How to burn fat fast?

You need to speed up your metabolism and exercise in addition to having the right food intake. Here are some tips:

- Increase your intake of high fiber foods. It is a fact that the necessary amount of fiber is lacking in most of our daily meals. Fiber aids your fat burning process significantly and in addition, promotes an overall general health. Salads containing leafy greens are great sources of fiber.

- Do not let yourself starve nor get too stuffed. Have you heard about "the golden mean"? The old Greeks knew it. I'm talking about moderation. The timing of your meals should be so that you always eat before you start to starve. If you follow this simple rule, you'll keep the metabolism intact and burn fat as well as eating less. Take a look at the wild animals; are they fat? No! What can we learn from them? To stop eating when we are satisfied and not eat until we are so stuffed that we can barely move.

- Do what it takes to build your muscle mass - that will burn your fat. We know that muscles are much more active metabolically than fat and other tissue. Therefore your job is to do some resistance training daily, thus adding more muscle, which in turn will boost your metabolism and burn fat. The more lean muscle mass you have, the more calories and fat your body will burn - even when you rest.

- Stay away from poor quality carbohydrates before you go to bed. These carbs are those containing sugar or carbs that are highly processed like most cereals, breads, snack foods, candies, and even fruits and juices. Eating these foods just before bedtime will likely result in increased fat deposit and will actually prevent your body from maintaining a sufficiently high fat-burning mode. If you have to eat, eat vegatables.

- Increase your cardio training to burn fat. A smart way to do this is to split your cardio training session into two small sessions rather than one long period. Research shows that people who do 30 minutes of morning cardio and then 30 minutes of evening cardio lose more fat than those doing just one 60 minute session.

Follow these tips on how to burn fat fast, and you'll see the results yourself: fat loss!

Coconut Oil - Giving saturated fat another chance

Giving saturated fat another chance.

Saturated fat has long held a bad rep and been noted for its potential to contribute to cardiovascular disease. So you might understand why I too was a bit skeptical of all the hype surrounding the supposedly miracle-working power of coconut oil, which is composed of saturated fatty acids. However, if there's one thing I have learned as a Nutrition student, it is that research has the potential to change our views as we continue to expand our knowledge and make new discoveries.

So, why should you try this stuff???

Coconut oil is a medium chain fatty acid (MCFA).

Because coconut oil is made of primarily Medium Chain (and some short chain) Fatty Acids, it is broken down immediately for use rather than stored. MCFA aren't packaged into chylomicrons for circulation through the lymph like long chain fatty acids (LCFA). Instead, they are transported in the portal blood to the liver for conversion into energy. This quick conversion process may prevent weight gain as long as the calories consumed as coconut oil do not exceed the body's caloric needs. Coconut oil has also been found to speed metabolism and increase energy expenditure and is of great interest for its potential as a weight loss aid.

Coconut oil may prevent and alleviate disease.

Both research and clinical studies have shown that MCFA may be useful in treating and preventing diseases such as diabetes, osteoporosis, virus-related diseases (mononucleosis, hepatitis C, herpes, etc.), gallbladder disease, Crohn's disease, and cancer. The smaller size of MCFA (compared to LCFA) allows them to be digested more easily, making them ideal for those suffering from digestive diseases. Coconut oil may assist in the absorption and retaining of calcium, thereby benefiting bones.

Coconut oil has antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal properties.

Lipid-coated bacteria and viruses contain a lipid coat which encloses their DNA among other cellular materials. When consumed by humans, coconut oil disrupts the lipid membrane, killing the pathogens without damaging the host or harming health-promoting intestinal bacteria. The antimicrobial properties stem from the monoglycerides and free fatty acids (mainly lauric acid and capric acid) that compose coconut oil.

Need more reasons to start consuming coconut oil?

Pure coconut oil is easily absorbed, prevents free radical damage, and can improve the appearance of skin and hair. Coconut oil, which becomes liquid when heated above 24°C/75°F, can also be substituted into your favorite baked goods.

With all the benefits that coconut oil can provide, it's definitely worth trying. And if you find that you don't quite like the taste, I hear it makes a fantastic hair and skin conditioner! :-)