Things to Eat That Trigger Weight Loss

When trying to lose weight, the best thing anyone can do is combine a healthy diet with a regular exercise regimen. It's a matter of making a healthy balance between caloric intake and metabolic rate. Exercise is the best way to boost your metabolism, but why not add to that by eating foods that can spur it along even more?

Fish

• Fish are a unique food because they have omega-3 fatty acids.

  Fish is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. These can change the body's triglyceride levels and possibly lower blood pressure. Another plus to eating fish is that is a great source of protein which the body needs to build muscle tissue. If you're not a fan of fish, take fish oil supplements. Technology has come far enough along to eliminate the "fish burps" that these can sometimes induce.

Whole Grains

• Remember that "multi-grain" is not the same as "whole grain."

  Whole grains are different from refined grains in that the bran and germ haven't been milled away. Eating this kind of healthy fiber can lower the level of LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, in the body. Food with high levels of dietary fiber, like whole grains, can also make you feel fuller. Just don't let the attitude of "it's healthy, so I can eat more" get in your way. When shopping, check the nutritional information to see that "whole wheat" or "whole grain" is listed; marketers can be sneaky in the names of products.

Chili Peppers

• Turn up the heat in your diet.

  They're a vegetable, but more importantly, they're a hot. Chili peppers contain capsaicin, which gives them that hot flavor. Similar to omega-3 fatty acids, capsaicin can lower the body's triglyceride levels. Studies show that eating capsaicin can temporarily raise a person's metabolic rate by 8 percent. It is also a common ingredient in weight loss supplements; so make it a regular addition to your diet by cooking with chili peppers on a regular basis.

Coffee

• Don't make your coffee calorie-heavy with cream and sugar.

  Aside from having very few calories, a plain cup of joe also has caffeine. Caffeine stimulates the brain in a way that raises the body's fight or flight instincts. That energetic feeling you get from caffeine keeps you active, thereby helping you burn more calories. Having coffee before a workout is a great way to give you that push to work your body harder. This begins a chain reaction: the harder you work out, the more your body breaks itself down and needs to burn calories to recover.