Top Ten Power Foods to Fire Up Your Metabolism and Burn Fat

What is the secret to a long and healthy life? It is in the power foods that we eat. As you well know, all foods are not created equal. Choosing and eating the right power foods may help increase your life expectancy as well as the quality of your life and help to burn fat.

Here are the top ten power foods designed to give you energy, vitality and burn fat!

1. Black Beans - or beans of all kinds (kidney, navy, lentils, chickpeas,) are high in protein. This is a plant protein so it contains very little fat, carbs and calories. If fiber is a problem in your diet, eating a healthy portion of beans each day can help restore balance to your digestive system.

2. Oatmeal - Oatmeal is coming into popularity as a food that lowers blood cholesterol. Oatmeal is a filling grain that also provides much needed fiber to keep hunger at bay and your blood sugar constant.

3. Fruits - Fruits are filled with antioxidants such as Vitamin C and A. Antioxidants fight free radical damage in the body and reduce the risk of cancer. Berries such as blueberries and grapes have the highest amount of antioxidants. But choose an array of fruits in a wide variety of colors for maximum health. The antioxidants in fruit boost the immune system to fight the effects of aging in the body.




4. Allium Foods - This class of foods includes garlic, onions, leeks and shallots. Garlic is known for lowering cholesterol. Allium vegetables help guard the body against the risk of cancer and many other ailments. They also help lower blood pressure and prevent blood clots.

5. Salmon - Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids reduces the risk of heart disease and other conditions like atherosclerosis. Wild salmon is a fatty fish but it contains good fats that have proven to improve health in children and adults. Salmon is rich in protein which is of great use after an exercise session to build muscle tissue.

6. Flax seed - Like salmon it contains omega-3 fatty acids. These seeds also contain omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids. You get a lot of power to fight high cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes with this seed. Ground flax seed can be added to fruit smoothies, sprinkled in yogurt, eaten with cereal or added to pancake mix to name a few.

7. Grilled Chicken - Make sure it's organic. Chicken is very similar to salmon and contains lots of omega-3 fatty acids and is so easy and versatile to use.

8. Nuts and seeds - Nuts are high in fat but these fats are the good kind. Peanuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts and pistachios are all providers of good fats and protein.. Nuts help to lower cholesterol. Eat them right out of the shell with no additives.

9. Spinach - This super veggie is so low in calories and goes with everything. You can use it in salads, side dishes and I love it in omelets. Speaking of omelets, eggs are an excellent source of protein and are so good for you.

10. Yogurt - Yogurt contains calcium, Vitamin B, and protein. If you don't drink milk, yogurt is an alternative to get your calcium to build strong bones and teeth. Live yogurt also contains friendly bacteria to help promote a healthy digestive system. Natural yogurt is best without sugar.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Kelly_Beck/583387

Boost the Fat Burning Process With the Best Fat Burning Tips

Discovering ways to increase the amount of fat burning going on is a really effective method of speeding up the process of losing weight. Using fat burners, although unhealthy, is the easy path to take or you can stick to the older and less harmful options open to you. Here are ten of the best fat burning tips to get rid of the body's excess fat.

1. Take in fewer calories than previously. It goes without saying if you eat less you are going to weigh less. However, the secret when you are on a fat burning diet is not to overdo things. When you dramatically reduce your calorie intake your energy level and your metabolism rate drop and this can be counterproductive.

2. Substitute complex carbohydrates with vegetables. For example, replace one cup of rice with two cups of broccoli. By eating vegetables which are more often than not lower in calories you will be able to eat enough food to fill you up without exceeding your daily calorie target.

3. Make sure the fats you eat are of the good fat variety. For instance, your body needs food providing omega-3 fatty acids as it cannot produce this essential nutrient itself.




4. Never miss a meal. You would be forgiven for thinking that by missing a meal you are reducing your calorie intake but this really is not the case. By starving yourself earlier on in the day you will only be hungrier later on and grabbing something you fancy to eat just before bedtime is not the way forward. Patience is the key. The weight you are trying to get rid of didn't appear overnight and neither will it disappear overnight.

5. Calculate how many calories you need to eat each day to reach your desired goal and then break your meals down eating smaller amounts at more regular intervals.

6. Lower your intake of animal fats by opting for lean meat and cutting down on dairy fats. Fats are good for you remember, but only the good ones!

7. Step up the amount of protein you eat. If you don't do this and you have decreased the amount of calories you are taking in you are likely to start losing muscle mass. According to the RDA, the recommended amount of protein is 0.8g/kg but you may wish to increase this level to 1.5-2g/kg if you are carrying out endurance workouts and resistance training as this often quickly breaks down muscle protein.

8. When your body is dehydrated the weight training you are doing becomes inefficient and your metabolism slows down so make sure you drink plenty of water, without going too over the top.

9. Before embarking on a training session it's good to eat complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, nuts, seeds, sweet potatoes and whole-wheat bread.

10. As you cannot expect to lose weight in 24 hours, when you are following a fat burning diet the chances are you will be on it for a few months so it's important not to completely rule out your favourite foods. Even eating chocolate and ice-cream is acceptable as long as it is eaten as a treat or reward and, of course, in moderation.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ricardo_D_Argence/33861

5 Amazing Facts That Will Help You Lose Weight Quickly

The truth is that there is no magic way to shed pounds in an instant. Those who want to lose weight want results and they want them now. But anything worth having is worth working toward. However, if you do things right the weight will come off and it will feel like it happened quickly.

So, here are 5 amazing facts that will help you lose weight quickly.

-The first fact is that the more you make weight loss your focus, the more it will elude you. Instead of thinking in terms of pounds lost, think in terms of minutes jogged. Instead of thinking of all the food you shouldn't eat, think of all the foods you can. The rest will take care of itself.

-Fact two is amazing because it goes against what so many people believe about weight loss. You can eat whatever you want. If you enjoy pizza then eat pizza. The secret is not about what you eat but how much you eat it. Don't eat an entire pizza. Have just one slice. Moderation is key.




-The third fact is that exercise does not have to be a grueling, painful ordeal. Simply getting up and moving is a good start. Find something you enjoy doing. It is not necessary to drag yourself out of bed at 6am to jog 5 miles. Even 30 minutes a day will make a difference.

-Stress relief is the secret behind key number four. Find ways to lower the stress in your life. Stress is linked to weight gain.

-Get more sleep. Yep, fact five is to lie down and do nothing. Allow your body to rest and revive. Studies show that lack of sleep is related to weight gain.

Those are 5 amazing facts that will help you lose weight quickly. It is up to you to put them to use.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Devon_Robinson/280377