Revealed: The six foods to boost your metabolism and help you lose weight in time for summer – including chilli, seaweed and lamb chops
- Food scientist Dr Vincent has revealed six foods that kickstart weight loss
- Spices like chilli and ginger and caffeinated drinks like coffee will burn fat
- Protein-rich meat like lamb reduces binge eating by keeping you fuller longer
A leading nutritionist has revealed how snacking on six specific foods every day can help you lose weight, just in time for summer.
In an appearance on the Today Show, acclaimed food scientist Dr Vincent Candrawinata said incorporating protein-rich meat like lamb chops into your daily diet will help keep kilos off by leaving you fuller for longer.
Everyday spices like chilli and ginger and unsweetened caffeinated drinks, including black tea and coffee, increase the body’s ability to burn fat while fibre-rich ingredients like seaweed lowers blood sugar and promotes weight loss.
Dr Vincent, who has a doctorate in molecular nutrition, also advised cutting refined sugars, processed meat and alcohol from your diet to reduce belly fat.
Acclaimed food scientist Dr Vincent Candrawinata (pictured) revealed the seven foods we should eat everyday to lose weight, including lamb, apples and seaweed
1. CHILLI AND GINGER
Adding spice to your daily meals could be the ticket to the perfect summer body, according to Dr Vincent, who recommends seasoning dishes with chilli or ginger.
Chilli contains an active component called capsaicin, which increases your metabolic rate, helps to reduce blood pressure and stimulates digestion by enhancing feelings of fullness and reducing cravings.
Ginger also improves digestion, reduces inflammation and stabilises blood sugar levels, encouraging weight loss.
2. SEAWEED
Low in carbohydrates and calories, seaweed could help you on the way to a slender figure.
There is a natural fibre in sea kelp called alginate, which inhibits the enzymes that digest fat, so less is absorbed by the body.
In 2015, British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver attributed his notable weight loss to eating daily doses of seaweed.
Japan and China consume more than 170,000 tons of seaweed per year.
3. LEGUMES AND PULSES
Legumes like lentils, chickpeas and beans are rich in B vitamins, fibre and protein – all of which promote metabolism to speed up weight loss.
Studies suggest that the high protein content of beans requires the body to burn a greater number of calories to digest them, compared to lower-protein foods.
Legumes are also rich in arginine, an amino acid that increases the amount of carbs and fat the body burns for energy.
Low in carbohydrates and calories, seaweed (left) could help you achieve a slender figure thanks to a natural fibre called alginate which inhibits fat digesting enzymes, so less is absorbed by the body; legumes and pulses like beans (right) are rich in fibre and protein which promote metabolism to speed up weight loss
4. APPLES
Apples contain a large amount of pectin, a component which binds with water inside the body to limit the amount of fat cells can absorb.
Apples are also a rich source of fibre, which boosts metabolism and regulates blood sugar levels.
One large apple contains five grams of fibre and 14 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C.
Apples contain a large amount of pectin, a component which binds with water inside the body to limit the amount of fat cells can absorb, while lamb has an excellent ratio of protein to fat
5. LAMB CHOPS
While a balanced diet should include a mixed source of nutrients, replacing carbs and fat with protein helps to keep you fuller for longer by suppressing hormones that cause hunger.
Dr Vincent said lamb has a good ratio of protein to fat, and increases the body’s metabolic rate by 30 percent more than carbohydrates do.
6. COFFEE
Caffeinated coffee is rich in antioxidants and boosts weight loss by decreasing appetite and increasing metabolism.
Dr Vincent recommends two cups of unsweetened coffee each day, one with breakfast and lunch.