Several people have different opinion about fat burning food. When any one says "fat burning food" or "food that burns fat," many people immediately think of bizarre herbs, chili pepper, cider, hot spices, guarana, mustard, green tea, vinegar and etc, which seemingly enhance your metabolic rate. It seems like a diet apparatus, so you are right in being skeptical, but you might believe it or not, some of these stated fat burning foods actually have some science behind the claims.

For example, Capsaicin in hot pepper has a slight thermogenic effect. Some well-controlled and advanced study has also proven that a compound called epigallo-catechin gallate (EGCG), in green tea, provides a little but considerable increase in 24 hour metabolic rate. 3-4 strong cups of green tea can fetch you the essential amount (i.e. 270-300 mg of EGCG), or you can also find it from green tea extract supplements. There are certain disadvantages also. The effects of these fat burning foods are real, but very insignificant.

Advanced study by European clinical Nutrition stated in its journal, that, a dose of hot pepper (considering the amount that could be tolerated), boosted metabolism only by 21 calories. Even if Green tea extract is a little better, but not sufficient. A study from Switzerland found an average 24 hour boost in metabolism of 79 calories. That's not enough. In fact, it's questionable if this short term (24 hour) boost in metabolism will have any effect on actual fat loss over time. If you like Green tea as a beverage, then it's prescribed, as it is healthy. Spicy food is also better for little boost in metabolism.

As a matter of fact, all foods are "thermogenic" since the body must use energy to soak up them. This is the termic effect of food. But, all foods do not have the equal thermic effect, such as the dietary fat, which is said to have the lowest thermic effect. Sufficient thermogenic effect is felt in proteins derived from solid food. Some of the solid foods like turkey breast, game meats, chicken breast, about all types of fish, shellfish and other sea foods, bison, egg whites, very lean red meat and a some more.

It is also proved that protein has the maximum thermic effect. An extra advantage is that the lean protein conceals your wish for food.