Fat burning foods represent a group of foods that can help your body burn more calories than you consume. These types of foods should be paired with an exercise program and a weight loss program of healthy eating. Simply eating some of these foods won't result in immediate weight loss. However, these foods are low in calories and, as a result, help promote weight loss. Fat burning foods satisfy your hunger while also gearing up your body with an extra metabolic kick to increase your metabolism.

The idea of eating your way to weigh loss isn't new. There's no mystery behind fat burning foods--just think fruits and vegetables. The high level of nutrients and lower calories help to give your body more energy by increasing the rate at which your body burns calories (metabolic rate). Increasing your metabolism is one of the keys to weight loss. Incorporating a healthy diet filled with fat burning foods and a comprehensive exercise program can have you meeting your fitness goals quickly.

Foods that fall into the fat burning category are foods in which you burn more calories than the content of the food. Since all foods contain calories, monitoring your caloric intake is important for weigh loss goals. Each pound of fat contains 3,500 calories. To lose a pound, you need to reduce your caloric intake by the same 3,500 calories. Since this isn't possible to do in one day, consuming foods that are low in calories aids you in many ways by providing nutrients to keep your body healthy. A healthy body that consumes usable calories burns those same calories more efficiently rather than storing fat.

Green tea falls into the fat burning food category because it quite speeds up your metabolism. It contains caffeine, but it also functions as an antioxidant to cleanse the body. Apples are high in soluble fiber, allowing your body to use this energy immediately. One average-sized apple contains 81 calories. There's no fat in an apple, no salt and no cholesterol. As an added bonus, one apple will satisfy those hunger pangs and keep you from snacking. Citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges and grapefruit are loaded with vitamin C. Vitamin C is a great fat burner as it dilutes fat to make it less effective. Try eating some citrus fruits to get your recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C rather than popping that vitamin tablet. Navy, white, lima and kidney beans provide the most protein with the least amount of fat. Beans are high in potassium, which is great for someone who's exercising regularly. In addition, legumes are low in sodium making them an excellent choice as a fat burning food. Berries of all types satisfy that sweet tooth. Blackberries, strawberries and blueberries are some of the best anti-oxidants around. All contain natural sugars and are high in fiber that allows for the reduced absorption of calories in your body. Berries are also high in potassium that can help lower elevated blood pressure. Broccoli isn't only a great cancer fighter but a great fat-burning food as well. At only 44 calories per cooked cup, broccoli is high in fiber, vitamin C and calcium. You'll burn those 44 calories before you know it. If you a rice and potatoes kind of person, try substituting barley to satisfy your need for starches. One cup of cooked barley is 170 calories. Barley helps lower cholesterol and has many cancer fighting properties.

Fat burning foods have a few features that set them apart from the rest of the foods we consume on a daily basis. By far, the most important fact is that these foods are rich in vitamins and minerals. These healthy sources of energy help boost our metabolism as well as providing our bodies with the nutrients we need for good health. In addition, fat burning foods help limit binge eating by filling us up with good calories. Fat burning foods also fuel your metabolism, which is the function in your body that takes the food your consume and either stores it for fat, uses it for energy, stores it as fat, or release what's left as a waste product. Increasing your metabolism helps to burn more calories. When incorporated with a good exercise program that focuses on increasing muscle gain, you've got three things working in your favor: fat burning foods, an increased metabolism and muscles working to burn calories.

The above list is just a small snapshot of some of the fat burning foods. The list is long and contains many foods that you probably consume on a daily basis. So why aren't you burning fat? Most likely, you're not consuming these foods every day and you're probably incorporating other foods that are offsetting the benefits of good foods. A healthy diet is a lifestyle change. Including fat burning foods into your healthy diet should be part of an overall wellness program.