HealthAndFitnessNow.com Blog: Nature's Fat Burning Foods

Did you know there are certain foods proven to speed your fat burning potential? What if I told you eating chocolate could actually help you lose fat or that eating red peppers or broccoli can kick your metabolism into high gear, helping you burn extra fat calories? Well, guess what? Studies now show that some foods do in fact increase your body's ability to burn fat.

. Chocolate: Probably the best news you will hear today is that eating chocolate is actually a good thing when it comes to burning fat. The catch however, is that only pure, unrefined dark chocolate will do, and then only a tiny amount per day (6 grams). Apart from its amazing antioxidant properties, cacao, also knows as raw chocolate, contains small amounts of theobromine, caffeine and other natural stimulants that increase your metabolism. Cacao also contains many chemicals that act as an appetite suppressant.

. Cayenne: Another amazing food is the cayenne pepper. This wonderful fruit has been used for centuries to treat arthritis, digestive troubles, migraine headaches, and circulatory problems. But now, studies show capsaicin, the active thermogenic ingredient in cayenne, also increases the metabolism of dietary fats in women. As an added bonus, cayenne works to suppress appetite. Just add 1 tspn of cayenne pepper to 1/2 cup of hot water, 3 times a day and watch the fat melt away.

. Coconut Oil: The many wonders of coconut oil are still being discovered. This saturated fat actually works to get rid of unwanted body fat. Unlike long chain fatty acids found in animal fats that go directly to fat storage, coconut oil is a medium chain fatty acid that is used for immediate energy consumption. As well, coconut oil stimulates your metabolism helping you burn more calories and accelerate fat loss. By substituting coconut oil for your regular cooking oil you will not only add a whole new taste sensation to your food, but you will also begin to see and feel a variety of health benefits.

. Bee Pollen: Bee pollen is one of nature's best-kept secrets. Apart from being 40 percent protein, it contains high concentrations of enzymes, phytochemicals and nutrients, essentially making it a complete food. Bee pollen can not only stimulate your metabolism but also flush fat from your body. It is also a wonderful appetite suppressant. Between 15 and 20 grams/day (1/2 ounce) is the usual recommended dose.

. Green Tea: Green Tea is widely known as a powerful antioxidant, but studies also show this pleasant tasting tea has superior fat burning properties. High concentrations of catechin flavanoids found in green tea, are shown to increase the rate of calorie burning and promote fat loss.

There is also a whole list of foods that actually take more energy to digest than there are calories contained within them. These negative calorie foods include fruits such as grapefruit, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, watermelon, peaches, apricots, blackberries, clementines and tangerines to name a few. Many vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, leeks, cabbage, lettuce, peppers, celery and cauliflower are also considered negative calorie foods and are great for snacking because they work to raise your metabolism and burn fat while satisfying a hungry appetite.