What Foods Release Fat Burning Hormones

Depending on the foods eaten, the hormones released during the process of digestion work in two ways to supply the body with the energy needed to function. Either they can store fat and burn carbohydrates, and, in times of high-energy demands, can burn muscle tissue as well, or they can burn off stored fat, the ideal goal of all dieters.

Fresh Fruits

• Eating fresh fruits with a low glycemic index rating, such as apples, strawberries, grapefruit and oranges, is preferable to drinking juice. Whole fruits require more energy to metabolize, thereby releasing more of the fat burning hormones.

Vegetables

• High fiber, low glycemic vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, carrots and tomatoes are also among the foods that stimulate the release of fat burning hormones.

Protein

• High protein, low fat foods are essential to the release of fat burning hormones. Very lean red meat, fish (including shrimp, cod and sea bass), turkey breast and tofu all fall within this category (see Resources).

Raw Foods

• Some foods are more beneficial to the fat burning process when eaten raw. Among these foods are apples, berries, lettuce, tomatoes and radishes (see Resources).

Cooked Foods

• While cooking can destroy the nutritional quality of certain foods, it retains or improves the nutritional and fat burning qualities of other foods. Asparagus, beans, spinach and broccoli are among the foods that can be eaten cooked without diminishing the release of fat burning hormones (see Resources).