15 Surprising Foods That Will Help You Lose Fat Fast
When it comes to finally shed the last of those few unwanted pounds, you might be wondering what else can you do to just melt the fat away. While that's rather unrealistic if we're being honest here, there are foods you can add to your diet ASAP that will help you lose fat a lot quicker than if you weren't eating them. And you might be a bit surprised to see some of these foods on the list!
Here's a breakdown of 15 surprising foods that will help you lose fat.
Avocados
Yes, avocadoes are filled with healthy monounsaturated fats, which help with overall weight loss. But a study in Nutrition Journal helps to take the avocado's reputation up a notch. Participants in the study who ate half a fresh avocado with lunch were fuller for longer, and had didn't have much of a feeling to snack or eat afterward.
Blueberries
Blueberries are packed with antioxidants, and one study in the Journal of Medicinal Food actually found thatantioxidant-rich fruits can reduce abdominal fat, triglycerides, and total body weight. The fruit makes a great addition to oatmeal, mixed in some yogurt, or just as a snack by itself!
Red Grapes
Red grapes contain resveratrol, which has been shown to reduce body fat and increase the breakdown of fat. So the more red grapes you eat, the more that will aid in the breaking down of fat, which sounds pretty ideal to us! And if you're catching on to where we're going next…
Red Wine
Yes, the same can be said of red wine, which comes from red grapes. A true victory.
Hazelnuts
Hazelnuts are one nut you want to add to your daily snack lineup, as they are packed with monounsaturated fats and serve as a great anti-inflammatory, too. But before you think about loading up on Nutella (hello 21 grams of sugar in one serving), it's best to just eat one serving of the actual nuts, or try making your own hazelnut spread yourself that is free of added sugars.
Cinnamon
Go ahead and add some cinnamon to your overnight oats, or even in a smoothie. One study found that cinnamaldehyde, an essential oil that gives cinnamon its flavor, helps kickstart weight loss and burn fat cells.
Sweet Potatoes
An upside of eating sweet potatoes is that they'll keep you fuller for much longer, and if you're less likely to reach for snacks, that's a major win. Sweet potatoes also have plenty of carotenoids—some of the highest levels compared to other veggies—and according to a Nutrition and Diabetes study, carotenoids have been shown to correlate with improved weight and fat loss.
Beans
Beans are packed with protein and fiber, but on top of those benefits, a Free Radical Research study showed that consuming four weekly servings of beans or legumes sped up weight loss. So yes, it's safe to add beans to list of foods that will have you losing fat ASAP.
Green Tea
Sipping on green tea will have you shrinking fat cells and burning belly fat in no time, because, well, that's exactly what it does. In one study, men who took part were given green tea extract before working out and burned more fat than the other men in the study who weren't given the supplement. Another study found that the EGCG present in green tea—which is the compound responsible for making green tea as amazing as it is—increased fat oxidation in the participants.
Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is not only packing with protein but according to one study, researchers found that when protein is digested, the amino acid phenylalanine triggers hormones that help reduce appetite by affecting the gut and the brain. This obviously then leads to weight loss.
Dark Chocolate
Yes, it's true! See, Louisiana State University researchers found that chocolate can boost the body's ability to create a fatty acid that turns off genes linked to inflammation, which also encourages the body to burn fat as fuel.
Tomatoes
Japanese researchers discovered that tomatoes contain a compound that actually activates your DNA to burn more fat. How amazing is that?
Spinach
You've heard plenty of times about the importance of eating leafy greens and spinach will help you on the right track. Not only is it high in protein, but it contains thylakoids, a compound that keeps you satiated and helps promote weight loss. See ya, unwanted fat!
Hot Peppers
Munch on a bit of spice, and you'll drop those pounds in no time. Researchers from the University of California Los Angeles found that eating spicy hot peppers might just help you burn more calories and fat, as the dihydrocapsiate, or DCT, in hot peppers "caused an increase in calories burned after a test meal."
Pomegranate
It's time to burn that belly fat fast, and pomegranates will get you there. A study in the International Journal of Obesity found that pomegranates significantly decreased the abdominal fat of mice. This overall reduced obesity and cardiovascular risk as well. More good news!
