Thermogenic Superfoods
Thermogenic Superfoods are foods that require additional calories to be broken down, leading to a raised metabolism and more calories burned. Thermogenic foods are also very high in fiber, which causes a person to become fuller faster. Simply because of the low calorie content and high fiber, thermogenic foods assist in weight loss. Basically, the Superfoods diet relies on foods that demand more calories to be digested than the exact caloric value of the food, thus burning up stored fat from one’s body. Your body needs energy for body heat as well as energy to break down the food you eat. A 360-calorie piece of birthday cake may require 90 calories to be broken down, resulting in a net gain of 270 calories to be incorporated into your fat storage. On the other hand, a 28-calorie katabolic food may call for 95 calories to breakdown, resulting in a net loss of 67 calories off your stored fat deposit. Diets based on katabolic nutrients result in impressive weight losses of the real fat from the body.
Plant foods that burn more calories than they contain are:
• celery
• strawberries
• oranges
• tangerines
• carrot
s
• apricots
• grapefruit
• lettuce
• cucumbers
• tomatoes
• watermelon
• cauliflower
• hot chili peppers
• apples
• zucchini
As you can see, these particular foods are on the Superfoods main list and all of these foods have plenty of fiber. Many green veggies are thermogenic foods, particularly the ones that include a great percentage of water and fiber. Broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts are green veggies that are common thermogenic foods. Celery is also a great additional example of thermogenic food mainly because it is primarily made of water and fiber. The body requires more energy to digest these foods than the quantity of energy they provide.
Green tea has two significant chemicals – polyphenols called the catechins and caffeine. Both of these chemical substances are known to promote thermogenesis. Apart from these two chemicals, green tea is also high in catechin,
also known as epigallocatechin gallate, a compound that enhances the process of thermogenesis. The gymnemic acid and cannatic extracts in green tea decreases the assimilation of sugar into your blood. Green tea also suppresses your body's ability to digest carbs. As you likely know, sugar and high glycemic index carbs are two of the main factors of weight gain.
Coconut oil is another example of a thermogenic food. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) found in coconut oil hold off the buildup of fat in the body. Coconut oil, therefore, promotes thermogenesis. A British study has discovered that adding chili and MCT (coconut oil) to meals boosts thermogenesis by over 50 percent. With time, this practice may cumulate to help promote weight loss and restrict weight gain.
Eating ginger has anti-hypertensive, glucose-sensitizing, anti-inflammatory, and stimulatory effects on the gastrointestinal tract.
Cinnamon is a thermogenic spice that assists and influences blood sugar levels. A suggested daily consumption of 1 g of cinnamon in individuals with type 2 diabetes has been discovered to reduce blood sugar, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels.
A protein-rich diet is recognized as an enhancer of the thermogenic process (unlike high-fat or high carbohydrate diets). As an example, studies show that there is a 6-8 percent boost in energy expenditure with carb meals, a 3 percent boost with fat, and a tremendous 25-40 percent with protein-based meals. Lean proteins are an awesome
example of thermogenic foods. Lean proteins are located in foods such as chicken breasts, turkey, buffalo, lean red meat such as sirloin or top round steak, bison, and other game meats. Really good sources of lean proteins comes from seafood such as shellfish and almost every different kind of fish. Some researchers found that people whose diets consisted of more protein not only increased thermogenesis (ie. their metabolism), but also enhanced their satiety and assisted in the maintenance of an all-around leaner body mass. Simply said, it takes a lot of body energy to digest lean proteins.
Celery is one of the greatest thermogenic foods. First of all, it is really low in calories, which is why it is a really popular food for those on a diet. It also helps burn off more calories because of its thermogenic effect. Celery has a really mild taste that makes it easy to include in many meals. You can also dip it in low-fat yogurt or low-fat farmer’s cheese toned down with some yogurt for a delicious snack.
Perhaps the most recognized thermogenic foods are spices such as chili pepper (
Capsicum annuum
) or cayenne pepper. In fact, such spices can boost your metabolic rate by 25 percent because they contain capsaicin, chemical compound that speeds up the metabolism and dilates the blood vessels. So, if you frequently eat spicy hot dishes, then you are definitely helping your weight loss. If you can’t stand hot food but you want the capsaicin benefits, you can use a capsaicin
supplement
.
Hot foods are not the only thermogenic foods. Consuming ice water can also possess a thermogenic effect on the body. This is mainly because your body has to work harder
in order to deal with the cold temperature. Nevertheless, make sure that you don't consume ice cold water with your meals as it can disturb your digestion.
And don’t drink water after eating chili peppers in an attempt to rid your mouth of the “burn.” Instead, drink milk. Milk contains casein, a protein that breaks the bond between the pain receptors and the capsaicin.