Did you know there are a lot of foods that naturally burn fat? How great is that?  All we have to do to start losing weight is to eat these foods that have natural fat burning properties.  Here are a few to incorporate into your diet to help you on your way to losing weight naturally.

Apples, berries, broccoli, cabbage and citrus fruits: Foods high in Vitamin C liquefy fat and help the body flush out toxins.

Apples and berries: Contain pectin, an insoluble dietary fiber shown to reduce blood cholesterol leves and restrict the amount of fat that our cells can absorb. So if the cells can’t absorb the fat, they’re forced to expel the fatty deposits which results in weight loss.  

Broccoli, cabbage, milk, cheese and yogurt: Are calcium rich foods that help with natural weight loss because they speed up the process of breaking down the fat content of fat cells.

Eggs, lean meat, fish (tuna, salmon and sardines) and unprocessed, unsalted nuts:  High quality protein helps lose weight because it’s a natural fat burner.  It also helps reduce cravings and binge
eating which aids in weight loss.  
 
Garlic:  Reduces fatty deposits and has many health promoting qualities.  
   
Green tea:  Burns fat and boosts metabolism which helps your body operate more efficiently.  It’s also high in natural anti-oxidants, has cancer fighting properties and reduces heart disease.

Hot peppers: Turn up the heat!  Hot peppers speed up metabolism and helps burn more calories.

Olive oil: Helps to keep your cholesterol levels down and is a major fat burning food.

Water:  Cleanses the body, hydrates the skin and flushes toxins out the system. For a diet of fat burning foods to work efficiently and aid natural weight loss, it’s important to stay properly hydrated. Our bodies are made up of 70% water and needs to be replenished every day.  The general rule of thumb is ½ your weight in ounces per day.

Whole grains and oatmeal: contain fat-absorbing fiber, which not only keeps you feeling full and energized but also increases metabolism by burning fat and calories.

Incorporate these fat burning foods into your diet and natural weight loss will come easily to you!


 

I think the first time I heard the word chia, it was during a holiday gift commercial for "chia pets."  Who can forget the jingle - cha-cha-cha-chia?  Surprisingly enough, the seeds used to grow these whimsical terracotta plants is the same seed that is considered a powerful superfood.

The ancient Aztecs used chia seeds over 3000 years ago.  Warriors prized the small seeds for its endurance promoting qualities.  They would eat it in bread before battle or drink it in water before running long distances.

What's so special about chia?  Chia contains Omega 3 which is a rich source of essential fatty acids.  Omega 3 fatty acids are necessary for human growth and supports the development of our brain, eyes and nerves.  Chia seeds are also rich in calcium, potassium, mangesium, iron, zinc, many trace minerals and is considered a biologically-complete protein.  What that means is it contains an adequate proportion of all the nine essential amino acids for our dietary needs.

Why would anyone want to include chia seeds in their diet?  Health benefits include:
- Promotes a healthy heart
- Normalizes blood pressure
- Lowers bad cholesterol
- Has six times more calcium than milk
- Considered nutritionally superior to flax and soy
- Improves digestion
- Removes toxins naturally
- Strengthens muscles and bones
- Supports healthy weight loss due to its high fiber content

Because chia is neutral in color and flavor, it can be added to healthy recipes without changing the taste.  It's delicious in soups, cereal, salad, yogurt, smoothies and baked goods.  You can buy Chia in most health food stores.