A calorie is a calorie, right? Not quite.
Most people focus on the quantity of their calories but quality is just as, if not more important. Certain foods pack a nutrition punch that will actually help you get closer to your goals. Nutrient dense foods can do wonders for your physique: some flush toxins, some speed up metabolism and some help build bigger muscles. Food is powerful, so be just as strategic with your nutrition as you are with your workouts.
If fat burning is your top priority, add these foods to your shopping list to accelerate your results:
Lean Beef
Red meat usually gets a bad wrap, but lean cuts of beef are not only packed with protein to build strong muscles that increase metabolism, one serving of beef also contains about 15% of your daily iron, a micronutrient that transports oxygen to your exercising muscles, letting them power through your workout even longer.
Green Tea
Green tea, the real stuff, from a tea bag, contains catechins, substances that research shows can boost metabolism, burn fat, and promote weight loss. Green tea is also a great alternative to water to stay hydrated and facilitates muscle recovery. Try to have at least one cup daily.
Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt has double fat burning benefits: not only does it help to shed fat, it also helps to increase lean muscle mass which helps the body burn more calories at rest: a real win-win.
Apples
Apples are high in pectin, which binds with water and limits the amount of fat your cells can absorb. Apples are also high in fiber, which makes you feel fuller longer and the antioxidants in apples have been shown to prevent metabolic syndrome, a combination of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and prediabetes. Slice 'em up and sprinkle
Chili Peppers
Spice it up! Capsinoids, compounds found in spicy peppers, increase fat burning, especially in those who have a body mass index (BMI) over 25, which is the lower end of the overweight ratio.
Light a fire in your system by incorporating some of these healthy foods into your diet and melt those fat cells fast.