5 Foods For Fat-Burning

Nutrition plays a large role in your personal fitness program. Having good dietary habits helps to support your training and fuel your workouts. Eating foods that have low nutrient density can work against you leaving you feeling fatigued and irritable. Poor nutrition can also negatively impact your body’s immune system making you more susceptible to illness and internal inflammation. Here are five foods that can help…

put your daily dietary habits back on track for maximum fat burning:

1. Beets

Beets are high in antioxidants and can help improve the blood flow and oxygen levels in the body, which increase your exercise performance and brain function. Beets can be consumed in a variety of different ways so feel free to experiment with this nutrient powerhouse. Beets are often added into smoothie recipes to make smoothies more nutrient dense. They can also be roasted as a side dish or enjoyed in salads.

Packed with essential nutrients, beetroots are a great source of fiber, folate (Vitamin B9), manganese, potassium, iron, and Vitamin C. The increased fiber in beets helps keep you satisfied and satiated for a longer time. Not to mention, beetroot is very low in calories…a simple 100gm serving of beetroot contains only 43 calories and 10 grams of complex, good-for-you carbohydrates!

2. Grapefruits

Grapefruits have been linked to a healthy metabolism. Your metabolism is what affects how your body uses calories for energy. When your metabolism is running efficiently, it’s easier to burn calories and maintain a healthy BMI, or body mass index.

Grapefruits have few calories and lots of water content to really help boost your weight loss. Research has shown that eating half of a low-sugar grapefruit before meals reduces belly fat and lowers irregular cholesterol levels. Having grapefruit before dinner is a great way to curb your over-active evening appetite and smooth out your digestion. And an added plus… the Vitamin C, A and Potassium in Grapefruits support your immune system. When is the last time you had one with your meal?

3. Nuts

Wellness nutrition programs rave about how nuts can help burn calories and support fat burning. Nuts have healthy fats from Omega 3 and Omega 6. They also have protein which helps you feel full and takes a little longer than carbs to digest from the stomach. These traits make nuts a perfect snack when trying to cut calories or burn fat. Portion control is key with nuts. Just a small handful once daily will do the trick and plan on pairing with an apple for a quick before or after workout snack. Here are my top favorite nut choices for increased protein and weight loss:

• Almonds

• Walnuts

• Pistachios

• Brazil Nuts

4. Green Smoothies

Smoothie recipes with greens add bulk and fullness to your smoothie without the extra calories. Collard greens and other green leaf lettuces have vitamins and are considered by some nutritionists to be zero calorie foods because of their low calorie content. Try adding a handful of leafy greens to your next healthy smoothie to get extra nutritional and health benefits. Here are the top nutrient-dense greens for you to try in your healthy smoothies:

• Kale

• Swiss Chard

• Romaine Lettuce

• Beet Greens

• Carrot Tops

• Collard Greens

• Celery

• Spinach

5. Chia Seeds

You may ask what the benefits of chia seeds are when trying to burn fat. Chia seeds have Omega 3 and Omega 6 as well and help fight inflammation in the body. Chia seeds are easy to add to the diet and can be added to smoothies for a superfood shake recipe, oatmeal, cereal, or baked goods for an extra boost of nutrition. They really are simple to sprinkle on just about anything to increase massive amounts of nutrients and boost metabolism with antioxidants, high quality protein and fiber, all necessary for sustained weight loss.

Here is a quick and easy Chia Seed Pudding Recipe just for you to get this protein powerhouse in your daily diet:

EASY Vanilla Chia Pudding recipe

This easy Vanilla Chia Pudding is vegan, gluten-free and makes a healthy and delicious snack or quick breakfast when you're on the go.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Resting: Time 2 hours

Servings: 2 servings

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup chia seeds

• 1 cup non-dairy milk

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 tsp pure maple syrup

• 1 pinch sea salt

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, whisk together all ingredients. Divide into 2 airtight containers or jars and refrigerate for minimum 2 hours or overnight.

2. Remove from fridge, add toppings (optional) and serve immediately. Be creative with your toppings. The sky is the limit!

   Topping the chia seed pudding is my favorite part! Because this is a vanilla chia seed pudding, there are so many delicious toppings that you can use. Here are a few of my favorite toppings:

   • Fresh berries like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries

   • Sliced bananas or apples

   • Nuts and seeds like toasted almonds, chopped peanuts, or cashews

   • Your favorite granola

   • Shredded coconut

   • A spoonful of creamy nut butter like cashew butter, peanut butter, or almond butter

The Bottom Line:

Remember, food is medicine and food is fuel. There are many plant-based foods and beverages that modestly increase your metabolic rate, in addition to providing other health benefits.

Including several of them in your daily diet may have effects that ultimately lead to fat loss and Optimal YOU Health.