How to Be a Better Fat-Burner

A master key to burning fat effectively is healthy digestion, says nutritionist Linda Prout, M.S., of the Claremont Resort & Spa in Berkeley, Calif. "The problem is, many people who eat low calorie diets and exercise still can't lose weight because they eat foods which slow down digestion," she says. "This leads to fluid and fat storage even when their calorie intake is low."

For instance, Prout explains, many people think eating salads frequently is a ticket to efficient weight loss, but in actuality, raw vegetables and salads slow down digestion if eaten in excess. Instead, she suggests lightly grilling, steaming or stir frying vegetables to make them more easily digested. "By making vegetables easier to digest, more nutrients are absorbed, bloating is minimized, and maintaining ideal weight is easier," she says.

Drinking fruit juices causes blood sugar levels to spike, which in turn causes the release of large amounts of insulin. Since the surplus sugar is converted into fat for storage, avoid drinking fruit juices and sugary vegetable juices such as carrot juice. Also avoid simple sugars: these are in cola drinks, candy, muffins and cake. And restrain yourself when it comes to excess pasta, bagels and breads.

Noting that certain kinds of fats are more likely to make you gain fat while others can help you lose it, Prout first lays down the law on fats to avoid at all costs, such as saturated fats and hydrogenated fats. You should avoid anything containing hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils, which are found in pre-packaged crackers, chips, cookies, margarine and commercially fried foods. Good fats to eat are omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in most seeds, fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, certain oils, oats and green leafy vegetables. "These can actually help you burn fat," says Prout.