Many people who want to have a slim figure decide to join the gym to improve their general health and lose those extra “kilos”.

But to lose weight, it is not necessary to live in “fasting mode” or eat only salads. The body must be well nourished because physical activity demands that we have enough fuel to be able to perform both daily activities and physical exercise.

Fat-burning and very healthy foods

If we think about going on a diet, it must be balanced so that we do not run risks to our health. However, it is possible to choose a series of foods that will help you burn calories.

Below you will find a list of 24 fat-burning foods .

1. Coconut oil

Coconut oil may be a high-fat food, but that does not mean that it does not help you lose fat . There are different types of fat, some of which are healthy (for example, monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat). The medium chain fatty acids that make up coconut oil are not converted into glucose, but are directly metabolized into energy in the liver itself. Therefore, the consumption of this product has no effect on blood sugar and provides numerous nutrients such as lauric acid.

2, Green tea

Green tea is a great food for losing fat, and like other teas accelerates the metabolism . This magic infusion is rich in the antioxidant ECGC, which helps burn fat and prevents its formation. According to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition , participants in their research who trained for 25 minutes a day and consumed green tea lost more fat than participants who did not consume this infusion.

3. Cinnamon

Cinnamon, besides its delicious taste, is also an ideal food for losing fat . One spoonful of this product per day is enough to see results. Cinnamon helps to regulate blood glucose levels and, as well as making you feel more energetic, helps you to be more satiated and avoid carving.

4. Garlic

A component called “allicin” is present in garlic. It is an excellent fat-burning food. It is ideal for losing weight and helps eliminate excess fat from the body . So, add garlic to your meals and you will see its benefits.

5. Apple vinegar

Scientific studies have shown that acidic foods increase the speed of burning carbohydrates by up to 40% . Apple vinegar is an ideal food to carry out this process, because it is rich in acetic acid. A study published in the Journal of Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry showed that participants who consumed this food burned more fat over a 12-week period .

6. Citrus fruits

Lemons and oranges, besides being high in vitamin C, are ideal foods for losing fat, because they actively participate in the detoxification process of the liver . A healthy liver increases its ability to digest and burn fat more quickly.

7. Jalapeños

If you like spicy food, you are in luck . Hot peppers like jalapeños or habaneros help to burn fat indirectly. Capsaicin is mainly responsible, because it increases body temperature and accelerates the metabolism and the process of fat loss.

8. Brown rice

Brown rice is a food with a low glycemic index (GI), so unlike processed cereals, it does not cause hyperglycemia. As well as containing fibre and slowly absorbed carbohydrates, which are ideal for losing fat, brown rice also helps you feel fuller for hours .

9. Coffee

We all know that coffee contains caffeine, and caffeine consumption increases metabolism and promotes lipolysis, which means that it helps to burn different types of fat. Having one or two coffees a day is good, but too much coffee is bad for the body.

10. Oats

Oats contain a high content of fiber, which accelerates the metabolism and helps you feel more satiated . In addition, oats are a cereal that is high in protein, minerals and antioxidants, and is ideal for eating in the morning.

11. Flax seeds

Flax seeds are one of the best foods for burning fat, because they contain a compound called “lignans” that is a powerful weapon for burning fat . It is possible to grind the seeds and spread them on different foods, for example, salads, cereals or yoghurts. Also, flax seeds contain essential fatty acids to increase metabolism and help lower the levels of bad cholesterol in our body.

12. Lentils

Lentils are high in fibre and, as already mentioned in the previous points, are ideal for keeping full between meals . In addition, it keeps blood sugar levels stable because it allows carbohydrates to be processed more efficiently, and it is a good source of protein.

13. Spinach

Spinach may not make you feel extremely strong like the famous cartoon character, “Popeye”, but it is effective at burning fat. Spinach increases the metabolism, helps to burn fat and keeps bad cholesterol at bay .

14. Eggs

There is a big debate about whether to eat only the egg white or to eat the whole egg, because the fat is in the yolk. But eggs are an ideal food for burning fat and are rich in choline , a nutrient that has been shown to play a role in turning off the genes responsible for storing abdominal fat.

A study published in the Journal Nutrition Research , involving 21 subjects, found that those who ate eggs for breakfast felt less hungry three hours later and consumed more calories over the next 24 hours.

15. Broccoli

Although some people do not like to eat this food, it is ideal for burning calories. In addition to the vitamins and antioxidants it provides, it is a high-fibre food .

16. Lean meat

Lean meat is characterized by a high thermogenic effect, which will help you burn up to 30% more calories during digestion alone. Therefore, in a 300 calorie chicken breast, 90 are consumed only in the digestive process .

17. Dried fruit

Nuts are characterized by a high fat content, but it is healthy fat . Nuts speed up your metabolism and help you feel fuller for longer. A handful of almonds or nuts is enough to benefit you, but… don’t overdo it!

18. Blueberries

Blueberries are delicious, but they are also effective in weight loss , because they attack directly the excess fat. The nutrients found in this fruit help metabolize fatty acids and sugars. You can mix them in a bowl with other fruits, but don’t add table sugar.

19. Black beans

Various studies have shown that beans are excellent for weight loss, it’s like a fat burning pill. Beans are a great source of resistant starch, a slowly digested type of insoluble fiber and feeds healthy bacteria in the intestine, causing the production of butyrate , which helps the body use fat as fuel.

20. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are very tasty when added to a salad or in a snack, but they also do their job of burning fat . They contain 9-oxo-ODA, a component that, according to a recent study by Japanese researchers, activates DNA to burn more fat.

21. Quinoa

Quinoa is an ancestral cereal that will help you burn “kilitos”, because it contains high quality protein, as it is a complete source of amino acids. Therefore, it is ideal for building muscle and burning fat.

22. Water with lemon

Water is essential for life and is also ideal for losing fat . If you are going to practice physical exercise you will obviously need to be hydrated. But water is a good time to feel full and burn off those extra calories. If you add squeezed lemon it will be delicious and you will benefit from the power of citrus fruits as powerful fat burners.

  • Recommended text: “8 benefits of drinking water with lemon in the morning”

23. Fish (with Omega 3)

Fish are a great source of protein and that is why dieticians recommend their consumption . Additionally, they are a great source of healthy Omega-3 fats, a natural fat-burner. Research by British Journal of Nutrition found that omega-3 fatty acids reduce fat levels and allow you to feel fuller.

24. Greek Yogurt

Whether you add it to a shake or consume it alone, this product will bring you benefits when it comes to losing weight. Greek yogurt will help you build muscle mass, which speeds up your basal metabolism and fat burning when you rest. In addition, it contains vitamin D and calcium, which fight the effect of cortisol, a stress-related hormone , which causes fat to build up in the abdominal area.