If you are a strength athlete and you are looking for ways to lose fat faster, look no further. We’ve compiled a list of 10 healthy foods you can add to your diet and start seeing results fast.
The Internet is overloaded with information about all kinds of “special foods” that can allegedly help you get rid of excess fat almost instantaneously. However, as with many other things in life, the way to make real and lasting changes to the body happens in gradual incremental steps, by following a solid training regimen and a well thought out diet plan. By adding these foods to your diet you will get closer to the shredded physique you’re aiming at.
Some basics first:
What are macronutrients?
Macronutrients are the basic building blocks of our nutrition. There are three types of them: proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. These are the ones that provide your body with energy, help sustain that energy, regulate the production of hormones etc. Each macronutrient plays various roles in the body.
The energy that the body gets from macronutrients is measured in calories. Proteins and carbohydrates provide 4 calories per gram and fats provide 9 calories per gram.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates provide energy when you’re performing a high-intensity activity, such as resistance training. Carbs as a macronutrient can be divided into three sub-types however the most important division in simple words is good and bad cars. As we said, in nutrition, you can basically find three types of carb sources: sources of simple carbs, sources of complex carbs, and simple carb sources containing fiber as well.
Simple carbs can be broken down into a few sub-types : table sugar and fructose, maltose. Table sugar can be found in almost every food that is sold today, but eating high quantities of it can lead to a multitude of health issues. You can find it in all types of junk food, sweets, candies, and sweetened beverages.
Complex carbs can be found in vegetables, some fruits, whole grain products etc. These foods are also rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
When you start choosing the right type of carbs you also help your digestive system work optimally.
Proteins
Protein molecules are a group of amino acids chained together and are the main building blocks of muscle tissue. Protein intake helps with muscle tissue recovery and repair and supports the immune system. Amino acids are divided into 3 separate categories: essential, semi-essential and non-essential.
Since our body cannot produce essential amino acids on its own, we have to consume them from external sources. The way we do that is by consuming specific types of foods that contain these amino acids. The best food sources of protein are lean meats, fish, eggs, dairy products, nuts, and some vegetables and seeds like chia, spirulina, hemp seeds, amaranth etc.
Fats
Like carbs, fats are another macronutrient that has to be carefully distinguished between good and bad. There are three main types of fat: saturated, unsaturated and trans fats.
Trans fats are the type you should avoid at all costs. They can be found in junk foods, fried foods, some types of candy and cookies, etc. The long term use of these unhealthy foods can cause health problems such as diabetes, strokes and heart disease.
Healthy fats, on the other hand, have many benefits. They regulate the hormone production, they can help you get leaner, lower inflammation in the body and so on. There are several sources of healthy fats such as avocados, egg yolks, fish, nuts, olive oil, etc.
Foods that can help athletes burn fat faster:
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Bone broth
Bone broth contains gelatin, collagen and amino acids. It is also great for intestinal health.
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Ground red cayenne pepper
Eating it increases your body’s ability to burn fat for energy and it also elevates the metabolic rate.
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Grapefruits
Grapefruits are filled with enzymes which help the body break down sugar molecules, increase the body’s metabolic rate and the breakdown of fat tissue.
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Kale
Cruciferous vegetables such as kale and broccoli have a high content of fiber which helps digestion and are a crucial addition to any diet plan which has fat loss as its primary goal.
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Green tea
Green tea can decrease bad cholesterol levels, provide energy and burn fat.
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Brussels sprouts
They are filled with vitamin A, potassium, folic acid, calcium. They contain 4-5 grams of fiber per cup as well as 25 calories per half a cup cooked, which is another reason why you should eat them more often.
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Coconut oil
Consuming coconut oil helps to reduce overall body fat, and it also helps the optimal function of the thyroid gland.
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Roobios tea
Roobios tea is filled with phytochemicals and flavonoids which increase the body’s metabolic rate which in turn increases fat burn.
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Chia seeds
Chia seeds have become very popular in recent years. They provide lots of energy and protein to the body and help to slow down digestion.
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Cauliflower
With its high fiber content, this vegetable is incredibly versatile and is a great addition to almost any meal.
