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, don’t expect to make up for a junk-filled day by noshing on a few fat-burning kale chips. Kale – this king of vegetable is not only the most nutrient-dense food on the planet, it also helps suppress the appetite and clears toxins from the body! Four cups of kale has 10 grammes of fibre and enough detoxifying nutrients to super-charge your liver’s detoxification pathways for 48 hours! A cleaner body means fewer cravings for sugar and fried food, your fat cells’ greatest allies. Assemble a raw kale salad with avocado, yellow peppers, and grape tomatoes; try crunchy kale chips; or sip on a cooling green vegetable juice. Avocados – the much-maligned fat in avocado is actually a triple-fat burner! Its monounsaturated 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. Bring on the guacamole! Eat half an avocado with sea salt and tomatoes for an on-the-go breakfast, add avocado to a spinach and green bean salad, or make an avocado smoothie with coconut milk and cinnamon. Brazil Nuts – next time you want to discard those large nuts from the mixed nut selection, don’t! They’re 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 10 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 and hopefully satisfied. Make a chia seed pudding by soaking them in almond milk and then topping them with raw almonds, blend them with coconut milk and pineapple for a piña colada-inspired dessert, or eat a chia energy bar.