves me feeling like I’ve just enjoyed a cheat meal. Because it is so low calorically, you can gorge a little on this one. This will leave you full and ready for bed, preventing that late night snack attack feeling.
Additional Note:
This is the easiest thing to make. Please stay tuned for my upcoming blog post where I will be sharing my favorite, quick and easy way to make Spaghetti Squash!
