Are there really foods that burn fat quickly? I know it sounds too good to be true, but even when all other factors are the same, scientific studies have found that people who consume certain foods end up losing more weight than those who don’t eat the foods!

According to science, these three foods are among the most popular to burn fat quickly:

Beans

Beans contain a healthy mix of protein and carbohydrates, and are a preferred protein source for dieters everywhere. Beans are challenging to digest, so it takes your body longer to process them. This is a good thing, because they help you stay full longer, and keep your blood sugar stable.

But their fiber content is their real magic. Fiber really gives your digestive system a workout. It keeps things running smoothly, and prevents your blood glucose from spiking too high. But watch your choices in beans–Baked beans or fatty refried beans can sabotage your weight loss efforts by supplying too many simple carbs and calories. Plain beans are the best choice to burn fat quickly.

Skim Milk

Calcium is perhaps the most popular proven metabolism booster of all the foods that burn fat quickly. Studies have proven that calcium causes weight loss. Two groups of test subjects were studied. The groups did everything the same, except that one group received several servings of calcium each day. Surprisingly, that group lost almost three times as much weight as the group who did not receive extra calcium.

Dairy products remain the most popular source of calcium. You can also get calcium from vegetables like broccoli. Choose products made from 2%, 1%, or fat-free milk. They deliver the greatest amount of calcium in the lowest amount of calories.

Green Tea

Green tea contains powerful antioxidants that reduce the number of potentially cancerous free radicals in the body, and has been touted as a dieter’s miracle product for years. It contains just enough natural caffeine to perk up your heart rate and metabolism without putting undue stress on your body. Green tea is also a mild diuretic, which can be helpful for getting rid of retained fluid.

People who drink 4 – 6 cups of green tea per day enjoy faster weight loss than those who don’t drink green tea, according to results of studies on it as a fat-burner. And it tastes good…drink up and maybe green tea will help you lose fat quickly. Just don’t add sugar!!!

Honorable Mention: Water

Water should still rank highly on any list of foods that burn fat. No, it doesn’t contain nutrition, but it dilutes sodium to beat bloating, promotes healing, pushes retained fluid from our bodies, and satisfies the appetite. Water can also keep your metabolism running at maximum efficiency. How?

Our kidneys are our primary filtration system. They help pass toxins and waste fluids out of our bodies. But they have to have plenty of hydration to keep functioning well. When they are  deprived of water, the kidneys call on the liver for back-up.

While it can serve as a secondary filtration system, that is not the best use of the liver. It is designed for, and excels at, turning stored fat into usable energy. But when it has to support the kidneys, the liver cannot metabolize fat as quickly as it is supposed to. You can bring your metabolism back up to speed by drinking plenty of water each day.

To quickly and productively overhaul your diet, start eating foods that burn fat quickly. Add 64 ounces of pure drinking or distilled water each day, and you will be on your way to successful and permanent weight loss.

—Coach Darlene