Fat burning foods: fantasy or fact?

In a world where access to information is now available at the click of a mouse, it is quite easy to stumble upon a variety of myths about foods that help you lose weight.

From vinegar to grapefruit and pineapples to warm water, there is a range of rumours and half truths that are in circulation today – all praising the potential benefits of things that help you burn fat simply by eating or drinking them.

But is it really true that there are foods that burn fat in the body? To shed light on some of these facts and fantasies, here is a detailed breakdown of the myths surrounding foods and drinks that are supposed to possess fat burning benefits:

Myth #1: Grapefruit gets you thin!

Fact: Grapefruit will not directly cause you to burn fat. But it is considered very healthy as it contains vitamin C and a great deal of fiber which makes you feel full faster and has a positive effect on the sugar absorption system in your body.

Myth #2: Magic Cabbage soup burns fat and makes you lose weight!

Fact: Contrary to what you may have heard, no food by itself can burn body fat. Actually, the temporary loss of weight that you may experience is due to a loss of water loss and not fat. Besides, eating only one type of food or drinking cabbage soup for a week will have serious negative effects on your health. It will not only make you feel weak and tired, but will deplete your storage of vitamins as well. And although you may experience short-term weight loss, as soon as you stop your soup diet, you will eventually gain all your weight back. However, the good thing is that starting your meal with fulfilling soup can reduce the amount of food you eat during your meal, thereby reducing your calorie consumption.

Myth #3: Vinegar in the morning is a very good fat burner

Fact: Not really. And more importantly, remember that when consumed on an empty stomach, the acid in vinegar can cause a stomach ulcer rather than burn extra fat in your body.

Myth #4: Warm water when you wake up dissolves excess fat

Fact: Warm or cold: water is the same. This is because water takes the same temperature as your body when you drink it, which is why it doesn’t ‘melt’ fat. But it does help rid your body from toxins and process body work efficiently. Drinking water will help contribute to weight loss if you also follow a healthy diet plan.

Myth #5: Pineapple breaks down fat in the food you eat

Fact: Pineapple is a much publicised fruit for its fat burning properties. It was previously through that this prickly tropical fruit which contained the bromelain enzyme, helped split fat. However the truth is that it actually helps in digesting protein. And since it is low in calories and rich in fibre to make you feel full faster, it is a great fruit to incorporate in your balanced weight loss diet.

Myth #6: Caffeinated beverages can help burn fat

Fact: The common claims that caffeine burns fat and speeds up your metabolism are untrue. In fact the truth is that caffeine is a mild stimulant that helps you stay alert and gives you a boost for the day, but without its famed fat burning effects.

The truth about fat burning food

It is believed that fat burning foods speed up the metabolism and promote faster weight loss. This claim is false. Any meal in general provides you with a temporary boost in metabolism due to the thermic effect of food. This is especially true in the context of a mixed diet, where the differences among foods are very minimal to be noticed.

“Move it to Lose it!”

The best way to speed up your Metabolic Rate is with daily exercise. This will help increase your muscle mass and decrease fat deposits. Remember, losing weight the healthy way and maintaining it with a balanced varied diet is the best way for a healthy lifestyle.

Good to remember: Fad diets and unhealthy practices focusing on one kind of food can seriously jeopardize your health. Instead, you should follow sound nutrition advice and maintain a moderately low calorie, low fat diet in order to achieve the weight loss you want.