Foods That Burn Calories and Help Burn Calories

Plenty of research points to nuts as one of our nation's best fat-burning foods, especially if you don't go overboard with your consumption (as long as you keep your intake within the daily recommended dosages). Chalk it up to their protein, their fiber, and their antioxidant power, which will enhance the body's fat-burning sensitivity, as stated by the American Council on Exercise. If you eat a reasonable amount, nuts are probably one of America's most healthy foods. There is no single reason why nuts are so good for you. Nuts have lots of health benefits, so they're worth a try.

Of course, you need to count calories when you're trying to lose weight or maintain your current size. Calorie-free foods help you stay in shape and keep your metabolism going, even if you are trying to lose weight. The trick, however, is choosing foods that actually burn fat instead of store-bought foods that disguise themselves as healthy. This is where the problem begins. We have become a nation of fat-burner eaters, not fat-management eaters. In order to get our weight down, we have to do more than just count calories; we have to do something different.

Our food supply contains too many calories and not enough nutrition. We simply do not get enough sleep. We have access to processed foods that are heavily marketed and full of empty calories that do us more harm than good. Most of our food is nutrient-poor. It is nutrient-rich, however, but because it is highly processed and nutrient-poor, it does us more harm than good.

Fats are one area where we do not get enough nutrients. Fats are used by our bodies for fuel. Fats are also needed to produce estrogen, the female hormone that drives our metabolism. Too much estrogen is bad for women of all ages. There is a chemical in fat that drives our metabolic rate, called "adiponectin."

Fats are found in foods such as butter and mayonnaise, margarine and shortening (or fat-less spreads). We cannot completely get rid of these foods, but we can reduce their consumption, and we can eat healthier versions of them that are still beneficial to our health. Eating healthier versions of these foods that are low in fat, high in fiber and yet full of nutrients will give our body better results than any nutritional supplement we could ever take. Another substance that drives our body fat is cortisol, also known as the stress hormone. It is found in adrenal glands, and its purpose is to make us feel "full" so we won't overeat.

If we reduce our consumption of foods that burn fat but increase our consumption of foods that are high in fiber, insulin levels and antioxidants, we would see a positive change in our health. However, there is only one problem with this type of diet. The diet has to be balanced. That means it cannot be a purely fruit and vegetable diet, or even a "low-fat" diet. It has to have a balanced combination of complex carbohydrates and protein.

One very good food that has a lot of fiber, glucose and antioxidant is "blood oranges," a domesticated variety that has been used in Asia for centuries. Blood oranges contain beta carotene, an essential vitamin A, that is important for building cell function and increasing skin tone. It is also an excellent secret fat burner, as well as an appetite suppressant. If you have not tried eating blood oranges, I highly recommend trying this delicious and healthful fruit!

Finally, you can always include "good fats," such as fish, nuts, olives, avocado and walnuts, in order to increase your body's fat burning ability. These fats are essential for the proper functioning of all the hormones in the body. This is why they are a "must have" for weight loss diets. Try any one of these foods that burn calories today.