It isn’t only what you eat that you have to watch when trying to lose weight, you have to keep on top of what you’re drinking. Alcohol and carbonated, sugary drinks are just as dangerous to a growing waistline as junk food can be, so consuming the right thirst quenchers should be high on your list of fat burning priorities.
Try one of these badboys the next time you’re feeling thirsty to ensure that you’re only downing drinks with the right nutrients.
1. Iced peppermint tea
Both wonderfully refreshing and highly effective as a belly flattener, iced peppermint tea is a great drink for a hot summers day. Peppermint helps your stomach to process fat, which ensures that even foods that are high in fat can be digested quickly, which will help stave off fat stores and prevent bloating.
2. Dark chocolate shake
Yes, we’re including chocolate in a fat burning list, because the dark kind can actually be quite a positive weight-loss tool as it decreases the appetite and lessens food cravings. Dark chocolate is also very rich in healthful antioxidants, including a powerful compound called theobromine, which has been shown to help lower blood pressure and have other health benefits. The fat content in a good dark chocolate should come solely from the natural healthy fats occurring in cocoa butter and not from any other added fats. Any chocolates with added fats or other additives would generally not be as healthy. A good dark chocolate shake could also be considered as an energy-boosting snack, packing 400 calories with little saturated fat into one helping.
3. Watermelon smoothie
Smoothies are a great guilt-free way to keep well hydrated while taking on plenty of nutrients, as long as you keep them as sugar free as possible. Watermelon offers the perfect low-calorie smoothie base. As well as being a natural hydrator due to its water high water content it is also packed with nutrients, including cancer-fighting lycopene, as well as an essential amino acid known as arginine.
4. Green tea
As well as reducing your risk of contracting heart disease and cancer, green tea contains significant amounts of catechins; antioxidants that recent studies have shown can help to reduce belly fat. Try sipping on green tea before a workout, as the compounds found inside it can help to increase your body’s fat burning capabilities during aerobic exercise.
5. Pineapple frappe
As well as being the perfect drink to sip in the sunshine this blended pineapple drink contains two key fat shedding ingredients. Add a tablespoon of flaxseed oil (which will add monounsaturated fatty acids), proven fat burners, while pineapple itself contains bromelain, an enzyme that helps to break down protein, reduce bloating and ease digestion.
