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Burn The Fat – Part One
By murray | April 9, 2009
Q: Dear Personal Trainers in Hamilton,
What are the best thermogenic fat burning foods for burning body fat?
Thank you in advance for your prompt response.
A: Hamilton personal trainer Leslie Wade says “That depends on your definition of a “fat burning food.” ” When you say thermogenic, many people instantly think of supplements or exotic herbs, hot spices or foods like cayenne, chili pepper, mustard, cider, vinegar, green tea,etc., which “magically” ramp up you metabolism and burn off body fat. ‘There might be some science behind some of 
those things, but focusing on tiny details(especially before you’ve mastered the nutrition fundamentals) is putting your attention in the wrong place. It’s like getting excited by the (misguided) idea that drinking enough ice cold water is thermogenic and is going to get you ripped because the body has to “warm it up” and that expends energy… when meanwhile, you’re skipping meals, drinking beer every weekend and working out sporadically or not at all. That makes no sense. I agree that details are important and that little things matter, but when you give too much attention to small stuff, before you know it, you’ve fallen for the latest cabbage or grapefruit diet. Focus on the big stuff first – the fat burning fundamentals – only then begin to “nit-pick” and take advantage of those “little things” that might help an extra percentage here and there.
DIETARY THERMOGENESIS AND THE THERMIC EFFECT OF FOOD
Actually all foods are “thermogenic” because the body must use energy to digest them. This is known as the “thermic effect of food” or “specific dynamic action of food.” When you say “thermogenic food”, to me, I think of REAL WHOLE FOODS. The most thermogenic fat burning food is lean protein from solid foods, especially… chicken and turkey breasts, game meats such as venison, elk ,etc,bison, buffalo, very lean red meat such as top round and lean sirloin (grass fed is especially nutritious), almost all types of fish, shellfish and other seafood, and egg whites (limit the yolks)
Protein powders are great for convenience and some, like whey, even have functional properties (as antioxidants and immune boosters), but powders aren’t as thermogenic as real food. Focusing on highly thermogenic whole foods, and not a lot of shakes or powdered drink mixes, can really crank up your metabolism due to the thermic effect of whole food. It is commonly known that of all the macro-nutrients (protein, carbs, and fat), lean protein has the highest thermic effect. The thermic effect of protein is believed to be higher than most people realize. This is one of the reasons that bodybuilders eat a diet high in lean protein and they are some of the leanest, muscular athletes on earth.
When you combine thermogenic lean protein foods with the right amounts and types of essential fats, add in plenty of green vegetables and just the right amount of natural starchy carbs and whole grains, at the right times, your body will literally turn into a turbo,charged gas burning machine, without drugs, supplements or weird diet gimmicks.
If you have any other questions for our Hamilton personal training team let us know. If we do not know the answer… we will be sure to research it and find the expert and/or their answer for you.
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