Did summer creep up on you this year? Don’t worry, you aren’t the only one freaking out over what they didn’t sweat out. But here’s the good news…according to super FitGirl and celebrity nutritionist Christine Avanti, you still have time sistah friend! So dust off your beach bag and add these bikini friendly foods to your diet pronto.
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#1 Coconut Oil
Olive oil isn’t the only cool virgin out there. Add coconut oil to your diet and rev up your metabolism in a way that no other oil can. Obesity researchers at McGill University found that medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs), the type found in coconuts, actually use up energy when they are metabolized. The calories the body uses to oxidize the fatty acids in coconut oil is greater than the calories they provide. Hollla! So it’s possible to burn more calories digesting coconut oil than you get from eating it. Eat it, breathe it, smell it, swim in it for goodness sakes! Okay, maybe that’s a bit much…but you catch my drift.
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#2 Artichoke
These beautiful vegetable flowers are amazingly filling and they are inexpensive right now because they are in season! This power food is often times overlooked…but thank goodness I have the skinny for you: Artichokes contain inulin which a type of carbohydrate that has been shown to decrease the hunger hormone ghrelin. They also have active compounds called caffeoylquinic acids or cynarin- which are super liver friendly. These compounds are such show offs- preventing the build-up of fat and toxins in the liver, reducing gallstone formation during weight loss, promoting growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestines and acting as a gentle laxative by increasing bile secretion. Are you sold yet? I am.
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#3 Dandelion Greens
Romaine and spring mix scootch over…the new clean and mean green lady in town is the dandelion green. Throw this delicious diva in your next salad and drizzle her off with a sweet dressing- the slightly bitter taste of dandelion greens pair beautifully with sweet stuff. Packed with vitamins A, B, C, D, and fiber, dandelion greens are also a straight shot to weight loss. Annnnd best of all, dandelions contain taraxcin a chemical that is thought to speed up fat digestion and liver sluggishness. Don’t know about you but, I think this green is just “dandy!”
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Robbie Ann Darby (RAD Experience) is a professional FitGirl, Group Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer in NYC. Follow her sweaty life on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more fun health and fitness tips!
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