How to Easily Burn Fat and Increase Metabolism in Your 40s and Beyond

If you are 40 or older and have trouble banishing fat, no need to despair. These foods will assist your body in becoming a fat-burning machine. What you eat makes all the difference in results, moreso than exercise.

Exercise is important for health and shaping the body. But for fat loss, the types of foods you eat are the main contributing factor. Your food choices will either sabotage your efforts or expedite results. You have probably already heard that your metabolism decreases as you age. While this statement is true, your metabolism can be revved back up again with appropriate food choices and exercise. The good news is these foods are tasty, satisfying, and available at your local supermarket. So, when you visit your supermarket again, be sure to include these items.

1. Chili Peppers: Due to the chemical Capsaicin, your body will burn more calories (thus burning fat). It is best to purchase organic chilies or natural versions that have not been preserved with chemicals to get the maximum effect. You may use hot sauce instead, but make sure the brand does not have added chemicals. Add chili peppers to soups, vegetables, and any other food.

2. Four Grams (or more) of Fibrous Granola Bars: These types of bars are a great snack for the early morning or late afternoon. Fiber keeps you full for longer periods of time and does not allow for huge spikes in insulin levels. Constant insulin levels decrease the chance of the body turning food into fat. Fiber can clear fat and toxins out of the body at a quicker rate as well. There are many great-tasting high fiber bars with a variety of flavors in supermarkets; try to find a version that does not have artificial preservatives or high fructose corn syrup.

3. Raw Walnuts: Some people do not eat walnuts because of their fat content, but the key is to eat no more than seven to ten a day. The Omega-3 fatty acids are excellent for fighting fat and improve heart health. Consume seven to ten during a late afternoon snack, or when your blood sugar levels are low and you feel tired.

4. Water with Organic Lemon Juice: Your body is composed mostly of water, so the more you drink, the quicker fat will be able to exit the body. However, do not go overboard with drinking excessive amounts in a sitting, or you run risk of damaging your bladder. The recommended amount is eight glasses, but it depends on a variety of factors such as the person's activity level s (or environmental temperature). Adding freshly squeezed organic lemon juice (from a lemon) increases the metabolism and creates variety for people who are bored with drinking plain water.

5. Wild Caught Fresh Salmon: The reason this food is beneficial for forty plus year olds is because of the Vitamin D and calcium combination. Calcium and Vitamin D aid in weight loss and these vitamins are very important for this age range in order to prevent osteoporosis. Vitamin D is correlated to the hormone that suppresses the appetite. Thus, a Vitamin D deficiency may cause a person's appetite to increase, increasing weight gain. Only purchase wild caught fresh salmon from the Atlantic. If fresh salmon is too expensive, then substitute with canned salmon. Be sure to find the can that is lowest in sodium and make sure it is wild caught. For vegetarians (or vegans) or people who do not like fish, there are other alternatives like eggs, walnuts, organic dairy products, and flaxseeds. Sesame seeds are an excellent source of calcium.

6. Cinnamon: Are you surprised this spice made it on the list? While it does not have fat burning properties per se, if you replace cinnamon with sugar in oatmeal, tea, coffee, etc you will save calories, which translates to weight loss. In addition, studies show that cinnamon can decrease bad cholesterol levels.