Healthy foods that benefit our bodies are key to unlocking inner well-being

WE KNOW, it sounds like it’s too good to be true, but there actually are some things you can eat that spike the metabolism, trigger hormones that release fat, and eliminate toxins that make it hard for your body to shed unwanted pounds.

Just be cautioned: for these foods to work their miracles, they must be consumed as part of a clean diet.

Broccoli Rabe: Who knew that food could talk to your fat cells? That’s exactly what the phytonutrient sulforaphane in broccoli rabe does. It stimulates an enzyme that tells your fat cells to burn fat.

Avocados: The much-maligned fat in avocado is actually a triple-fat burner. Its mono-unsaturated fat plumps up cell membranes, enabling cells to better chat with fat-burning hormones. It also switches off the body’s fat storage hormones.In addition, it boosts the metabolism by protecting the energy-producing part of cells from free radical damage.

Brazil Nuts: These are actually little fat-burners. They help boost the metabolism by converting the thyroid hormone to its active form. They also bind up toxins that would otherwise store themselves in your fat cells and contribute to cellulite.

Chia Seeds: Packed with omega-3 fats, fibre, and protein, these tiny seeds help suppress the appetite, fire up the metabolism, and turn on glucagon, one of the body’s fat-burning hormones. The trick is to soak them for 15 minutes so they swell up to ten times their size.

Just as with oatmeal, the larger the seeds are, the quicker your stomach will release those hormones that let you know you’re full.

Wild Salmon: While you can’t eat your way to a six-pack (that requires a few crunches), you can strip abdominal fat by consuming wild salmon on a regular basis.

The omega-3s in wild salmon help improve insulin sensitivity, which shrinks fat from your waistline. Wild salmon also activates the thyroid hormone for a faster metabolism Oysters: Oysters are your salvation when you’re dieting and dining out.

In addition to being low in calories – it’s only 50 calories for six oysters – they are the richest dietary source of zinc, which helps to decrease the appetite and PMS-induced cravings.

Coconut Oil: Not all dietary fats are created equal. Coconut oil is rich in medium-chained-triglycerides (MCTs), which your body preferentially uses for energy, leaving less opportunity for them to be stored as fat.

That doesn’t mean ditching your olive oil entirely (it has other beneficial properties). Instead, use coconut oil to cook with and olive oil for a salad dressing.

Cinnamon: This aromatic spice helps move glucose into the cells faster so our fat storage hormone, insulin, hangs around a lot less. But note: eating a cinnamon bun doesn’t count! You need to consume at least a quarter of a teaspoon of cinnamon to reap its fat-burning benefits.

Coffee: We knew there was a reason we loved our morning cup of Joe. Coffee stimulates adrenaline, which sends a message to your fat stores to burn fat.

When you drink coffee 20 minutes before a workout, it also acts as an ergogenic aid enabling you to train more intensely. The key is to make it caffeinated and black, as milk reduces its fat-burning potential.

Also, if you drink more than one cup a day, coffee can start to interfere with your body’s ability to regulate insulin, its fat storage hormone.

Almonds: This tiny food is not only rich in skin-boosting vitamin E and protein, but their richness in fibre content helps you to stay full for a longer duration.

Even though they are slightly high in calories, that will not contribute to belly fat, so keep swapping a handful of almonds as snacks to curb hunger.